CHAPTER 1: Turmeric – The Miraculous Herb from Ancient India and its Historical Background Free

The history of Ayurveda starts from 5000 BC onwards when the Vedas, the first written dogma in India, is considered to be written. So, 5000–3000 BC is considered as the Vedic period. Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda and Atharvaveda are the four vedas and their upavedas are Ithihasam, Dhanurvedam, Gandharvavedam and Ayurvedam, respectively. Ayurveda is the upaveda of Atharvaveda.¹  Therefore, it can be assumed that Ayurvedic principles have been in practice since the Vedic period. Hence it is clear that the origin of Ayurveda is about 5000 years ago. In the Vedas, especially Rigveda and Atharvaveda, there are various references about basic anatomy, medicinal herbs, surgery, examination procedures of patients, treatment principles, etc. According to Atharva veda, oushadha (medicine) can be divided into four types: atharvani, angirasi, daivi and manushi.²  The first three categories are related to vitality or will power and the final one, manushi, was the main line of treatment in the Vedic period, in which internal medicines were used. Ayurveda, the science of life, deals with natural methods to treat and prevent diseases and ways to maintain health. For that, Ayurveda utilises the drugs of plant, animal, mineral and metal origin. But most of the Ayurvedic medicinal formulations consist of herbal drugs. The ancient Ayurvedic treatises very well describe the identification, synonyms, properties, actions and varieties of various herbs.

Turmeric, termed Curcuma longa Linn., belongs to the Zingiberaceae family. It is cultivated all over India as a commercial crop, as it has been used as a food ingredient in various Indian cuisines. It is a tall herb, with large leaves. The useful part of turmeric is its rhizome. In Ayurveda, turmeric is called haridra. It has been mentioned in various Ayurveda treatises from the Vedic period onwards. In Agnipurana, it is mentioned that haridra was used for the treatment of diseases such as kamala,³  prameha,⁴  vranaropana⁵  and arshas.⁶ 

According to its morphological specialities and other physicochemical and pharmaceutical properties, many synonyms are given to haridra in various treatises. Nighantus are the main books that discuss those synonyms in detail. Haridra, rajani, nisa, nisakhya, varavarnini, suvarna, varnini, peetha, varangi, peethangi, hemaragini, varnathree, haritha, pinga, syama, kanchani, haldi, haldika, varnavathi, varnavilasini, rangini, vishaghna, siva, deergharaga, gouri, janishta, para, aneshatha, gandhapalashika, gharshani, jwaranthika, kaveri, mehaghni, besava, pindabhara, pinda, paribhra, varnada, mangalya, lambi, bhadra, sobhana, jayanthi, krimighna, yoshipriya, hattavilasini, bharalatha and romashamulika are the common synonyms of haridra that are mentioned in Nighantus. The Dhanwanthari Nighantu⁷  (10th century AD) contains 18 synonyms of haridra. The number of synonyms mentioned in various other Nighantus are as follows: Shodalanighantu⁸  (12 AD) – 10, Madanapala Nighantu⁹  (14 AD) – 10, Kayyadeva Nighantu¹⁰  (15 AD) – 20, Bhavaprakasa Nighantu¹¹  (16 AD) – 10, Raja Nighantu¹²  (17 AD) – 30, Shaligrama Nighantu¹³  (19 AD) – 10, Mahoushadhi Nighantu¹⁴  (20 AD) – 14, Priya Nighantu¹⁵  (20 AD) – 4, Nighantu Adarsh¹⁶  (20 AD) – 4. The names haridra, varavarnini, suvarna, peetha, varangi, peethangi, lambi, etc. are given according to morphological features. But the names jwaranthika, mehaghni, krimighna, vishaghna indicate pharmaceutical properties.

