Haldi Ceremony—Historical Use of Turmeric

Long before golden lattes and turmeric face creams became popular in the West, ancient South Asian civilizations were using the native golden root as a panacea to treat everything from arthritis to indigestion to various skin conditions. Its active ingredient, curcumin, has been shown to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and wound-healing properties and also influences multiple downstream signaling pathways. In addition to medicinal uses, turmeric has played an important role in South Asian cuisine and cultural practices.