Know what I love? Natural medicine that works. Natural medicine that is inexpensive. Natural medicine that can be used daily without side effects, and is even preventative against things like viruses, cancer, and inflammation.
Know what I love even more than that?
When there are peer-reviewed placebo-controlled studies to back up claims about natural medicine.
And even better than that?
When something natural, healthy, easy to use, and without side effects becomes mainstream.
Turmeric as an anti inflammatory is becoming mainstream. More and more doctors are recommending it. Those who are adamantly against ‘woo woo’ medicine are reading studies or listening to recommendations by their friends, trying turmeric, and seeing results.
What is turmeric used for?
Turmeric traditionally is used to add flavor and color when cooking. It is a root from an Asian plant that is bright yellow in color. It’s responsible for the yellow stain that mustard makes when it drips onto your clothes. It is also a traditional medicine, both preventative and treating acute conditions.
The responsible compound in turmeric is curcurim. When adding a natural remedy like this to my medicine cabinet, I like to consume it as traditionally as possible, in this case just adding it to cooking rather than taking it as a capsule. In acute situations (like severe inflammation) it may make more sense to take a higher dose in a capsule (see below), but for maintenance, including it in cooking is recommended.
Often flavor or folk remedy combinations include more than one spice at a time, and they often are found to complement each other, or increase the absorption of the healthy compound. In this case, black pepper is traditionally combined with turmeric, and it is shown to increase the efficiency of the spice. (source)
Recently this folk remedy has been studied in medical journals, with excellent results!
Turmeric has therapeutic uses for:
Seriously – check out these studies, this is amazing!
- Inflammation (source)
- Rheumatoid arthritis (source)
- Osteoarthritis (source)
- Depression (source)
- Fungal infection (source)
- Parasites including Milaria (source)
- Cancer treatment and prevention (source)
- Asthma (source)
- Skin diseases (source)
- Epilepsy (source)
- Alzheimer’s Disease (source)
- Parkinson’s disease (source)
What precautions do I need to take?
As far as the research shows, none. Turmeric has been used in cooking and as a traditional remedy for generations (source), and it also has been studied extensively in different doses in thousands of people with no reported toxicity (source)
How Can I start Using Turmeric Today?
Supplements: Those who have inflammation, joint pain, or any other acute symptom that turmeric helps may want to consider supplement form. I purchase this brand.
Condiments: Turmeric is found in curry powder, and mustard; two common household items. Consider skipping the corn syrup-laden ketchup and adding more mustard to your meat dishes. Incorporate a curry night into your home to get this beneficial spice each week.
Powdered Spice: (you can buy the organic spice here) This is an ingredient in the following recipes: Grain-Free Pizza Crust, Golden Milk, Thai-Basil Coconut Chicken, Tooth Whitening Remedy (this works! I’ve done it!), Coriander Chicken with Almond Curry, Indian Tomato Soup, and Punjabi Cabbage.
Whole Root: (you can buy the root here) This is an ingredient in the following recipes: Rice Pilaf with Fresh Turmeric, Fire Cider, Sunshine Smoothie, Red Curry Paste, and pickled turmeric. It can be peeled and grated into stir fries and rice as well.
Turmeric is an ingredient in this grain-free pizza crust
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I have to stock up on this amazing spice I’ve been learning about! I also heard it’s good for destaining teeth. Thank you for sharing!
It is! I’ve done it :)
How do we use it to de-stain our teeth?
You can see here :) http://www.mommypotamus.com/whiten-teeth-naturally-turmeric/
Thank you for this article! I’ve been curious about tumeric – I have RA and my inflammation is out of control at the moment. I have a 3.5 month old that I’m nursing so have chosen to avoid all meds but I’m not doing so well these days.. I see it says not for pregnant or nursing women, what is your thoughts on that?
I think by default they say it’s not for pregnant or nursing women, if it was me I would be comfortable with trying it. Maybe run it by your doctor first.
Anything sold as a supplement has to say “not for pregnant. …” but if you buy it in the spice or fresh foods isle at the grocery store it doesn’t. LOL gotta love the FDA and there one size fits all mentality.
I’ve just recently heard that tumeric is good for joint pain, I have OA and have been trying it but so far I haven’t seen any improvement. Also I see the brand that you recommened doesn’t have black pepper, I’ve heard it is better when taken with black pepper and the brand that I take does have black pepper included. Your thoughts?
Thank you,
Roye
Hi Roye,
Bone broth is such a wonderful help for joint pain and inflammation. Be sure to make it yourself from grass fed beef or chicken bones. Also, be sure to add 2 T apple cider vinegar as this draws out more minerals into your broth. Drink 2 or 3 cups per day at first and when pain subsides you can decrease your amount but keep it as a daily habit. Enjoy!
I can tell a big difference in my hand and elbow joints when I forget to take the turmeric pills I bought. Big. I’ve never been diagnosed with arthritis but it’s exactly what I have, and I’m 44 so ‘younger’ than traditional arthritis. Add this spice to everything, you’ll notice a difference!