Bhavaprakasa describes four varieties of haridra: haridra, amra haridra, vana haridra and daru haridra.¹⁷  In theses varieties haridra is the one which is used very commonly in Ayurveda formulations, and is identified as Curcuma longa Linn., i.e. common turmeric. The rhizome of the plant Curcuma amada Roxb. is known as amra haridra, which belongs to zingeberaceae family. It is commonly called mango ginger and is cultivated throughout India; due to its rich flavour it is used in making chutneys. Research reveals its anticancer activities against some human cancer cell lines. Also, the rhizome extract shows antioxidant, anti-allergic, antibacterial, antifungal, analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities. Curcuma aromatica Salisb. (Zingiberaceae family) is considered as vana haridra. Next to common turmeric it is the most widely used turmeric species that has been mentioned in various Ayurveda medicines. In Ayurveda treatises it is described as a remedy for various skin diseases and respiratory disorders. It has been in traditional use as a medicinal cosmetic to enhance complexion. At the same time, it carries a very promising therapeutic value as it is very effective in sprains, bruises, skin diseases, etc. It has also been used as an antidote for snake bites. It is already proven that this particular drug has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-allergic, antioxidant, anticancerous and wound healing properties. Daruharidra is a native shrub that is found commonly in the Himalayas, India. The plant Berberis aristata is considered as daruharidra, which belongs to the family berberidaceae. It is commonly called Indian barberry or tree turmeric. According to the ancient Ayurveda treatise bhavaprakasa, it is a very good remedy for various eye, ear and mouth diseases. It has been used for treating various skin disorders and haemorrhoids. Its fruits are a rich source of vitamin C, the roots are used to prepare some types of alcoholic drinks and the whole plant is a very good source of dye. In Ayurveda, it is used for the preparation of a special type of anjana (collyrium) known as rasanjana, which is useful in infective conjunctivitis.

According to Ayurveda principles each dravya consists of five properties called rasapanchaka. They are: rasa (taste), guna – qualities, virya – potency, vipaka – taste conversion after digestion, prabhava – action that cannot be explained. They are intended to explain the pharmacological activity of the particular drug. Of these, the first four, i.e. rasa, guna, virya and vipaka, are perceptible. Haridra is tiktha katu (bitter and pungent) in taste, rooksha (dry) in quality, ushna (hot) in potency and katu (pungent) in post-digestive taste.¹⁸  These properties clearly declare its action on tridoshas (vata, pitha and kapha) and haridra balances all three doshas. It has been used as a home remedy for thousands of years and its effect on various physical ailments has been proven naturally by repeated usage. It is found to increase skin tone and complexion, heal wounds and scars, manage chronic wounds and skin lesions and is used as an antidote for poisoning. Many studies have been done on the therapeutic effects of turmeric that report anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antimicrobial, immunomodulatory, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, antidiabetic, anti-asthmatic and anticancerous properties.

Charaka Samhitha is noted as an excellent Ayurveda treatise on internal medicine. It is believed to have been written between 400 BCE and 200 BCE. It consists of eight sthanas (parts) and 120 chapters in total. The eight sthanas are suthra sthana, nidana sthana, chikithsa sthana, vimana sthana, sareera sthana, indriya sthana, kalpa sthana and sidhi sthana. Ashtanga Hrudaya, which is written by Vagbhata, is considered as the collected information of all eight branches of Ayurveda: kaya, bala, graha, urdhwanga, salya, damshtra, jara and vrisha, in simple language. It is considered to be written around the seventh century AD. It consists of six sthanas and 120 chapters. Suthra, nidana, chikithsa, sareera, kalpa and uthara are sthanas of Ashtanga Hrudaya. It contains all the salient features of Charaka Samhitha, Susrutha Samhitha and Ashtanga Samgraha. Susrutha Samhitha is a book of excellence in the field of surgery. The composition of this book may have begun by Susrutha in the last centuries BCE and it was completed by Drudabala (300–500 CE). It contains six sthanas and 186 chapters in total. The sthanas are: sutra, nidana, chikithsa, kalpa, sareera and uthara. Sarngadhara Samhitha is a well-documented text of pharmaceutical processes and useful medicinal formulations. It is believed to have been written by Sarngadhara around 14th century AD. It contains three sections and 32 chapters in total.

