Ayurveda, the ancient Indian system of medicine, describes turmeric as an all-purpose cleanser. It is prescribed as a cure for cough. Bake a spoonful of turmeric mildly on a hot plate, dissolve it in hot milk, or just boil the turmeric in hot milk. Consuming this preparation will cure the most chronic of coughs.

Another ayurvedic treatment for cough involves a fresh preparation made from a pinch of turmeric powder mixed with half a spoonful of honey. Consume this preparation several times a day. Licking from a spoon has been found to be more effective than eating a mouthful.

The idea is to allow the preparation to remain in contact with the throat for as long as possible. Turmeric cleanses veins and arteries of the circulatory system.

You can also treat severe cold with the smoke generated from burnt turmeric. Burn a piece of turmeric and inhale the smoke before going to bed at night. However, ensure that you do not drink water for at least an hour after inhaling the smoke.

Turmeric is an excellent antiseptic

Turmeric is also considered an antiseptic and a great disinfectant. In the villages of India, turmeric oil is used to prepare a salve that is used effectively against any kind of wound, inflammation, broken bones, injured ligaments, or sprained joints.

You can prepare this salve yourself too - bake a spoonful of turmeric and mix it with mustard oil. You can either consume this salve or apply it to the affected body part for the prescribed period of time.

Another salve involving turmeric is used to cure abscesses of the ear. To prepare this salve, keep turmeric and alum overnight in water, in the ration of 1:20. Apply two drops of this watery preparation affected ear three to four times a day. This heals even the most chronic of ear abscesses.

Eye infections respond to turmeric

You can use turmeric to provide relief to your aching eyes. Boil a gram of turmeric in 25 ml of water. Filter the preparation thoroughly, and then apply it to your eyes. Various types of infections respond positively when eyes are also wiped several times a day with a cloth soaked in this water.

You can use another variety of turmeric, with the scientific name Barberis aristata, to treat a number of different eye conditions. Boil 15 to 20 grams of the dried root in milk, on slow heat, till the volume is reduces to one-fourth of the original 15 to 20 grams. Wash your eyes with this preparation two to three times a day.

Turmeric is also used to deal with a number of breast-related problems in women.

This treatment involves using a special red stone. Grind a piece of dry turmeric root by rubbing it against the said red stone. While rubbing the turmeric piece on the stone, continuously sprinkle water on it. You get a fine paste.

Apply this paste to the affected body part, in this case the breast. You must understand the importance of using only that particular red stone to grind the turmeric with, as according to ayurveda, the methods and equipment used to prepare a medicinal concoction are as important as the ingredients.

Turmeric can treat gum infections

You can also treat different conditions of the gums, especially pyorrhea, by applying a mixture of turmeric, mustard oil, and rock salt. Mix the three in equal proportions into a fine paste. Rub this paste into the denture and gums two to three times a day. Follow this up by washing your mouth with warm water.

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