My amazing world: Turmeric -- A wonder medicinal spice

Turmeric is the dried rhizome of a herbaceous plant, besides imparting a yellow colour and a characteristic flavor to food, it has a long history of use in Indian Ayurvedic medicines. It is the most popular spice as a beauty aid. The spice is sometimes called 'Indian Saffron', as its shares the deep yellow orange color of the saffron.

A member of ginger family, the root of the turmeric plant in its dried form is used as spice. It’s mildly aromatic with a pungent bittersweet flavor. Turmeric is used as a condiment, textile and culinary dye.

Benefits of Turmeric

Purifies the blood
Aids in digestion of protein.
It’s an antidote against poison.
Promotes proper metabolism in the body, correcting both, excess and deficiencies.
It is used for fever, stomach upset, infection, arthritis, dysentery, jaundice and other liver problems.
Turmeric paste prevents and cures pigmentation, maintains pH factor and makes skin glowing.
Indians put the spice on their Band-Aids as a disinfectant & sprinkle the powder on wounds to help them heal faster.
It’s also used to treat chest congestion, menstrual discomforts and many more ailments.
Considered a cleansing herb for the whole body, it gives energy and grants prosperity.
Many People in India (also in Nepal, Bhutan & some other East Asian countries) gargle with turmeric when they have laryngitis and rub it on the skin to cure cuts and psoriasis.
They swallow it to treat bronchitis and chronic diseases such as diabetes.
Indian brides and grooms apply turmeric and milk to their skin before marriage, to look more beautiful.
This is used as one of the important ingredient spices in Indian foods and curries for flavor, colour and preserve.
Turmeric also has potent antioxidant properties and may even lower cholesterol.
It is widely believed that it helps in curing many diseases including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, arthritis and various cancers.