All of the main Ayurveda treatises contain dravya ganas (drug groups) where the drugs of similar properties or actions or a particular indication are grouped together under a specific name. These are called ganas. Haridra is included in many such ganas in various treatises. Charaka included haridra in lekhaneeya gana¹⁹  (drugs with an ability to reduce excess tissues are said to have lekhaneeya property and they are shown to have a great effect on weight reduction), kushtaghna gana²⁰  (beneficial for skin diseases), vishaghna gana²¹  (potency to pacify toxic effects), praja sthapana gana²²  (fertility drugs), vamanadravyas²³  (vamana is one of the panchakarmas in which the increased doshas are expelled out of the body through the mouth), Kashaya skanda dravyas²⁴  (drugs that have an astringent taste) and sirovirechana gana²⁵  (sirovirechana or nasya is a panchakarma in which medicine is applied through the nasal cavity to eliminate excess doshas). According to Vagbhata, haridra is a member of tiktha skanda dravyas²⁶  (drugs having a bitter taste), haridradi ganam²⁷  (indicated for amatisara, adyavata and sthanya dosha, and for alleviation of medas and kapha, which means it can be very useful in obesity and diabetes), musthadigana²⁸  (indicated for yoni – sthanya amayaghna, mala pachana, which means it is very useful in uterine vaginal disorders and for purifying breast milk. Also, it is a digestant) and theekshna dhooma dravyas²⁹  (quickly penetrating medicated fumes). Acharya Susrutha included haridra in haridradi ganam,³⁰  musthadi ganam,³¹  lakshadi ganam³²  (useful for treating ulcers and cutaneous infections), valli panchamullam³³  (roots of five medicinal creepers), samshamana oushadhas³⁴  (drugs for pacification), kapha samsamana varga³⁵  (that alleviate kapha, which is one of tridoshas), thiktha varga³⁶  (drugs that have a bitter taste) and nirooha varga³⁷  (nirooha is one of the panchakarmas, in which medicine is applied through the anal root to expel the increased doshas).

