This ancient gem is making into the western world and to everyone’s cupboards due to its renewed popularity with research that again confirms its amazing health benefits.
Curcumin is anti-inflammatory and its action treats symptoms psoriasis and Eczema very well
Turmeric and its many healing benefits on skin
My heritage loves the amazing healing properties of Turmeric. My mum is living proof with very few lines and amazing skin of the anti inflammatory properties are vast.
Turmeric heal inside out. Its a beautifying tonic for Skin and dries up spots, fading dark spots, slows the aging process, and protects us from dangerous UV rays, all with one amazing natural ingredient.
Studies show curcumin, the compound in turmeric which is responsible for making the orange colour, reduces risks of heart attack, eases joint pain and is highly anti-inflammatory. It has also been shown to delay the onset of type 2 diabetes, helps improve memory in dementia patients, and even help slow or stop the growth of cancer cells.
The additional benefits to our Skin when used daily as the largest organ of the body in TCM terms go even deeper and there are thousands of publications evidencing the benefits of this marvellous root spice and it just gets better and better.
Some also have demonstrated how it helps us to look younger. I use it in all my cooking and have grown up with this way from my heritage food.
It can Protect from sun UV damage
Taking a low-dose helped ultraviolet radiation, and it was found that Turmeric protected the skin from UV rays, preventing the formation of wrinkles, retaining skin elasticity, and reducing the appearance of dark spots.
2 years later, a further study mixed turmeric extract into a skin cream, and then applied it to skin for six weeks. These results showed that the cream protected from sun damage, and improved the skin’s ability to naturally moisturise itself. The researchers suggested that the extract could be incorporated into sunscreen formulas.
Helps reduce acne
Turmeric has natural oil-controlling properties. In 2013, researchers evaluated cream with turmeric extract on acne sufferers. They first evaluated the amount of oil, or sebum, on the skin of the volunteers. They then gave some the cream with the turmeric, and others a cream without turmeric.
Results showed that those using the regular cream actually experienced an increase in skin sebum (more oil production) starting the sixth week of the study. Those using the turmeric cream, on the other hand, experienced a reduction in skin oil starting in the fourth week of use, and that reduction reached 25 percent by the end of the study period (10 weeks).
Research is still new in this area, but if you have oily skin that frequently breaks out, try adding turmeric powder to a homemade scrub ( recipe below) to see if it helps. If you’re using the powder, be sure to mix it with other ingredients, as otherwise it may, over time, leave a yellow stain on your skin.
Reduces risk of skin cancer
Adding turmeric to sunscreens could be a wise move as it has shown to have anti-cancer properties. We have many studies which show that this natural ingredient helps slow the growth of cancer cells, and even shrinks tumours.
A few studies have looked at skin cancer, in particular. In 2011, for example, researchers pretreated mice with curcumin extract for three days. Poor Mice! They then injected skin cancer cells into the treated areas, and measured the resulting tumours.Results showed that in the control mice, tumour volume increased 2.3 times faster than in the mice that received the 15 mg curcumin extract. Researchers concluded that curcumin inhibits the growth of skin cancer cells, and blocks tumour progression.
An earlier 2005 study found similar results, with curcumin killing and stopping the growth of melanoma skin cancer cells. (Melanoma is the most deadly form of skin cancer.)
Helps heal wounds
Turmeric has a long history of being a wound-healer. Whether one was to suffer a bruise, insect bite, infected wound, or even mouth inflammation, a turmeric salve or paste ( as I have always been taught to use it ) was the answer. We have been having it all my family ever since I can remember and particularly for any inflammation, for healing open wounds and large bruises and it works every time.
Modern research confirms this is a good idea.
In 2005 research found turmeric paste was just as effective as honey in healing wounds, helping skin to heal faster than it would have without the application of either substance. An earlier 1999 study compared turmeric with coconut oil and a control, and found that turmeric was more effective at helping the wound to close and heal.
In 2011, researchers assessed the use of a topical curcumin solution on burn wounds, and found it to be just as effective as the standard drug used on burns, silver sulfadiazine.
In 2012, researchers tried curcumin patches on wounds and found that not only did it improve healing time, but it also helped the skin repair itself, encouraging the production of collagen and promoting tissue regeneration. We’ve known this for centuries in India and the wisdom has been passed to each ancestral line
Treating Psoriasis and Eczema
Curcumin has a natural anti-inflammatory action, which we now know can help treat the symptoms psoriasis and Eczema
Patients with psoriasis have elevated “PhK,” a particular type of protein associated with the disease. In 2000, researchers found that curcumin helped inhibit the activity of PhK—with a corresponding decrease in the severity of psoriasis symptoms.
A later study did just that—researchers gave oral curcumin 30 patients with psoriasis, and another 30 received a placebo. Results showed that the curcumin cut levels of inflammation in the blood by half, and improved symptoms.
Delays the appearance of aging
Turmeric contains potent antioxidants known to protect cells against free radical destruction. In a 2014 study, for example, researchers reported that curcumin protected cells from oxidant damage linked with Alzheimer’s disease—and that it did so in a way linked to preserving long life.
An earlier 2010 study also reported that curcumin could be a useful anti-aging substance. Not only does it potentially reduce the risk of many of today’s deadly diseases, including heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer’s, it may improve the health status of the elderly because of its powerful anti-inflammatory properties. We now know that inflammation is behind many of our modern ailments, and that cooling it can improve and extend life.
“Curcumin can counteract the pro-inflammatory state,” researchers wrote, “which is believed to participate in many age-related diseases.”
It makes sense that topical application of turmeric may also help delay the appearance of ageing on the skin. A couple studies have found that to be true.
In one, researchers applied a cream with both turmeric and niacinamide in it (niacinamide is a form of vitamin B used in many facial creams), or a cream with just niacinamide, to groups of women aged 40 to 60. They found that after eight weeks, those using the cream with both the turmeric and the niacinamide experienced a 15 percent improvement in fine lines and wrinkles over those using the cream with the niacinamide alone.
In a second study, women aged 25 to 55 were able to reduce the appearance of age spots by an average of 15 percent after eight weeks of using a cream with turmeric twice daily.
Fading Hyperpigmentation
Tired of age spots and melasma? Turmeric may help.
Turmeric is able to affect melanin, which is the substance in skin responsible for pigmentation. If you have melasma, you have too much melanin on your cheeks, chin, and forehead. Age spots are also created by too much melanin in one place.
The curcumin in turmeric has been reported to block the activation of proteins that increase and regulate melanin production. In a 2009 study mentioned earlier, researchers found that curcumin extract not only protected from UV rays, but also prevented the formation of pigmentation caused by UV radiation.
A later 2013 study looked at the ability of curcumin to inhibit “tyrosinase,” which is an enzyme involved in the production of melanin. They found that it did indeed inhibit the activity of the enzyme, at a level comparable to other ingredients used in common products that help prevent hyperpigmentation.
My Mum Ginder’s Recipe for a Turmeric Mask for reducing pigmentation and anti aging
Juice of 1-2 Lemons
40 gm Gram flour
40 gm Fresh Turmeric
8tbsp Natural organic whole Yoghurt
Mix- apply.
Keep mixture in fridge and use for the week.
Continue to use regularly for the best results.
Randhiraj Bilan – ‘Be Nourished Naturally’ – Click here to join my membership hub and be part of the Nourished Naturally Community.