Uses for Turmeric Root

Turmeric root comes from a plant that is a member of the ginger family. The plant has beautiful white flowers with some tipped in pink. It has deep green strap-like leaves that have a scent akin to the mango. It's been part of Asian culture for hundreds of years. While we often refer to the part of the plant used as the root, it's actually a rhizome and the way the plant propagates since the flowers are sterile. There are many different types of uses for turmeric root that vary from health benefits to coloring.

Spice

• Turmeric is an ingredient of curry made in India. It gives the curry its yellow color. However, turmeric root has other uses in the kitchen as well. It replaces saffron in dishes. Since saffron is quite expensive, people refer to turmeric as the poor man's saffron. It's in pickles, relish and chutneys. You can mix it with butter and use it on vegetables or pastas for a unique flavor addition.

Manufacturing

• The addition of turmeric in manufacturing food gives color to the product. It is an ingredient in mustard, cakes, fruit dishes, jellies and fruit drinks. It also adds the deep yellow color to your cheese, margarine and butter. Many milk drinks or ice creams that have a rich yellow appearance use turmeric root's pigment, curcumin.

Ancient Medicine

• Ancient medical practices included the use of turmeric root. Ayurvedic practices used it as a blood purifier and body cleanser. It's particularly valued for its ability to help with skin maladies. Ayurvedic practitioners use it as an antiseptic, to help the blood expel impurities and to cleanse the mind as well. Today many people continue the ancient use of turmeric root for treatment of disease. Chinese medicine uses it as a cleanser for the liver and gall bladder.

Cancer

• The use of turmeric in folk medicine doesn't invalidate it for medical purposes. Scientists have found that the primary ingredient that gives the root its color, curcumin, might contribute to a lower incidence of cancer, particularly cancers in smokers. A team of researchers from Michigan University found that it helps organize the cell membrane. In doing so it makes passage of information easier, which makes the cell is more resistant to malignancy and infection. It inhibits the formation of a protein necessary in tumor formation. The heavy use of turmeric in Indian foods might be one reason the Indian people have a lower incidence of prostate and other cancers.

Body Creams

• Creams that contain turmeric have an antibacterial property that helps many conditions. The oil of the turmeric root is part of many perfumes. Because it organizes the cells, it helps them fight disease and infection. Curcumin from turmeric also has antibacterial and antifungal properties. Johnson's & Johnson's produces a Band-Aid in India that contains curcumin.

Aging and Mental Functions

• A multitude of research studies indicate that the curcumin in turmeric root might help slow the aging process and improve mental function. It is a powerful antioxidant, and that fact indicates that it protects the cells from damage. The less damage the cells receive, the slower the aging process. It also may interfere with changes in fats which lead to blocked arteries, causing strokes. According to Medical College of Georgia researchers, it also inhibits the creation of clots, another factor in strokes. Since there's a large difference in the number of Alzheimer's patients in India compared to the number in the USA, scientists have looked at the Indian diet to see if it contributes to a much lower incidence of the disease. Studies in the lab on mice show that curcumim has a slowing effect on the damage from Alzheimer's disease.