John Bagnulo and I taught a class recently and he insisted that I include turmeric in a few of the dishes. I ordered a pound of it and was disappointed that it came all the way from Figi! I gave half of it to brilliant Caitlin Jones at Mermaid Farm who is delighted to begin growing it. We are not talking about the dried powder form that is tasteless and only seems to add color to dishes. We are talking about the vibrant orange root that looks similar to ginger, and in fact they are related. Turmeric is well recognized as a great anti-oxidant, hypoglycemic, colorant, antiseptic and wound healer. Used in cooking as a spice for over 2,500 years, turmeric has a bitter, musty flavor similar to mustard. It is this spice that gives Indian curries their characteristic bright yellow-orange color.Its modern approved applications in European medicine, stem from its traditional uses in Asia. Turmeric is used extensively in the Indian systems of medicine (Ayurveda, Unani, and Siddha). It is used as a carminative and stomachic in the treatment of digestive disorders such as flatulence, bloating, and appetite loss.Turmeric is used internally as:

boiled powder fresh juice

Turmeric is used externally as:

paste oil ointment lotion

It is also applied topically for:

ulcers wounds eczema inflammation

In both the Ayurvedic and Siddha systems of medicine, a turmeric paste is used topically to treat ulcers and scabies. Turmeric, with its antibacterial action, prevents bacterial infections on wounds. Turmeric also has a long history of use for its anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic effects. As in India, it is used in China, Japan, and Korea for a range of indications including, Amenorrhea. Turmeric has been investigated for its cholagogous influence on the secretion of bile, pancreatic, and gastric juices. It is currently being evaluated for its anti-carcinogenic and anti-mutagenic properties. Wow! Who needs a pharmacy? I love adding it to soups, as it imparts a nutty, spicy flavor and adds great color.I also LOVE it as a tea with ginger, organic orange rind, a dash of cinnamon and a teaspoon of honey!Heavenly and so healthy!Top Image Credit: h-bomb

Recipes

Turmeric