We use turmeric as a natural dye for our products. We absolutely love this gift from mother nature, find out why!

At HARA every single piece we create is naturally plant dyed by us 🌿. Printing & dying the bamboo ourselves in our warehouse in Melbourne, Australia. Natural dyes are not only beneficial for the earth but also for your skin. The combination of bamboo and natural dyes is our secret recipe for nourishing the skin and protecting the body.

Embrace the slight variations in knowing your garment is truly unique. Each batch is is slightly unique to the next.

Using natural dyes is an important step in the production of our garments as they have a minimal environmental impact as they come from nature, are biodegradable and disposing of them does not cause pollution.

Turmeric has been used in Indian cooking and as a medicinal herb and Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years.

In traditional medicine turmeric is used to alleviate breathing problems, rheumatism, fatigue and pain.

The rest of us are catching on as you see turmeric skin creams pop up in health shops and turmeric tea and lattes appearing in our local cafes.

 

The main active ingredient is curcumin which gives turmeric its yellow colour. There has been a lot of recent research into the effects of curcumin and its therapeutic properties.

Curcumin is an anti-inflammatory and potent antioxidant.

However, our body can only absorb it in small quantities, it has what is called a low bioavailability. So there’s no need to start taking it by the spoonful!

Turmeric has been hailed as a superfood, with research showing that it can help rheumatoid arthritis, improve cholesterol levels, reducing anxiety, alleviate depression, regulate digestion, weight loss and even linked to reducing risk of Alzheimer’s Disease, heart disease and cancer!

It’s important to remember that this is a growing field of research and some of the studies to date are very small sample sizes. Turmeric can have side effects for some people and it is recommended that you tell your doctor if you start taking curcumin supplements alongside other medication.

Eat it.

Turmeric is one the main spices used in Indian curries but did you know that it pretty much goes well with everything?

Consider adding a touch of turmeric the next time you make:

  • Soup

  • Roasted vegetables

  • Salad dressing

  • Smoothies

  • DIY turmeric lattes

  • Tea (chop the turmeric root as your would your ginger root)

Piperine, which is found in black pepper, taken alongside turmeric increases the amount of curcumin absorbed.

So remember to add a little zing to your next meal and combine the two!

Wear it.

You can apply turmeric directly to your skin in paste or cream form.

As an anti-inflammatory turmeric has been know to help with acne, eczema, psoriasis and even bags under the eyes. Why not have a go at making your own turmeric face mask?

 

And then of course there are our pants and bras. It might not be as intense as a turmeric bath (a ritual in Indian weddings) but we think it’s a great ingredient to have up close against your skin. Oh and the colour looks great on you too!

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