Turmeric is a kind of perennial plant and herb that is in rhizomatous herbaceous ginger family, Zingiberaceae. Turmeric is native to some parts of tropical South Asia, India, and Africa. Turmeric is sometimes used as a coloring agent for fabrics and most famously known to be a key ingredient in curry, butters, cheeses, and mustards. Turmeric also has some health benefits and may be used as a kind of natural medicine, home remedy, naturopathic medicine, homeopathic remedy, alternative medicine, and herbal dietary supplement.
Other names for turmeric include: Curcuma, Curcumine, Halada, Turmeric Root, Safran Bourbon, Nisha, Yu Jin, and Indian Saffron. In medieval times turmeric was used as a kind of spice that was a cheap alternative to the saffron spice which was very expensive at the time. Turmeric has become a kind of staple ingredient in India, Thai, and Persia.
Health Benefits of Turmeric
Traditionally, turmeric was used by Indian women as a kind of cosmetic as well as an antimicrobial and natural medicine in Ayurveda for improving skin health and perhaps having some anti-aging properties. In traditional Ayurvedic and Chinese Medicine, turmeric has been used as a homeopathic or holistic medicine to treat digestive problems as well as a reliever of pain due to arthritis and to help problems related to menstruation.
Turmeric has been researched for having possible health benefits as a home remedy or natural medicine for Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis, cancer, and other illnesses. Some of the studies suggest that turmeric may have some anti-bacterial and anti-fungal effects in some of their compounds.
In addition, turmeric is used as a kind of natural remedy or alternative medicine for dyspepsia, diarrhea, boating of the stomach, jaundice, gallbladder problems, and pain in the stomach region; as well as intestinal gas, appetite loss, liver conditions, and colds.
Turmeric may be applied topically on the skin to possibly treat skin problems such as eczema, skin inflammation, mouth sores, ringworms, leech bits, bruising, eye infections, and wounds. Turmeric is commonly used to treat stomach ulcers, water retention, depression, leprosy, bronchitis, headaches, fibromyalgia, lung infections, Alzheimer’s diseases, and worms.
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