Pain relief and other health benefits of Turmeric

By Lindsey Lawson MS EAMP, Acupuncturist and Clinic Director

Being an avid cook I am always looking for easy, delicious and healthy ideas to pass on. Right now I am loving turmeric!! It’s got a mild taste, warming nature and anti- inflammatory properties that make it an excellent choice for healthy living. This bright orange herb is one of my favorites with garlic for a quick chicken dish or on a side of veggies. I love to make soup with the left-overs too ( of course I add more tumeric!). It feels so hearty and nourishing. I try to add it near the end of the cooking process to preserve the health promoting qualities.

Turmeric is a member of the ginger family and has been used in East Asian Medicine and Ayurveda for centuries to treat digestive and liver disorders, skin diseases and as an anti-inflammatory. The west is beginning to discover it as well, touting it’s antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, anti-fungal, anti-oxidant, anti-cancer abilities. Combine it with black pepper to make it even more bioavailable. (1) The active ingredient Curcumin is a component of many natural anti-inflammatories and pain relievers. This compound also shows promise in treating Rheumatoid Arthritis. (2)

The raw herb is available in bulk at Glow and we also carry Phyto-Curcumin which contains the anti-inflammatory Curcumin derived from Turmeric.