Turmeric has been around for thousands and thousands of years. Its scientific name is curcuma longa, and is closely related to ginger, in that the part of the plant that is used most commonly is the root. This little powerhouse spice is exported mainly from India. During the middle ages, it was referred to as Indian Saffron.
Before it is processed, it could be easily confused with ginger. They are both roots and have a similar looking bark. When busted open though, they are very different, ginger has a pale yellow hue, while turmeric has a bight orange color:
(The spoon is in the picture because a neat little trick is to peel the roots with a spoon! It takes the danger out of slicing your fingers off with a normal peeler, and the kids can help to!)
There are many, many, maaaaany, uses for turmeric! The obvious use is cooking, toss a little sprinkle into stir fry dishes for an extra pop, sprinkle some black pepper in there too, black pepper helps your body absorb more of the good stuff from turmeric. Add some to some noodles for a zing of color, taste and nutrients. Did you know that mustard gets it’s color from turmeric? No? Now you do! This is because Turmeric can also be used as a natural dye. For food, clothes, and I’ve read it could even be used to dye hair. It also dyes (or stains) your skin. When I dried some turmeric out, my hands were a fancy yellow/orange color for a few days! So be aware of plans you have after handling a lot of turmeric!
Along with those uses, there are also some pretty amazing medicinal uses. Before I dive on into that though, it should be noted that taking turmeric capsules while pregnant is not advised (Or anything for that matter, unless your doctor says it’s alright). Another real quick disclaimer, you shouldn’t take anything Willy-nilly without your doctor’s approval or knowledge. The information that I am writing about is my own personal use, if you are interested in using turmeric for anything, I would strongly advice you to consult your doctor and definitely read more about it. While writing this article, I found out that prolonged turmeric use (the supplements) can cause damage to your liver function and also cause kidney stones! I am currently reevaluating my use and doses! Alright, we cool? Leeeeets continue.
When I was pregnant with Willow, my OB told me right away that I needed to stop taking the capsules. Which threw me into panic mode and eventually because of the hormones and the skin condition I have, resulted in week off, minor surgery and a lot of fear, pain and crying.
Turmeric has been shown to have awesome anti-inflammatory properties. I know people who take it for arthritis and inflamed muscles. This is also great for inflammatory skin conditions, which like I said before, is what I use it for. Turmeric is a natural antibiotic, and antiseptic. Which means it can help fight infections.
I have an autoimmune condition called Hidradenitis Suppurativa. A quick run down: it causes excruciatingly painful lumps under the skin. Sometimes these little gems decide to open and drain, gracing you with even more pain and extreme discomfort. Hey, if you put a positive spin on it, it doesn’t sound that bad!
In all seriousness, this shit sucks. If you would like to know more about it, you can read about it here. Turmeric helps me by reducing my inflammation and risk of infection. I used to take Turmeric in capsule form, everyday. After reevaluation, I have decided it is safer to take turmeric when I actually need it instead of just gobbling down the supplements. Cooking with it is actually a far better choice for what I’m dealing with!
We always have ground turmeric on hand, so throwing some into the eggs in the morning wont be a problem. The powder is also good for making things like golden milk or ginger turmeric tea! When I have a lump that gets out of control, I whip up a paste and slather it on. It hurts like a son of a bitch at first, because of the nature of my condition. But! It helps, it helps so much!
Now, I feel it is important to mention, that this is how turmeric has worked for me and my condition. I’m not saying everyone will respond the same way my body and immune system has to turmeric. If you aren’t careful it will stain your clothing and your skin. I also wouldn’t recommend just eating straight up, it can be a little spicy and bitter.
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