TURMERIC, A WONDERFUL HERB FOR DEVELOPMENT

by Lawrence Wilson, MD

Turmeric is best known as a bright yellow-orange colored herb used in East Indian cooking, primarily. It is also used in Thai cooking, and in a few other traditional cooking styles as well, including some Chinese food, too. Turmeric contains a variety of anti-oxidants and other nutrients, and is found most commonly in the West in the spice combination called curry powder.

WHY USE TURMERIC RATHER THAN CURRY POWDER

Curry powder is fine as a spice. However, turmeric contains a form of selenium, I am told, that is very helpful at this time to develop certain brain centers in most people. It is also a very tasty and rather non-toxic herb when used in moderation. Using curry powder you will get a little turmeric, but not enough. It is better to use plain turmeric as a spice on your food and in your cooking.

HOW TO USE TURMERIC

I suggest buying ground or powdered turmeric in the supermarket or health food store, and just sprinkling it on your food. It does not seem to be necessary to buy it organically grown, if this is even available. Some supermarket brands are quite good, in fact. You may cook turmeric, as it does not destroy the selenium compound, I believe, and in fact, it may make it more potent.

Capsules. Some doctors recommend buying turmeric in capsules, and taking a few each day. I do not recommend this practice at this time. Taking larger quantities is more of a medicinal use of turmeric that is not recommended with a nutritional balancing program.

The reason for this warning is that, as with most herbs, turmeric is quite yin in Chinese medical terms. If taken in large quantities, such as in capsules, it will make the body too yin, and this is harmful for nutritional balancing, even if it has medicinal properties that are beneficial.

MEDICINAL USE OF TURMERIC

Turmeric has been used as a medicinal herb for thousands of years. Its primary use is as a kind of tonic, and today some health authorities recommend it highly for its anti-oxidant properties, among others. However, for nutritional balancing, at least at this time, we are interested in its use as a nutritional or food product. This is why I do not recommend buying it in capsules and using a lot of it. Just buy it in the supermarket or health food store and sprinkle some on your food.

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