Turmeric comes from the rhizome (a root-like structure) of a plant closely related to ginger. Commonly used in curries, turmeric has a warm, slightly bitter taste that’s used for coloring or enhancing the flavor of curry powders, cheeses, mustard, and other foods and condiments. Many of my Ayurvedic teachers have stated that turmeric is a natural solution to most common ailments, including stomachaches, sore throats, cuts, infections, and skin problems.
According to WebMD, the list of health-related uses for turmeric is long. It has been ingested for stomach problems, such as gas, bloating, or diarrhea; arthritis; menstrual pain; fever; and other ailments for thousands of years in some areas of the world. A juice version is used as a topical agent, and a turmeric paste (warm milk mixed with turmeric powder) is employed as an antiseptic for treating wounds.
Countless studies have shown the healing powers of turmeric’s chemical constituents. Recent research on the effect of aromatic turmerone, a bioactive compound extracted from turmeric, shows that it may help regenerate damaged neurons after brain traumas such as a stroke. Many studies on curcumin, another active ingredient in turmeric, confirm its anti-inflammatory properties. In one study, curcumin worked about as well as ibuprofen for reducing arthritis pain. There have also been clinical studies on its benefits in diabetes and prediabetes and as a cancer treatment, particularly for prostate cancer. Many other studies have shown that it aids in weight management, liver detoxification, and digestive diseases, such as Crohn’s disease.
Turmeric can easily be incorporated in to your daily life. It contains many essential nutrients, including pyridoxine, choline, niacin, and riboflavin as well as calcium, potassium, copper, iron, manganese, magnesium, and zinc. Turmeric in the diet increases the production of enzymes that digest fats and sugars, and it helps prevent cholesterol from forming gallstones. It is an immune support as well as an antiseptic that kills yeast and parasites when used internally. It is also helpful for easing headaches, bronchitis, colds, lung infections, fibromyalgia, leprosy, fever, and menstrual problems. Other uses include the management of depression, Alzheimer’s disease, water retention, and kidney problems.
You can take turmeric as a daily supplement and incorporate it into your cooking. It is delicious in soups, stir fries, and curries and as a daily tea. The Ayurvedic recipe for this tea is made from a paste of 2 ½ teaspoons dried turmeric and 80 mL of good-quality raw honey. Work the turmeric into the honey until it forms a paste. The paste stores well in a jar so you can keep it on hand for whenever you’d like a cup of revitalizing turmeric tea.
Ayurvedic Daily Turmeric Tea Recipe
Heaping teaspoon of turmeric paste
1 cup of hot water
Squeeze of fresh lemon
Lots of freshly ground black pepper
For each cup of tea, place a heaping teaspoon of the turmeric paste in the bottom of a mug. Pour hot (but not boiling water) into the mug, and stir well to dissolve the turmeric paste. Add a big squeeze of juice from a lemon, and a generous amount of black pepper (pepper is invigorating and helps support the digestion of the turmeric).
Disclaimer
The sole purpose of these articles is to provide information about the tradition of Ayurveda. This information is not intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment, cure or prevention of any disease.