THE latest by-product of turmeric I tasted was the one with calamansi. I bought the tea from the recent Organic Farmers Festival. Since then I couldn’t get turmeric out of my mind. I want to share everything I knew about this lowly root crop. I learned from Bind (Broad Initiatives for Negros Development) that turmeric can be processed as tea, more than its basic use, that is to color the famous Arroz a la Valenciana.
I first learned that turmeric can be made into powder and tea. Recently, I’ve been using it in my cooking to make my recipes taste better. Instead of using a lot of conventional ingredient to make your cooking more tasty, use turmeric.
I met a farmer of Bind who told me she has a contract to supply fresh crop with other processors and that her group is delivering tons to their customers from time to time. The lowly crop seems to be indispensable now, especially with the advent of alternative medicine. It has found its niche in the market after people learned how turmeric became not just a condiment, but also an alternative medicine.
Turmeric (kalawag) is scientifically named as Curcumalonga. It holds a place of honor in Ayurvedic medicine (“Healing Remedies” by Dr. Norman Shealy). It is a symbol of prosperity, and was believed to be a cleanser for all symptoms in the body. It was prescribed as a digestive aid, a treatment for fever, infections, dysentery, arthritis, jaundice, and it has been used as a basic ingredient in curries for thousands of years.
Turmeric properties are as follows: Antiseptic, warming, pungent, bitter, and astringent. It acts as stimulant, and carminative, with vulnerary, antibacterial properties. Turmeric roots have a bright yellow color, and are sometimes used as a dye and a food coloring.
The roots are the plant part that are used for any purpose. It is used for indigestion, poor circulation, cough, amenorrhea, pharyngitis, skin disorders, diabetes, arthritis, anemia, wounds, bruises, and all immune system deficiencies. Due to its energizing effect on the immune system, turmeric is being studied for use in the treatment of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) and Aids (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).
The crop can be used as massage oil, in facial creams and lotion, in compress, or as a food or spice. It can be used also with other herbs like ginger, musk, and wild sunflower. The latest tea I bought (Herbal Trio) is with lemon grass.
Moreover, turmeric reduces fat, purifies blood, and aids circulation, It benefits digestion and can help rid the body of intestinal parasites. A turmeric infusion will benefit all these conditions, and reduce arthritis pain.
The recommendation is: warm 1 cup of milk and remove it from heat before it boils. Stir in 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder. Drink up to 3 cups of this a day. Let’s try it!