People often fail to recognize pure wild turmeric and mistake it for normal turmeric. It is mainly because people don’t know how exactly wild turmeric looks like.
How to identify wild turmeric?
Wild turmeric or Kasturi Manjal is an essential part of Ayurveda for its medicinal and cosmetic properties. It has anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and anti-septic properties and is great for healing wounds and treating various health conditions.
As someone who is familiar with the characteristics of pure wild turmeric, there are a few things that I look for when trying to identify it:
- Colour
The first property that distinguishes wild turmeric from its counterparts is colour. Pure wild turmeric typically has a beige colour that is uniform throughout. If the colour is bright yellow or orange, it may be an indication that the turmeric is not pure, and it is adulterated with yellow colour.
- Texture
Secondly, I check the texture of the turmeric. Pure wild turmeric tends to be harder and more fibrous than other types of turmeric. It may have a rough or slightly gritty texture when rubbed between the fingers.
- Aroma
The last property to identify wild turmeric is its aroma. Pure wild turmeric has a strong, earthy smell that is distinctive from other types of turmeric. It may also have a slightly bitter or astringent scent.
In summary, when trying to recognize pure wild turmeric, look for a beige and uniform colour, a hard and fibrous texture, and a strong and earthy aroma.
Benefits of wild turmeric
Wild turmeric offers a variety of health benefits.
- Anti–inflammatory properties
Wild turmeric is rich in antioxidants. You can boil water, add a tiny bit of turmeric and drink it twice a day for relief from a cough or sore throat.
In addition, wild turmeric has anti-cancer properties. It thus reduces the risk of developing health problems by preventing free radicals from hurting our healthy cells and slowing down the growth and spread of tumours. It also helps diabetic to keep their sugar levels under control.
- Strengthens immune system
Curcumin- the component that gives turmeric its yellow colour helps strengthen the immune system and ward off infections. It also helps suppress cytokines that cause inflammation and manage allergies.
- Healing properties
Wild turmeric has natural healing properties. It helps treat both minor and major wounds and speeds up the healing process.
Wild turmeric also has properties that help repel mosquitoes and heal from mosquito bites.
- Detoxifies liver
Turmeric also helps purify liver as well as protect other organs like heart, brain and kidneys. It is also used widely in treating different neurological health conditions, like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
- Fights arthritis
The anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties of wild turmeric help cure arthritis. Curcumin in wild turmeric helps fight both inflammatory and degenerative arthritis. Wild turmeric can be used in daily cooking, added to tea or even consumed as a supplement to cure arthritis.
- Great for skin
Wild turmeric has been used as a beauty product in India since centuries. It is great in curing tans and acnes, removing oil from skin and unwanted facial hair.
Wild turmeric offers a variety of benefits and is hence a widely used ingredient in cosmetic products as well as medicines. It is very similar to normal turmeric. So, the next time you buy pure wild turmeric, remember to look for the above-mentioned properties to identify it.