The main formulations, where turmeric is a major ingredient, in Charaka Samhitha are: thikthekshuku taila³⁸  (skin diseases), mahatikthakam ghrtham³⁹  (skin diseases), mahakhadiram ghritham⁴⁰  (skin diseases), kalyanaka ghrtham⁴¹  (mental disorders, infertility), sidharthakadi agadam⁴²  (psychiatric conditions), maha panchagavyam ghritham⁴³  (epilepsy, psychiatric problems), patoladyam choornam⁴⁴  (ascites, jaundice), moolasavam⁴⁵  (indigestion), kadukadyam ghrtham⁴⁶  (bleeding disorders), haridradi ghrtham⁴⁷  (jaundice), punarnava mandooram⁴⁸  (anaemia, spleen disorders), goudarishtam⁴⁹  (anaemia), Manasiladi ghratham⁵⁰  (respiratory diseases), gudoochyadi ghrtham⁵¹  (respiratory diseases), mrthasanjeevani agada⁵²  (poison), ganadha hasthi agada⁵³  (poison, skin diseases), maha gandhahasthi agada⁵⁴  (poison), ksharagada⁵⁵  (bladder stones, haemorrhoids), khadhira gudika⁵⁶  (tooth ache, gingivitis, stomatitis) and khuddaka tailam⁵⁷  (burning pain). In Ashtanga Hrudayam, vagbhata details the following formulations of haridra: vasishta rasayana⁵⁸  (cough, dyspnea), trikandakayam tailam⁵⁹  (diabetes), mahathikthaka ghrtham⁶⁰  (skin diseases), nisothamadi kashayam⁶¹  (skin diseases), guggulu marichadi tailam⁶²  (skin diseases), vajraka ghrtha⁶³  (skin diseases), gulgulu thikthaka ghrtham⁶⁴  (arthritis, haemorrhoids, skin diseases), gruhadhumadi choornam⁶⁵  (arthritis), rajanyadi choornam⁶⁶  (digestive and respiratory disorders in children), laksha tailam⁶⁷  (for body massage to strengthen bones), sidharthakadi ghrtham⁶⁸  (mental disorders), sidharthakadi agadam⁶⁹  (psychiatric illness), bhootharava ghrtham⁷⁰  (psychiatric problems), mahabhootharavaghrtham⁷¹  (psychiatric problems), hareethakyadi nasyanjanam⁷²  (psychiatric problems), haridra dwayadi ghrtham⁷³  (psychiatric illness), kalyanaka ghrtham⁷⁴  (mental problems, emaciation), mahakalyanaka ghrtham⁷⁵  (mental problems, emaciation), mahath pachagavya ghrtham⁷⁶  (fever, epilepsy), hreeberadi nasyam⁷⁷  (eye diseases), khadiradi gulika⁷⁸  (tooth pain, gingivitis), arimedadi tailam⁷⁹  (tooth problems), jathyadi ghrutha⁸⁰  (non-healing wounds), madhukadi tailam⁸¹  (fistula), bhadradi tailam⁸²  (skin disease, skin ulcer), samudradi varthi⁸³  (pilonidal sinus), manjishtadi trivrtham⁸⁴  (facial melanosis), kashmiradi ghrtham⁸⁵  (vaginal diseases, infertility), phalasarpis⁸⁶  (infertility, uterine disorders), chandrodaya gulika⁸⁷  (poison), panchavalkadi agadam⁸⁸  (snake poison), vajra gulika⁸⁹  (snake poison), vilwadi gulika⁹⁰  (poison, indigestion), rajanyadi pratisaranam⁹¹  (scorpion poison), agara dhoomadi lepanam⁹²  (rat poison), dwinisadi ghrtham⁹³  (rat poison). Susrutha also describes some very effective formulations that contain haridra. They are aragwadhadhi varthi⁹⁴  (wounds), mahathikthakam grtham⁹⁵  (skin diseases), vajraka tailam⁹⁶  (skin diseases), mahavajraka tailam⁹⁷  (skin diseases), sanjeevani agadam⁹⁸  (poison), mahagadam⁹⁹  (poison), kalyanaka ghrutham¹⁰⁰  (mental problems, infertility), mahakalyanaka ghrutham¹⁰¹  (fever, general tonic), panchagavya ghrutham¹⁰²  (pyrexia), triphaladi ghrutham¹⁰³  (fever, respiratory disorders), lakshadi tailam¹⁰⁴  (pyrexia), sidharadhaka ghrtham¹⁰⁵  (psychiatric problems), panchagavya ghrutham¹⁰⁶  (epilepsy), kalyana ghrutham¹⁰⁷  (psychiatric diseases, respiratory diseases) and phala ghrutham¹⁰⁸  (infertility). Sarngadhara Samhitha contains information on the following formulations of haridra: punarnavadi kwatha¹⁰⁹  (oedema), laghu manjishtadi Kashaya¹¹⁰  (skin diseases), bruhatha manjistadi kashayam¹¹¹  (skin diseases, paralysis), pathyadishadangam¹¹²  (headache, eye diseases), sudharshana choornam¹¹³  (fever, pain), panchanibachoornam¹¹⁴  (skin diseases), chandraprabha guggulu¹¹⁵  (diabetes, renal stones), paniya kalyana ghrutham¹¹⁶  (fever, epilepsy, infertility), mahathikthaka ghrutham¹¹⁷  (skin diseases, arthritis), kasisadyam ghrutham¹¹⁸  (skin diseases), jathyadi ghrutham¹¹⁹  (non-healing ulcers, pilonidal sinus), thriphala grutham¹²⁰  (eye diseases), gouradyam ghrutham¹²¹  (poison, skin diseases), phala ghrutham¹²²  (infertility), lagu phala ghrutham¹²³  (vaginal diseases), lakshadi tailam¹²⁴  (pyrexia, cough), ankarakatailam¹²⁵  (fever), arka tailam¹²⁶  (skin diseases), marichadi tailam¹²⁷  (skin diseases), thriphaladi tailam¹²⁸  (seborrheic dermatitis), jathyadi tailam¹²⁹  (burns, wounds), patadi tailam¹³⁰  (sinusitis), chandhanadi tailam¹³¹  (fever, epilepsy), vacha tailam¹³²  (thyroid diseases), dhathoora tailam¹³³  (arthritis, paralysis), kumaryasavam¹³⁴  (diabetes, irritable bowel disease), devadharvarishtam¹³⁵  (diabetes, arthritis), mahavahni rasam¹³⁶  (ascites, abdominal distension), kushtadi prathisarana choornam¹³⁷  (bleeding gums), dhashanga lepam¹³⁸  (poison, skin diseases) and rasanjanavarthi¹³⁹  in nakhtandhyatha (night blindness).

