Natural Benefits of Turmeric for Your Hair

Developed in India over 3,000 years ago, Ayurvedic medicine or Ayurveda for short, is one of the world's oldest holistic i.e. whole-body, healing systems. The foundation of Ayurveda is that health and wellness depend on the intricate balance between the spirit, mind, and body and its principal objective is to promote good health, not to fight disease. Ayurvedic medicine gives us a lot of great options for hair. Henna is perhaps the most well-known ayurvedic herb used in haircare but there are many others including amla, brahmin and turmeric — the benefits of which we will take a closer look at below.

What Is Turmeric?

As spices go, turmeric is one of the most important spices in Indian dishes. It is also one of the most studied herbs in science. Scientifically called Curcuma longa, turmeric is a root in the same plant family as ginger. The dried root of the turmeric plant is ground to produce the distinctive yellow turmeric powder.

The Benefits of Turmeric for Hair

The benefits of turmeric for hair come down to two things:

• Its ability to combat hair loss
• Its ability to promote hair growth

Turmeric’s ability to combat hair loss comes from curcumin, a natural compound that has been and continues to be widely studied. Curcumin is believed to be effective in halting to the overproduction of dihydrotestosterone most commonly known as DHT. DHT is a hormone responsible for hair loss in men and women by restricting hair growth from the follicles.

Turmeric’s ability to create a healthy environment for hair growth stems from its anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties. Hair thrives when the scalp is healthy, and turmeric can help you achieve a healthy scalp by combating dandruff and dry, itchy scalp conditions. As Ayurveda expert Shadoh Punnapuzha says, “The antiseptic and anti-inflammatory qualities that it contains can help soothe the scalp and get rid of dandruff,”

How to Use Turmeric

You may choose to use turmeric topically or add the spice to your meals, smoothies, and teas. Mix equal parts turmeric and olive oil to eliminate dandruff and improve scalp health. Apply the mixture to your scalp and leave on for about 30 minutes. Cleanse and condition and style hair afterwards as normal. Light hair may be stained by turmeric but that should fade during the washing and conditioning process.

Turmeric Tea
1 teaspoon of ground turmeric
4 cups of water
1 teaspoon of raw honey or fresh lemon juice or grated ginger

Turn on the stove and bring the water to a boil. Put the turmeric into the boiling water and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. Take mixture off the heat and strain the liquid. Add honey or lemon juice or grated ginger before consumption.

Turmeric Smoothie

For the smoothie
1 large ripe banana, peeled and sliced
1 cup of fresh pineapple
½ tablespoon peeled fresh ginger
¼ teaspoon ground turmeric
½ cup carrot juice (see below)
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 cup of almond milk, unsweetened

For the carrot juice
2 cups of carrots
1 ½ cups of filtered water

Make the carrot juice by adding carrots and the filtered water to a high-speed blender. Keep blending until you get a pureed and smooth mixture. Add more water if required.

Strain and set aside the pulp for smoothies or baked goods. Transfer the carrot juice to a mason jar.

Add the smoothie ingredients to the blender and blend until the mixture is creamy and smooth. Add more carrot juice or almond milk if required. Scrape down the seeds as and when needed. Taste and adjust the flavors as required.

You can be creative with the use of turmeric in your meal preparations. So if you haven’t yet, why not give it a try?

This article is from Naturally Curly

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10 Proven Health Benefits of Turmeric and Curcumin
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1. Turmeric Contains Bioactive Compounds With Powerful Medicinal Properties

2. Curcumin Is a Natural Anti-Inflammatory Compound

3. Turmeric Dramatically Increases the Antioxidant Capacity of the Body

4. Curcumin Boosts Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, Linked to Improved Brain Function and a Lower Risk of Brain Diseases

5. Curcumin Should Lower Your Risk of Heart Disease

6. Turmeric Can Help Prevent (And Perhaps Even Treat) Cancer

7. Curcumin May Be Useful in Preventing and Treating Alzheimer's Disease

8. Arthritis Patients Respond Very Well to Curcumin Supplements

9. Studies Show That Curcumin Has Incredible Benefits Against Depression

10. Curcumin May Help Delay Aging and Fight Age-Related Chronic Diseases

Click here for more information on these 10 benefits >>>