Tumeric

In Thailand, Turmeric is used for healthy skin. My mother used the Tumeric powder for scrubbing and cooking - this is one of herbs in my garden... Turmeric is very famous in Thailand for many uses, let's come with me to know them...

Species: C. longa

Binomial name : Curcuma longa

Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial plant of the ginger family, Zingiberaceae which is native to tropical South Asia. It needs temperatures between 20 and 30 deg. C. and a considerable amount of annual rainfall to thrive. Plants are gathered annually for their rhizomes, and re-seeded from some of those rhizomes in the following season.

It is also often misspelled (or pronounced) as tumeric. It is also known as kunyit (Indonesian and Malay) or haldi or pasupu in some Asian countries. In medieval Europe, turmeric became known as Indian Saffron, since it is widely used as an alternative to far more expensive saffron spice.

The Turmeric plant, though long used as an important coloring agent for curries and other foods, is also an important medicinal herb, used by both Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine practitioners.

Known also by is Latin name curcuma longa or simply curcumin, the Turmeric plant is used to treat a number of medical disorders, including digestive disorders, liver problems, and skin diseases. It has also been proven effective in stimulating improvement in bile flow, making it very beneficial for people suffering for both digestive and gall bladder problems.

The plant is a relative of the Ginger plant, and grows to a height of 5 feet in tropical parts of southern Asia. The plant is characteristic in having a sharp, bitter taste. The Turmeric roots are dried and boiled to make the familiar yellow powder most commonly used in food preparations.

As a medical preparation, it is used for curing digestive disorders, helping to break down fats during the digestion process. It also has been proven useful for stomach problems ranging from gastritis to stomach problems caused by stress or alcohol. The Turmeric herb is also said to be very effective in treatment for inflammations caused by osteoarthritis and for helping to unclog arteries partially blocked by atherosclerosis. Its use in breaking down saturated facts in cholesterol is becoming well accepted. Turmeric's effectiveness against cancer and liver disease is being studied as well.

Besides the common yellow powder for cooking uses, Turmeric is also available in Turmeric capsules and as an extract. Though it can be used by virtually all ages of people, it must not be over ingested as various side effects can occur. These include stomach upsets and even ulcers. The herb's possible interaction with other herbs or drugs is also a problems; and amounts exceeding recommended doses should not be taken. It should not be taken by people suffering from gall stones or partial bile passage blockage without the approval of a qualified herbal medicine practitioner. Tumeric may also interact with drugs such as resprine; used to treat high blood pressure.

Uses as Food
Turmeric powder is used extensively in Indian cuisine.
Commercially packaged turmeric powderIn non-Indian recipes, turmeric is sometimes used as a coloring agent. It has found application in canned beverages, baked products, dairy products, ice cream, yogurt, yellow cakes orange juice, biscuits, popcorn-color, sweets, cake icings, cereals, sauces, gelatins, etc. It is a significant ingredient in most commercial curry powders.

Turmeric is used to protect food products from sunlight. The oleoresin is used for oil-containing products. The curcumin/polysorbate solution or curcumin powder dissolved in alcohol is used for water containing products. Over-coloring, such as in pickles, relishes and mustard, is sometimes used to compensate for fading.

In combination with annatto, turmeric has been used to color cheeses, yogurt, dry mixes, salad dressings, winter butter and margarine. Turmeric is also used to give a yellow color to some prepared mustards, canned chicken broths and other foods (often as a much cheaper replacement for saffron).

Turmeric is widely used as a spice in Indian and other South Asian cooking. Momos (Nepali meat dumplings), a traditional dish in South Asia, are spiced with turmeric.

Uses as Medicine
In Ayurvedic medicine, turmeric is thought to have many medicinal properties and many in India use it as a readily available antiseptic for cuts, burns and bruises.

It is taken in some Asian countries as a dietary supplement, which allegedly helps with stomach problems and other ailments. It is popular as a tea in Okinawa, Japan. It is currently being investigated for possible benefits in Alzheimer's disease, cancer and liver disorders.

Uses as Cosmetics
Turmeric is currently used in the formulation of some sunscreens. Turmeric paste is used by some Indian women to keep them free of superfluous hair. Turmeric paste is applied to bride and groom before marriage in some places of India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, where it is believed turmeric gives glow to skin and keeps some harmful bacteria away from the body.

The Government of Thailand is funding a project to extract and isolate tetrahydrocurcuminoids(THC) from turmeric. THCs (not to be confused with tetrahydrocannabinol, also known as THC) are colorless compounds that might have antioxidant and skin-lightening properties and might be used to treat skin inflammations, making these compounds useful in cosmetics formulations.

Uses as Dye
Turmeric makes a poor fabric dye as it is not very lightfast (the degree to which a dye resists fading due to light exposure). However, turmeric is commonly used in Indian clothing, such as a chira.

Uses as Gardening
Turmeric can also be used to deter ants. The exact reasons why turmeric repels ants is unknown, but anecdotal evidence suggests it works.

Ref : http://www.organicindia.com and http://en.wikipedia.org