A Touch of Turmeric: Examining an Ayurvedic Treasure

Abstract

Turmeric, or Curcuma longa, is a perennial root plant of the ginger family. This\rplant originates from Asia and is widely grown and used inIndia. South\rAsians have used turmeric for its medicinal purposes for centuries and it has\rbecome integrated into spiritual life as a symbol of protection and purity\r(Ravindran et al. 2007). Turmeric\racts as a powerful healing tool because of the phytochemicals it contains. The\rmain phytochemical in turmeric is curcumin. Research shows that curcumin\rprovides anti-cancerous, anti-inflammatory, and anti-microbial health effects,\ramong others. Curcumin may not be as beneficial as turmeric in its entirety due\rto variation in bioavailability (Martin et al., 2011). This extrapolation should be taken into\rconsideration when attempting to reap the benefits of turmeric in the West.