Turmeric

In India, turmeric has been used traditionally for thousands of years. It is popular in culinary use throughout Asia for centuries and many of you may already know that this plant is one of the key ingredient of curries. But did you know turmeric has long been used as a powerful anti-inflammatory in both Chinese and Indian herbal medicine treatments?

Turmeric is slightly bitter with a warm and peppery flavor that has a rich orange color and is shaped like ginger. One of the key components in turmeric is curcumin which has powerful anti-inflammatory effects and acts as a strong antioxidant. Studies have shown insight into the mechanisms behind curcumin’s protective effects against Alzheimer’s disease.

According to Pharmacology and Applications of Chinese Materia Medica and Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica, in laboratory animal studies, turmeric has been shown to:

• reduce blood lipids
• improve blood circulation to the heart
• lower blood pressure
• reduce platelet aggregation
• increase bile formation and secretion
• reduce inflammation
• alleviate pain
• stimulate uterine contraction

Turmeric is especially effective when treating pain syndrome, including pain in the chest and hypochondriac region, amenorrhea with abdominal pain and injury pain. When patients have chest congestion due to stress or PMS for women before menses, herbal formula contains turmeric is used to relieve symptoms.

Here is quick way on how to prepare your own turmeric tea:

• Boiling water
• 1 tsp turmeric
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tb of organic honey

mix them together and drink once a day and make sure your source of turmeric is organic.

Enjoy!