If I were to say the word 'turmeric' what would be the first thing that came to mind?

It is a spice?
It is used in everyday cooking all over the world?
It is yellow in colour?
It is fragrant?
It can leave stubborn stains on skin, clothing etc?
But did you know that it has been widely used around the world for medicinal purposes, especially in India, as an Ayurvedic medicine. It is a spice that it readily available, in most Asian households it is always in the cupboard for cooking purposes so is always to hand. Yes, it can stain but this can be washed off your skin with some soap and some detergent if your clothes are stained.

Turmeric is from a plant called Curuma Longa. The plant forms large hard bulbs, these are grinded to obtain the powder. It is grown in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh including China. Although India is the largest trader of Turmeric, shipping it around the world.
*Medicinal use*

As per Ayurvedic medicine, in India turmeric is used as an antiseptic, it can be applied to cuts and burns to stop infection. You will find that in many Asian households around the world this method is still used today, in my household we do, it is very effective and natural. For example, if someone accidentally cuts their finger then a pinch of turmeric applied to the cut stops the bleeding immediately.
Another example is if someone has sprained their ankle or has a sore neck from sleeping badly then some turmeric and salt heated in oil can be massaged to the area and within a day the condition improves due to the turmeric being anti-inflammatory also.

If a person has been in a fight or has taken a fall and is badly bruised they should drink a cup of boiled milk with a pinch of turmeric in it, this works to heal the body from the inside in turn working on the outside to stop bruising. It does not taste very nice but it does do the trick!
*Food*

Turmeric is also used as a natural food colouring, it can be used in rice dishes by adding some to the boiling water that the rice is to be cooked in. This will give you lovely fragrant yellow rice.
You can also use a little of turmeric to add some colour to your popcorn provided you are making popcorn the conventional way! Add a pinch to the oil that the popcorn is going to be heated in and you will have light yellow coloured popcorn.

*Religious purposes*
In the Hindu religion turmeric is made into a paste using water and is applied to the forehead between the brows, called 'tikkah', after prayers are offered.

It is also applied, as a paste, on the hands, feet and face of a bride and groom a day before they are married as it is known to give a glow to the skin and stops bacteria forming on the skin. This is a custom followed by many religions in India prior to the wedding, it is both customary and also a lot of fun.
In different languages turmeric is known as:

HALDI in Hindi
HARDAR in Gujarati
HOLOOD in Bengali
NGHE in Vietnamese
JIANG HUANG in Chinese
MANJAL in Tamil
Turmeric is a spice that can be used for a range of purposes, at present it is being researched on it's effectiveness in combating cancer. It is just a normal spice and can be useful in a lot more than just cooking.

Turmeric, the possibilities are endless.

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