Turmeric is a shrub that is related to ginger and is among the most important spices in Asian cuisine. Usually harvested from February to April, the turmeric rhizome is cut to pieces, boiled for no more than 10 minutes and then dried in the sun. The ground dried rhizome, or root, is what is used as the spice.
Traditional Asian and Indian cultures have long used turmeric for a variety of applications. This versatile spice has also been making a place for itself here in the west, where many of its properties and uses are gaining much recognition and attention.
Turmeric Uses in Cooking
Ground turmeric is very aromatic as well as flavorful and it is widely used in curries, mustards and sauces. It is often substituted for saffron as well. Indian cuisine uses turmeric in most of its dishes as part of their curry mixes, but turmeric can also be used for many other recipes.
Marinades for chicken can be enhanced with turmeric and even simple home fried potatoes can benefit from its unique flavor. Along with cumin and cinnamon, turmeric blends well with chili recipes too. Many traditional Western recipes lend themselves nicely to the turmeric herb.
Aside from flavoring, turmeric is also often used for food coloring, as it dyes into a rich golden yellow color. It can be used to color such items as potato salads, salad dressings, cheese and rice.
Medicinal Uses of Turmeric
The medicinal uses of turmeric in Asia are countless, but some of the most common ones have gotten the attention of medical professionals on our side of the world as well. According to the National Institute of Health's (or NIH) National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), an agent found in turmeric called curcumin, has shown to have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties as found in preliminary studies.
The U.S. National Library of Medicine and NIH's Medicine Plus website offers some results of tests done on specific ailments and how curcumin scores on efficiency in treating them. The spice has shown to have unclear, yet possible good results when used to treat several health concerns.
Some of the more important health conditions include: cancer, heartburn, high cholesterol, HIV/AIDS, inflammation, irritable bowel syndrome, stomach ulcers, rheumatoid arthritis and viral infections. Although more tests have to be done to acquire more detailed results, countries in the Far East have been treating these and other conditions and many more with positive outcomes.
Turmeric Use for Skin Problems
Turmeric powder has long been used for skin applications such as for the treatment of scabies and skin ulcers, according to the NCCAM . Another widely employed topical use for turmeric is to treat eczema and wound healing. A paste made with turmeric and milk or water is often used as an alternative way to treat painful skin boils.
According to results from mouse studies conducted at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, turmeric has shown to block the growth of melanoma skin cancer.
Also, Dr. Magdalene Heng, a Ventura County-based dermatologist has developed a cream product that contains turmeric and is used to treat psoriasis, acne and rosacea. Dr. Heng claims that one treatment of this cream will make psoriasis disappear; she also says that it will even smooth wrinkles away.
It's no doubt that turmeric is a powerful spice with a long list of uses. Numerous medical studies are currently being conducted for multiple medical conditions, according to the Brain Research Institute UCLA. Many researchers are even using curcumin, or synthetic variations of it, in many drugs to treat a variety of ailments. From cooking, to medicine, to even wrinkles, turmeric is an effective spice that is constantly showing results and promise.
Sources:
US National Library of Medicine and the NIH's MedlinePlus.com.
Brain Research Institute UCLA - "Out of the spice box, into the lab", Hilary E. MacGregor.
NIH's National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine - Turmeric
Anna Sanclement - Anna holds a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design and has worked as a designer for about 10 years. She now devotes her time to writing ...
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