Turmeric | Uses for your every day.

Growing up we never used spices such as Turmeric, or Cayenne Pepper. At least, not that I can remember. Coming from a very large family, these were more than likely considered extra expenses even IF you knew how to use them. I certainly did not. Which is funny, because my mother loves to garden, she grew a lot of fruits & vegetables, canned anything you could and somehow I didn’t catch on to this amazing necessity until my mid 30’s. I can imagine, as a child, I would have made a face at its name, its vibrant color or the fact that you wanted me to eat something that looks like that. Today, many years later it is a staple in my household. We use it it many forms and I thought I might share a few of those.

Turmeric Essential Oil (Curcuma longa)
In essential oil form, Turmeric is distilled from the fresh rhizomes. A quality oil has a yellow to dark orange color and an earthy aroma with a kick. It is most often used topically, though there is more and more information being studied about the internal use providing high antioxidant activity and more.

Care needs to be taken here if you’re using any kind of medication for diabetes as there may be some cardiovascular effects when using orally (Tisserand et al., 2014). Internal use, as always, is a personal choice and one that should be informed through a doctor or other qualified medical professional. For more information on essential oil safety, you can read my journal entry here or checkout the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy for more information regarding internal usage of essential oils.

Personally I use this oil a few ways. I add 1 drop to my face wash when the mood strikes to promote a healthy glow and clear skin. Simply add 1 drop to your face wash/moisturizer and apply. I do not recommend using an oil neat in this instance.

It can also be used topically over your abdomen for liver and gastrointestinal support. Add a drop or two to a teaspoon of carrier oil, (olive oil, coconut oil, jojoba etc.) and massage in to your abdomen.

Here are a few of the therapeutic properties this oil can help relieve for you:

-Stomach cramps
-Gastrointestinal conditions
-Indigestion
-General aches and pains
-Rheumatoid arthritis
This oil blends well with other oils such as, Black Pepper (Piper nigrum), Basil Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum ct eugenol), Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum), Ginger (Zingiber officianalis) and plenty more.

Sourcing your essential oils is important! I recommend dōTERRA & Aromatics International.

Spice | Turmeric

So I am trying my hand at growing my own turmeric. Thank you to all the YouTuber’s out there! We will see how it goes. But I would like to grow it for juicing (more on that below), also for drying and filling my own spice cabinet. I lived in southern Spain a few years ago and I was an hour away from Tangier, Morocco. On days when the mood would strike, I’d drive down, hop on the ferry and go shop the spice markets. It was an incredible experience and one I miss dearly. I had no idea what I was going to do with those spices, only that I knew I had to have them! From there I began learning more and more about them. I am by no means an expert, but the benefits of the spice abound!

The simplest way I use this spice is when I am roasting/air frying my cauliflower or Brussels sprouts. Sprinkle on with salt, pepper and olive oil and roast. Easy, golden and tasty.

One of may favorite recipes for using the spice is in Golden Cauliflower Rice. Laura at Radical Roots has a great golden cauliflower rice recipe. We make this as a side dish often and even my 3 year old loves it. It is just like it sounds, golden and a new way to get that cauliflower in your meal plan.

Lastly, have you tried your hand at Golden Milk yet? Another way to use turmeric spice that is wonderful for your body and really helpful in helping support sleep. I have been using the recipe from Well Plated and it is a winner with a few additions of my own. This drink is a combination of spices like Ginger, Cardamom, Cinnamon, Black Pepper, with a bit of honey, almond milk, vanilla extract, and I like to add a collagen protein for that extra layer of support for the body. Your body and mind will thank you.

Juice it | Turmeric

Do you have a juicer at home? Then this one is for you. If you don’t have a juicer, check your local thrift stores every so often. I found a Breville juicer, fancy I know, for $10 in perfect condition. You never know. You can score a good deal and reduce waste!

My brother and his wife introduced me to what they call “The Health Kick” shot a few years ago and I latched on like crazy. This isn’t for the faint of heart. It is a spicy, sour and a bit of heat. Simply juice the following items, pour in a shot glass and shoot it. You may want a glass of water on hand as a chaser.

Ingredients:
1 Lemon, organic if possible
Knob of Ginger, organic if possible
Knob of Turmeric, organic if possible
Sprinkle of Cayenne Pepper

Fire Cider | Recipe

Lastly and one of my favorite uses of turmeric is in my Fire Cider. If you have never heard of Fire Cider then I encourage you to look in to it! Fire Cider is an immune-support oxymel deeply rooted in folk medicine and is typically popular in the winter months. An oxymel is simply a mix of apple cider vinegar & honey with herbs added in. “At its most basic, it’s a zesty infused vinegar, packed with powerful immune-boosting, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and circulatory herbs. The addition of hot peppers and a little local honey makes it both spicy and sweet, hence the name." (Herbal Academy | How to make homemade fire cider)

It is really very simple. You fill your jar with your chosen herbs, roots, spices etc and cover it with your vinegar and let it sit for roughly 4 weeks. Then, I recommend taking 1tablespoon per day when you’re healthy and 2-3 if you’re under the weather. Either way it is full of plant allies that provide us with antiviral, antibacterial, antiinflammatory (and more) benefits to support your body. Turmeric plays a lovely role here as it offers antioxidant qualities as well. Other plant pals I added:
-Horseradish
-Ginger
-Garlic
-Lemon
-Elderberies
-Jalapeno

As April of “She is of the Woods” would say, “You are smart enough to do this.” You can find her recipe in the previous link.There is really no wrong way to do it.

That’s all I have for Turmeric today. What is your favorite way to use it?

Blessings.

Disclaimer: As always, these statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

References & Resources

Essential Oil Safety (Second Edition) by Robert Tisserand
dōTERRA
Aromatics International
Turmerone | Science Direct
The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy by Valerie Ann Worwood
NAHA - National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy
She is of the Woods - April Graham
The Herbal Academy