Did you know that turmeric has been an important part of Ayurvedic medicine since around 500 BCE?
If you’re not familiar with the term, Ayurveda refers to the ancient Indian method of natural healing and is considered by some scholars to be the oldest healing science.
The healing benefits of turmeric have been closely tied to Indian spirituality and culture for centuries and is still a large part of Ayurveda as it is practiced today.
Curcumin, the main compound found in turmeric, has been used widely for its’ powerful anti-inflammatory abilities and potential to reduce joint pain and prevent many chronic illnesses.
Who is Sadhguru?
Sadhguru is best-known as an Indian yogi, author, humanitarian, mystic (or “guru”), and prominent spiritual leader. As founder of the Isha Foundation, Sadhguru’s non-profit organization offers yoga teacher trainings all around the world.
His spiritual teachings belong to no specific tradition and he combines modern pragmatism and yogic science to help people live the best life possible.
Many of his books have appeared in multiple categories on the New York Times Best Seller list and people travel from all over the world to listen to his lectures, regularly pulling in over 300,000 people.
He has spoken at the World Economic Forum and UN Headquarters, and was granted the second highest civilian award by the Indian government in 2007 for his contributions to spirituality.
Sadhguru’s teachings on wellness incorporate a holistic approach to health and acknowledge the many moving pieces that can impact our well-being, especially the connection between mind, body and soul.
The below spiritual benefits of turmeric are excerpted from a lecture given by Sadhguru at the Isha Hatha Yoga School’s 21-week Hatha Yoga Teacher Training program.
Benefit #1: Turmeric for Purification
According to Sadhguru, turmeric has many healing properties as a purification agent. By helping to purify the body, blood and spiritual energy system, turmeric is seen as being able to bring more light and translucence to your energy field. Sadhguru uses the external example of this by illustrating how even when a turmeric solution is applied to the skin, added radiance and glow can be seen almost immediately.
Benefit #2: Turmeric for Congestion
Amongst the many health benefits of turmeric, Sadhguru chooses to mention the potent ability of turmeric to help sufferers of nasal congestion and cold-related illnesses.
If you suffer from chronic phlegm or congestion caused by a cold, he recommends a powerful holistic solution containing turmeric, neem (the “Wonder Leaf”), pepper, and honey. Sadhguru says to crush around 10 to 12 peppercorns and soak them in a couple spoonfuls of natural honey and turmeric overnight (at least 7-8 hours).
In the morning, he recommends consuming only this potent mixture while also chewing on the pepper in order to drastically decrease phlegm congestion.
Additional tip: Sadhguru recommends avoiding dairy in general, but especially insists on this when it comes to nasal congestion or any type of related blockages in the body.
Benefit #3: Turmeric for Disease Prevention
As one might expect, Sadhguru’s spiritual approach to serious illnesses such as cancer are interestingly a bit different from the everyday medical community.
Sadhguru views cancer as a result of the cells in your body turning against you. In relation to this, Sadhguru does have some advice on how to keep your body working for you rather than against you.
Firstly, he recommends taking turmeric each morning on an empty stomach.
Since turmeric can be a highly effective cleanser, swallowing a marble-sized turmeric ball first thing in the morning is said to help move some of these dangerous cells from the body, according to Sadhguru.
Secondly, he recommends periodic fasting. Periodic cleansing and fasting have long been an important part of traditional yogic philosophy and it is believed that doing so allows the body to detoxify and rid itself of disease-causing influences.
Benefit #4: Turmeric for Spiritual Advancement
In his philosophy, Sadhguru teaches that everything, including our bodies, is only borrowed from the Earth and that we all possess certain amount of inertia within us. In order to maintain a healthy body and mind, Sadhguru instructs that it’s important to keep inertia levels at a minimum.
We can do this by consuming foods and spices such as turmeric that affect our cellular structure in such a way that energy can penetrate our cells effectively. This allows the energy we are creating to be used by us effectively as we choose and according to Sadhguru, will help create greater possibility within our bodies.
In other words, Sadhguru is saying that turmeric offers physical support that can help us advance our spiritual goals, whatever they might be.
Additional tip: For this purpose, Sadhguru recommends drinking turmeric and neem in lukewarm, light honey water. This, he says, is a wonderful way of cleansing the cellular structure in a manner that is best able to absorb energy.
One Response
Spiritual healing is particularly effective in treating any kind of addiction.