What is Turmeric / Curcumin ?

As children we were all told to eat our greens, but who could have guessed that the real worth lay in a curious yellow spice?

Turmeric, found in every Indian household, has been traditionally used to treat any and every malady, from heartburn to arthritis. It is found all over the country and is known by various names in different locales, like, Haldi in Hindi, Halud in Bengali, and Manjal in Tamil.

Turmeric is one of the most important and ancient spices of India. Indians use it in their daily food preparations but its true value lies in its medicinal properties. It has been a vital element in Indian Ayurvedic medicine since the nineteenth century B.C. Of late, Curcumin has been identified as the substance that is associated with most of the biological activity, and thus the benefits, of Turmeric.

What is Turmeric?

Seven hundred years ago, Marco Polo wrote of Turmeric while he was travelling through China, marvelling at a vegetable that was so strikingly similar to saffron. The British used Turmeric as an inexpensive substitute for saffron as it imparted a similar colour but they could not guess at its many merits at the time.

Turmeric is a member of the botanical group, Curcuma, and is a leafy plant of the ginger family, Zingiberaceae. It consists of the rhizomes (underground swollen stems) of the Curcuma Longa plant. The skin is tough and brown with a sunny orange interior. Although we think of Turmeric as being one single spice, there are actually thirty known varieties under the genus Curcuma.

India is the largest producer of Turmeric since it is responsible for about eighty percent of the world's yield. The spice is also found in Sri Lanka, China, Pakistan, Haiti, Jamaica, Peru, Bangaldesh, El Salvador, Thailand, and Taiwan. Today, it is easily available since the perennial crop is widely cultivated throughout the length and breadth of the tropics.

The Turmeric rhizomes that are freshly dug out of the earth are cured to develop the colour and aroma of dry Turmeric as we know it. The root and stems of the plant, Curcuma Longa, are boiled, or steamed, and then dried and crushed to make ground Turmeric ready for consumption. It is also available as a paste, or powder, or in the form of tablets and capsules.

Ground Turmeric is a necessary ingredient in the preparation of curried dishes, and is popular as a condiment in India, Southeast Asia and the Middle East. It is mildly aromatic and has a strong, tangy flavour. Turmeric is useful as a dye for cotton textiles, for medicinal purposes and cosmetics, and for certain religious ceremonies as well.

However, recent laboratory studies have shown that the astounding therapeutic powers that have traditionally been associated with Turmeric are, in fact, attributable to Curcumin.

What is Curcumin?

Curcumin is the natural pigment that gives Turmeric its distinctive yellow colour and accounts for all the positive consequences of its consumption. Ground Turmeric is the source from which Curcumin is extracted and concentrated.

The health benefits associated with Curcumin have been known for the past 5000 years. And with every passing day, more virtues of Curcumin are being discovered by scientists the world over. The best part is that it has no side effects when taken in moderation.

In India, Turmeric paste is applied as an ointment on minor wounds and burns. Since time immemorial, it has been used to treat sore throats and skin diseases in the country, and to rid one of dental troubles.

Curcumin is accredited with antioxidant, anti-carcinogenic, anti-parasitic, anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties. It helps reduce swelling and diminish pain in the muscles of the body. It has been implicated in the cure of cancer since inflammation appears to play an important role in the spread of cancer. Curcumin is an excellent digestive that prevents weight gain and while keeping gastrointestinal diseases at bay. People suffering from heart disease and liver ailments like jaundice and hepatitis benefit from the intake of Curcumin. In addition, it also serves as a treatment for Alzheimer's disease, menstrual problems, colic, hemorrhage, malaria, psoriasis and so on. It may even be effective in stopping the deadly HIV virus from replicating.

The list of the potential uses of Curcumin grows longer every day as further research is being carried out on the properties of this simple Indian spice. It is nature's own remedy for all our afflictions. It plays a crucial role in curing every malady, from a simple cut on your finger to the dreadful disease called cancer.

So, what are you waiting for? Get your dose of Curcumin today!