Even if haridra choorna is indicated for prameha in bruhath trayis (Sharaka Samhitha, Susruta Samhitha and Ashtanga Hrudaya), Ashtanga Hrudaya says haridra is the agryoushadha of prameha.¹⁴⁰  Charaka suggests turmeric powder added with honey and amalaki swarasa,¹⁴¹  but Vagbhata states that raw haridra along with dhatree rasa (gooseberry juice) will cure prameha.¹⁴²  And another important thing, haridra is used as a lepanoushadha for vranasudhi in the context of medo arbuda chikithsa¹⁴³  (cancer treatment). Haridra is indicated as a garbhasthapana oushadha¹⁴⁴  (for pregnant women) in Charaka Samhitha. Intake of haridra choorna along with gomutra (cow's urine) is suggested as a good medicine for chronic skin diseases.¹⁴⁵ 

Some important choorna prayogas (powder formulations) of haridra available in ancient literature are: for various types of skin disease,^146,147  for external application in parswaruja¹⁴⁸  (pleurodynia), swelling,¹⁴⁹  oedema,¹⁵⁰  for udwarthana¹⁵¹  (external rubbing) in kushta, mukhadhavana choornam in anorexia,¹⁵²  for kasa¹⁵³  (cough) for moothrarodhaja udavartha¹⁵⁴  (abdominal pain due to retention of urine), swasa roga¹⁵⁵  (respiratory diseases), pandu¹⁵⁶  (anaemia), rakthapitha¹⁵⁷  (bleeding disorders) and amathisara chikitsa¹⁵⁸  (diarrhoea).

The oil formulations where haridra is a main ingredient are: taila for abyanga after cutting the umbilical cord during delivery,¹⁵⁹  tailam for shirovirechanam¹⁶⁰  (a therapy in which medicine is applied through the nose), for sandhigathavatha¹⁶¹  (arthritis), of tailam for pana, abhyanga and anuvasana¹⁶²  (application through mouth, anal orifice and skin), kaphaja vrudhi chikithsa¹⁶³  (hernia), dhava twagadi nasya tailam,¹⁶⁴  vranaropana tailam,¹⁶⁵  taila for pana, abhyanga, gandhoosha, nasya and vasthi,¹⁶⁶  taila for nadivrana¹⁶⁷  (pilonidal sinus), taila for ropana and bhagandara vinashana,¹⁶⁸  taila for bhagandara (fistula).¹⁶⁹ 

