About Tumeric
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary lists "tumeric" as a variant spelling of the word "turmeric." Turmeric is a spice with a variety of culinary and commercial uses. Although when most people think of turmeric, they think of it as a food seasoning, tumeric also has medicinal uses and is often used as a fabric dye. It is a relative of the ginger family and grows extensively throughout Asia and parts of Africa, with India being its largest producer. Does this Spark an idea?
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Turmeric as a Spice
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Turmeric, sometimes called "Indian Saffron" because of its color, is frequently found in Middle Eastern recipes for lamb, vegetables, and other dishes. It is also a principle ingredient in curry powders, imparting the yellow color associated with curry. Prepared yellow mustard also gets its yellow color from turmeric. Other common table items that depend on turmeric for color and flavor are certain cheeses, chutneys, relish, pickles, and some rice dishes.
Cleaning Turmeric Stains
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The fact that turmeric is used in dyes for fabrics should be an indicator that as an ingredient in food, it can stain cookware. The oil in the turmeric is the cause of the stain. A soapy steel wool pad is a very effective method for removing a yellow turmeric stain from metal cookware and ceramic plates.
If the stain has gotten onto plastic storage containers, use a solution of two drops of dishwashing detergent along with an ounce of lemon juice added to hot water filled to the top of the container. After letting that solution soak for half of an hour, the container should rinse clean. -
Medicinal Uses
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There have been a few clinical studies as to the health benefits of turmeric, particularly its polyphenolic compound curcumin.
Traditional Chinese medicine calls on the herb as an aid to digestion and as possible relief of arthritis pain. It has also been used as an aid to liver function and to regulate menstruation.
Turmeric is considered an anti-inflammatory, and has been used as an antiseptic in treating cuts and burns.
The possibility of turmeric slowing the effects of Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis is the subject of ongoing studies. Other studies include questions about turmeric as an aid in weight control, its effects on pancreatic cancer, as well as its use in treating psoriasis and other skin ailments.
Turmeric has been shown to break down complex molecules in fat and therefore may lower blood cholesterol.
Medical Precautions
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Turmeric as a medicinal supplement should only be used under the supervision of a physician or other qualified health care professional. As with most herbs, turmeric may interact negatively with some medications.
Turmeric taken in large doses for extended period of time may cause upset stomach and even ulcers.
Patients with gall stones should speak with their physician before starting any treatment using turmeric, particularly patients taking Warfarin, Coumadin, Clopidogrel, Plavix or other blood-thinning drugs, as turmeric has been shown to be an effective blood thinner.
Diabetes patients should avoid taking turmeric as it could cause hypoglycemia because of its ability to lower blood sugar.
As a Dye
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Turmeric can be used to dye both natural and synthetic fibers. As a fabric dye, it imparts a bright yellow-orange color, but it is susceptible to fading in the sunlight. Because of its yellow color, it is sometimes used as a dye in sunscreens. It is sometimes applied as a paste before wedding ceremonies in some parts of Pakistan and India, giving the skin a golden glow. Turmeric is sometimes used to provide the yellow-orange color in Easter egg dye.
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