While traveling, I was struck with a scratchy throat that threatened my ability to enjoy my trip. The friend I was visiting prepared fresh orange juice (her current love affair) and brewed a pot of turmeric tea before bed while sharing the health benefits of turmeric. She had focused on turmeric as a powerful anti-oxidant like Vitamin C and E to fight inflammatory disease in the body. Seems I had heard Dr. Oz speak highly of the health benefits of turmeric, but I could not quite remember what they are.
So while my friend prepared tea I sliced and chewed on a thin strip of the root. The taste of the root and the tea itself were really quite refreshing. Unlike a ginger root that is more pungent, turmeric root does not have an intense taste. I am accustomed to using it dried and powdered to color cooked items. But as a food as medicine proponent, it is not hard for me to believe there are health benefits of turmeric, as proven by the disappearance of my scratchy throat on the following day.
I was elated to wake up the next morning without a sore throat. And because this was such a powerful result, I just had to find a place that sold turmeric root to bring back home so that I could test it again.
I thought maybe the improvement in the rawness of my throat was a fluke. But I couldn’t take a chance. My girlfriend took me to a place called Santos Spices at 1188 Montague in San Leandro, California. It is a huge warehouse-like, no frills place that clearly services a huge population of South Asian buyers. There were multiple size packages of cardomon pods, for example which I’d been looking for in Whole Food and Wegman’s without success. Santos Spices sold classic red whole wheat flour, curry leaves, and asafetida. The store was so authentic that they were selling home-made samosas at the check-out counter for 75 cents.
But back to turmeric. In the 13th century turmeric was introduced by Arabians to Europe and became known as Indian saffron except that it doesn’t have much of a taste. Turmeric is now not only used in Indian delicacies but is a key Ayurvedic ingredient, an ancient Indian medical system of preventive health care that has gained traction among traditional physicians. Not to wear Dr. Oz out as an example, but as a forward-thinking heart specialist, he also combines traditional and Ayurvedic medicine in his practice.
The rhizome or root of turmeric plant is used to make turmeric spice which is what is most familiar familiar. The rhizome is boiled and then let to dry. The rough skins are removed and grounded to make a fine rich yellow turmeric powder.
I am a convert, not an expert. But let me share the most compelling thing I read about the healthy benefits:
“The volatile oil fraction of turmeric has demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory activity in a variety of experimental models. Even more potent than its volatile oil is the yellow or orange pigment of turmeric, which is called curcumin. Curcumin is thought to be the primary pharmacological agent in turmeric. In numerous studies, curcumin’s anti-inflammatory effects have been shown to be comparable to the potent drugs hydrocortisone and phenylbutazone as well as over-the-counter anti-inflammatory agents such as Motrin. Unlike the drugs, which are associated with significant toxic effects (ulcer formation, decreased white blood cell count, intestinal bleeding), curcumin produces no toxicity.”
Teresa (Teri) Speight says
I absolutely needed to read this as I generally do not take medications unless I am absolutely required to do so. The earth has so many useful tools to help us live healthier, vibrant lives. I will venture to Brown’s Market in District Heights, Maryland to see if they carry Tumeric and in what form, so I can stock up as we head into the colder, germ filled months of winter. I will also investigate if this is an herb I can grow in this zone (Z6B), so that I can perhaps grow this in my organic garden. Thank you for sharing!!!
Patricia A Patton says
So don’t forget to buy the root. You can generally always get it ground.Keep me posted on whether it can be grown around here. Thanks for reading.
Frances Stanfield says
As my husband and I ended our visit with his sister in Florida, she mentioned coming down with a sore throat and was asking around about a remedy to head it off. This would have been perfect to share. She likes to indulge in natural healing. I’m sure the DeKalb Farmer’s market will have that on the shelf for those in Atlanta/Decatur, GA. I will be on the look out and will send share this post with my sister-in-law.
Patricia A Patton says
Thanks again. Just learned you can buy turmeric capsules for their medicinal use. But look for the root.
Walker Thornton says
I could have used that advice earlier this week… I just toughed it out, drank tea and waited!
Anu Prestonia says
Thank you for this reminder because I have some turmeric capsules in my cabinet that I had started taking. I recently heard of a combo of mixing tumeric powder and ginger powder as an overall tonic.
‘On another note, .75 for Somosas… Wow! Santos Spices sound like a real treasure.
Patricia A Patton says
Turmeric and ginger sound like a super tonic. Believe me the samosas were delicious, simply peas and potatos prepared for an Indian palate. Don’t know if that was Northern or Southern Indian but it was delicious.