Kashaya yogas (medicinal decoction) where haridra is included are: for kaphaja prameha,¹⁷⁰  for pithaja prameha,¹⁷¹  kaphapithajanya kushta,¹⁷²  kashaya yoga for tridosha jwara,¹⁷³  athisara,¹⁷⁴  pakwathisara,¹⁷⁵  kashaya for pana and abhyanga,¹⁷⁶  sannipatha jwara,¹⁷⁷  amathisara chikitsa,¹⁷⁸  pithathisara chikitsa,¹⁷⁹  kapha jwara,¹⁸⁰  kapha jwara,¹⁸¹  mooshika visha¹⁸²  (rat poison), kashaya for visha damsanm¹⁸³  (snake bite), kashaya yoga for prameha chikithsa,¹⁸⁴  kaphadhika vataraktha¹⁸⁵  (rheumatoid arthritis).

Kshara yogas (alkaline preparations), where haridra is an ingredient are: udara,¹⁸⁶  for jadaragni vardhana,¹⁸⁷  chikithsa of udara,¹⁸⁸  etc.

Lepana yogas (medicated paste) where haridra is an ingredient are: in kushta chikithsa,¹⁸⁹  in arshas haridra choorna along with sudha ksheera,¹⁹⁰  thwak vishudhikara lepam,¹⁹¹  vathakapha vathasonitha,¹⁹²  dadru,¹⁹³  nakha danthadi visha,¹⁹⁴  moosikka visha chikitsa,¹⁹⁵  lutha visha,¹⁹⁶  vrschika visha,¹⁹⁷  savarnakara,¹⁹⁸  pithaja nalivrana,¹⁹⁹  twak visudhi,²⁰⁰  vrana sodhana,²⁰¹  aroomshika,²⁰²  lepana yoga in kukoonaka chikitsa²⁰³  lepana for vrana sodhana,²⁰⁴  lepana for pithadhika vataraktha,²⁰⁵  lepana during asmari chikitsa,²⁰⁶  lepa for nadi vrana,²⁰⁷  alepanoushadha for arshas,²⁰⁸  lepa for kushta chikitsa,²⁰⁹  lepa for swithra,²¹⁰  lepana for kaphaja upadamsa,²¹¹  lepana for nyacha, vyanga chikitsa,²¹²  lepana in aroomshika chikitsa,²¹³  lepana after rakthamoksha in visha chikitsa,²¹⁴  siro lepam,²¹⁵  kushta,²¹⁶  kandu,²¹⁷  dadru,²¹⁸  shopha,²¹⁹  vrana shodhana,²²⁰  vasikarana.²²¹ 

Ghrutha yogas (medicated ghee) that contain haridra are: mrthdosha peeditha,²²²  of mrthikakrthan sarvan vikaran,²²³  mrthikothbhava roga,²²⁴  vathajanya yoni rogam,²²⁵  manovikaras,²²⁶  pitha vidradhi chikithsa,²²⁷  kapha vidradhi chikithsa,²²⁸  karnavardhana ghrtham,²²⁹  pandu,²³⁰  swasakasa,²³¹  for dhara and pana,²³²  for vranapurana,²³³  ghrutha for abhyamga on face,²³⁴  for snehapanam²³⁵  and ghrutha for kushta.²³⁶ 

Kalka prayogas (herbal paste) of haridra are indicated in pithathisara,²³⁷  in sarkarasmari,²³⁸  kalka prayoga in urusthambha²³⁹  and of kalka prayoga for dourgandha sthanya dosham.²⁴⁰ 

Nasya (nasal therapy), anjana (collyrium) applications that contain haridra are indicated in diseases such as: unmada and apasmara,²⁴¹  anjana in the treatment of visha, which affect kaphaja srothas,²⁴²  gulika yoga for nasya and anjana,²⁴³  anjana for grahabadha,²⁴⁴  anjana for vishoochika,²⁴⁵  anjana for nakthandhyatha,²⁴⁶  anjana for divaseshu avasyatha,²⁴⁷  anjana for timira,²⁴⁸  nasya for pitha rakha janya peenasa²⁴⁹  and anjana for abhishyanda.²⁵⁰ 

Haridra in rasayana chikithsa (rejuvenation therapy), is an ingredient in sodhanoushadha, which is indicated prior to rasayana seva,²⁵¹  a rasayana yoga of abhayamalakeeya rasayana poda containing haridra, and that yoga is indicated for longevity and health,²⁵²  virechana yoga in rasayana vidhi,²⁵³  jaladadi rasayanam²⁵⁴  and suntyadi rasayanam²⁵⁵  contain haridra as a main ingredient.

