Turmeric, also known as borrie, haldi or haridra (there are about 55 synonyms), is native to southeast Asia and is only known as a domesticated plant - it does not occur in the wild. It's botanical name is Curcuma longa L. and it is a member of the ginger family.

The spice is made by boiling, drying and grounding the rhizome (root) into a fine powder of bright yellow/orange colour. It is often used as a substitute for saffron, which is partially successful for colouring purposes but not aromatically. Turmeric is widely used for food colouring and is the yellow that is found in most pre-prepared curry mixes. It can taste bitter in food, but is universally added to Indian dishes.

Spice of life:
The yellow colour is due to a compound named curcumin, which has antioxidant as well as anti-inflammatory properties. It has been shown to treat cystic fibrosis (ref 1) successfully and is being investigated as prevention for Alzheimer's disease. Cystic Fibrosis usually kills its sufferers by the mid-30's but trials with mice have shown that curcumin may prolong life to a normal span.

Turmeric is used to treat wounds, cuts and abrasions since it prevents inflammation.

Traditionally turmeric has been used to treat hepatitis, jaundice, gallstones, indigestion, arthritis, and as a skin conditioner.

There is some evidence that it may be beneficial in the treatment of cancer, especially cancer of the colon.

Other properties and uses:
Yellow is particularly associated with Lord Vishnu and so turmeric is considered by Hindus as sacred and auspicious. Tilaka, the marks of auspiciousness, is made on the forehead with turmeric, sandal paste or sacred ashes. Tilaka is believed, among other properties, to regulate brain waves and prevent the wearer from being hypnotised
Poor people use a thread dyed with turmeric to tie off the birth cord of newly born babies.
Threads and cloth dyed with turmeric are used in the purification ceremonies of brides. The brother of the bride also places rice coloured with turmeric on the hands of the bridegroom as part of the pre-wedding rituals. The two fathers bring turmeric root as part of the gifts that are used in the ceremonies. (There are many more.)
It is also included in rituals to ward off evil spirits.
In India it is well-known that turmeric prevents meat from becoming rancid, and this has now been proven (ref 2).
In Israel turmeric has been used as a natural pesticide for date and melon crops.

The ubiquitous use of turmeric in food, medicine and religion makes it indispensable in the household, therefore being known as the spice of life. (There is a commercial product called Spice of Life that consists mostly of garlic, but also turmeric. It is used as a nutritional supplement in capsule form.)

(1) Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
(2) http://www.lef.org/magazine/ma g97/dec-report97.html

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