Turmeric (also called Curcuma longa) is a subspecies of the curcuma plant originating from Southeast Asia. It belongs to the ginger family and is cultivated especially in India. Perhaps you have seen pictures of an Indian trader with his brightly colored spices? Among them could have been the turmeric spice.
Turmeric: spice with healing properties
Because of its bright yellow color, which the root of the turmeric plant owes mainly to its high content of essential oils, it is often used for coloring, as it is a much cheaper alternative to saffron. In our latitudes it is known more as turmeric and less as a single ingredient, but because of its bitter-pungent taste mainly as an addition in spice mixtures with curry. In India, countless recipes have always been prepared with turmeric.
But to praise turmeric spice solely as a refinement of dishes would not do justice to the effect of turmeric as a medicinal plant. Its healing effect is also being increasingly emphasized by Western medical practitioners – especially since it hardly causes any side effects. Only patients suffering from gallbladder disease should enjoy turmeric, whether as a spice or in the form of capsules, with caution.
Turmeric: effect known for a long time
Is the turmeric plant in Germany still relatively unknown, so the turmeric spice in India already takes a fixed place on the menu for thousands of years. There one knows already for approximately 4000 years around the welfare effect and uses it for the Ayurveda medicine.
But also western scientists became curious in the last years. Turmeric is widely recognized especially for its positive effect on digestive disorders. Since turmeric has a decongestant effect, increases the production of bile and thus food is digested more easily, the intake of turmeric capsules reduces complaints such as:
- Heartburn
- Flatulence
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Stomach cramps
- Feeling of fullness
In addition, it lowers cholesterol and can thus indirectly prevent a heart attack or stroke.
In Indonesia, turmeric is used especially for respiratory diseases. In experiments with mice, a positive effect was found in cystic fibrosis. Likewise, a positive effect on the liver was detected in animal experiments. An anti-inflammatory effect is also attributed to the turmeric plant, which makes it more and more recognized in the treatment of rheumatic diseases.
Turmeric: cancer cure possible?
More and more teams of researchers are investigating a possible curative effect of turmeric in cancer. In fact, there were experiments that confirmed a slower growth of tumors. In addition, it has been shown to stabilize free radicals. Although it is not possible to cure cancer with turmeric capsules, experts advocate its supportive use in cancer therapy. High-dose administration of turmeric can also contribute to cancer prevention, but only after consultation with a doctor.
It is increasingly suspected that turmeric can also have a preventive effect against Alzheimer’s disease. The suspicion is substantiated by the fact that far fewer people in India suffer from Alzheimer’s disease.
Turmeric: capsules or powder
But which dosage form achieves the best effect? While turmeric powder is available, few people will want to take two teaspoons pure daily. Those who follow a health-conscious diet can try their hand at a recipe with turmeric spice from the Ayurvedic kitchen.
Surely it is fun to try out the most diverse delicious turmeric recipes once – after all, turmeric spice simply belongs to the Indian lentil dish – but who does not want to cook a new turmeric recipe every day, could rely on the effect of the highly concentrated turmeric capsules after consultation with the doctor; because merely once a week to refine the chicken rice pot with turmeric spice, hardly shows healing effect.
