On Herbs - Turmeric

Turmeric is a shrub related to ginger and used primarily in Indian cuisine.  It is bright yellow, offering natural coloring for mustard and cheeses.  Until recently, Ingrid and I had three or four year old Turmeric in our cupboard from our few dalliances into Indian cooking.  Turmeric is widely by alternative medical practitioners and has peaked interest by the western medical community in recent years.  Most of the fuss has revolved around on particular component of turmeric, curcumin, which is a known antioxidant with very promising research to support its use for a variety of ailments including cancer and neurological disease.  Turmeric is a Group A herb for certain uses including an upset stomach and loss of appetite and a Group B herb for a wide variety of other.  For more on group classifications see the On Herbs post by clicking here. 

The Science

The science is in - Turmeric has been documented as helpful with digestive conditions such as upset stomach and loss of appetite according to Germany's Commission E (Germany's equivalent to the US Food & Drug Administration).

Additional Potential Uses

Turmeric is widely used in Indian and Chinese medicine for millenia for a variety of ailments; and there is a lot of buzz about Turmeric (actually curcumin, the active ingredient in Turmeric) these days in the western medical sphere as a powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant with promise for use in preventing and/or treating cancer, neurological disease, bacteria and viral infections, heart disease, chronic and autoimmune ailments and, quite honestly a host of other ailments including but not limited to diarrhea, fever, bronchitis, colds, parasitic worms, leprosy, bladder and kidney inflammations, bruises, leech bites, festering eye infections, mouth inflammations, skin conditions, and infected wounds, chronic coughs, and colds. Many studies in animals a the laboratory have identified these potential uses - and trials on humans are currently under way (as of 2014).  It will be a few years until the results of these studies are known and published, but I think it likely that the health benefits of Turmeric will be validated for a number of these uses.

My Personal Experience

I started to dabble in turmeric tea a short time ago during a bout of nausea.  I drank turmeric tea once or twice a day for a week and the nausea completely subsided.  In every instance since where I feel nauseated, bloated, or otherwise off a few doses of turmeric tea help.  I am ready to move on to daily turmeric pills to see if I can't reap long-term preventative benefits. 

Preparations

Turmeric Capsules
Turmeric Tea

Click here for the alternative road recipe page, which will include recipes for all preparations listed.

Additional Resources

The University of Maryland discusses the science and current studies on turmeric.  Click here to read what the University of Maryland has to say on the subject.

The American Cancer Society discusses the science and current studies on turmeric.  Click here to read what the American Cancer Society has to say on the subject.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has a Natural Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) that talks about the science on Turmeric.  Click here to read what the NIH NCCAM has to say on the subject.