Turmeric has become ubiquitous among health enthusiasts and even those who may not feed on the knowledge of phytonutrients have been overheard saying, “I heard turmeric is really good for you.” Indeed, turmeric has a myriad of healing properties and incorporating it into your life can be as simple as adding it to your food. Still for some this rhizome is as intimidating as walking into an IKEA store for the first time. With so many benefits and so many uses, it’s worthy of a brief review.
Turmeric, like ginger, is classified as a root or rhizome and is grown in warm humid climates. The name in Sanskrit is haridra which literally means yellow and the Latin name is curcuma longa. You may have seen a supplement named “curcumin” and this is simply the constituent of turmeric that makes it yellow. And while curcumin comes from turmeric and can provide some benefits, using the plant as a whole always packs the best punch. This isn’t to say that a tincture or tablet isn’t as good as using the root itself, but instead that we should not only extract the components that we think provide the benefit. Like lycopene—just have the tomato. But I digress…
Most people know turmeric is an anti-inflammatory and that’s their motivation for consumption, but it is so much more. I remember learning all of the reasons for taking turmeric while learning about it in ayurveda school and it seemed like the “anti-” everything: anti-inflammatory, anti-coagulant, anti-bacterial, anti-cancer. Point taken. We should not be anti-turmeric! With so many amazing effects, here are the ones that I think top the list:
- Anti-Inflammatory: Most commonly for joint pain, but also inflammatory skin conditions like psoriasis and digestive conditions like colitis
- Liver Tonic: It stimulates the liver and increases bile output
- Externally: For bruises, sprains, strains and especially for a clarifying skin mask or cleanser
- Digestion: Helps to increase agni (digestive fire) and to treat conditions of decreased or increased stomach acid, bloating and burping
Photo by Anna Petrow
How to use it and how much to take? I knew you’d ask. Dosage of taking turmeric can range from 1g to 10g or could be used as a culinary spice. Please always consult with your ayurvedic practitioner, of course. My recommendations typically go something like this: If you are taking it to treat a condition (such as arthritis or for inflammatory colon as example), start with 1g and work your way up to 4g in a few weeks–then check back with me. This can be in the form of a tablet, powder or tincture. Most often, you’ll want to combine with another herb for synergistic effects (like with neem for skin conditions or with frankincense for joint pain). If you’re simply taking it because you know it has superhero powers, add a teaspoon to your food or to a milk or mylk with some spices to make a healing tonic. Use a pinch of black pepper along with it as black pepper acts as the FedEx of herbs and helps to carry it to your tissues. If you are pregnant, have an acute liver condition or are taking an anticoagulant, do not take.
One last thing. I hear people say “turmeric” in so many different ways. I think there’s hope for us to be consistent in this act. If you’re wondering how to pronounce “turmeric”, click here. If you’re wondering how to pronounce “turmeric” as a British woman, click here. And finally, if you’re wondering how to use “turmeric” in a sentence, click here.