Haridra in visha chikithsa (treatment of poisons and toxins) it is used for gharshana in visha chikithsa,²⁵⁶  haridra is good as an agada in the sixth vishavega,²⁵⁷  kalka yoga anjana, nasya and lepana in visha sopha,²⁵⁸  kalka yoga for sarpa visha,²⁵⁹  agada yoga for visha,²⁶⁰  gruha godha visha chikithsa,²⁶¹  agada for nakha, dantha kshatha visham,²⁶²  chathushpada dashtanam agada,²⁶³  amrtham ghrtam sarvavishahari,²⁶⁴  Vrana shodhana kshalana kashayam and lepam,²⁶⁵  peya yoga in visha chikitsa,²⁶⁶  dhoomaprayoga in vrishchika visha²⁶⁷  and prathisarana for ugra, madhya visha vruschika damsana.²⁶⁸ 

Haridra in vrana chikithsa (treatment of wounds and ulcers) is used in preparatory procedures julooka avacharana,²⁶⁹  avagharshana choornam,²⁷⁰  vranashodhana grtham,²⁷¹  vranashodhana tailam,²⁷²  vranashopana grtham²⁷³  and vranashopana tailam.²⁷⁴  For bandhana in kaphaja vrana haridra pathra is used,²⁷⁵  ropana taila for sadyovrana,²⁷⁶  ropana taila for sadyovrana,²⁷⁷  sodhana taila,²⁷⁸  vrana sodhanoushadha²⁷⁹  and vrana puranam in kapha vidradhi chikitsa.²⁸⁰ 

Haridra in nethra chikithsa (treatment of eyes) kashaya yoga for nethradhara,²⁸¹  varthi for kukoonaka chikitsa,²⁸²  dhara in arma chedana vidhi,²⁸³  manjishtadi dhara,²⁸⁴  pundrayashtyadi for plutha,²⁸⁵  dhara for Sudha sukkla chikithsa,²⁸⁶  Kashaya dhara for sushkakshipaka,²⁸⁷  ghrtha for dhara and nasya in pithabhishyanda²⁸⁸  and aschyothana in praklinna varthna.²⁸⁹ 

Other modes of application of haridra like vasthi (medicated enema), virechana (purgation), gulika (pills), leha (a semi-solid preparation from drugs) and dhooma (inhalation therapy): vasthiyogam for kapharogi,²⁹⁰  in athisthoulya,²⁹¹  of virechanayoga in udara chikithsa,²⁹²  gulika yoga for kushta,²⁹³  a gulika yoga for swithra and kushta,²⁹⁴  leha, choorna yoga for pithathisara,²⁹⁵  gulika for gulma,²⁹⁶  leha for swasa,²⁹⁷  varthi for dhoomapana,²⁹⁸  lehyam for aruchi,²⁹⁹  kalka dhooma prayoga for kandu yoni,³⁰⁰  vasthi yoga for kapha, pandu,³⁰¹  etc.

Nowadays, innumerable research efforts are taking place on the anticancerous, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and many other properties of turmeric and it is considered as one of the most precious drugs. However, turmeric (haridra) has been a part of Indian food culture for centuries and it is mentioned as a herb with many medicinal values even in the Vedas, the first written dogma in India. It was used as a home remedy, both for internal external applications. All Ayurveda medicinal treatises mention haridra as a single medicine or as a part of formulations. So, it is clear that the medicinal properties of this precious drug were first recognised by the great science of Ayurveda.