I thought about putting this chapter off for last. Why? Because turmeric (Curcuma longa) does so much for the body that this chapter could be inexhaustible and easily take over the book. But I decided to take it one step at a time and boil it down to its essentials.
The root is the only part of the herb that is used in traditional medicinal preparations, while the flower is used for creating flower essences. Most turmeric you find for herbal use is dried and ground, but you can find fresh roots in natural food and ethnic grocery stores. You can try to dry the fresh roots yourself, but it’s pretty tough, unless you have a really good dehydrator. Instead, I prefer to juice my fresh root or just slice it finely and either cook with it or simmer it into a tea. Just remember that the fresh herb is much stronger and more pungent than the dried and powdered variety.
Parts used: Rhizome, flower (for flower essences)
How to harvest: Wait until the plant has died back for its dormant season, then gently dig up the rhizome, gather what you need, and return a small portion back into the soil for regeneration and a new harvest the following year
Effects on the body: Anti-inflammatory, healing, immune-boosting, detoxifying, cleansing, nutrient-dense
Effects on mind and spirit: Groundedness, willpower, determination, grants a sense of safety and induces courage
Safety first: Use turmeric in moderation. In very large quantities, it can cause stomach distress. While this isn’t likely to happen when using the amounts we’re talking about here, go slowly if you have a history of stomach disorders. Also, turmeric temporarily dyes your skin, so depending on your complexion, you may not like the shade. See Don’t Want to Glow? Test First for more details.
You could basically run through the alphabet and find a disease or malady that turmeric will help with (arthritis, Alzheimer’s, bloating, colds, diabetes). I could go through every last one of them (we’ll touch on some, never fear!), but there is one common denominator that links all of them together: inflammation.
There are some health experts — both in the allopathic and holistic world — who believe that inflammation is at the source of almost every disease. Once inflammation sets in, no matter what organ or muscle or vessel it chooses to inhabit, the body part can no longer play its proper role. Once that body part fails, the domino effect happens: one after another, each system fails. The blood supply is hindered, and health deteriorates. Most pain, too (and asthma, incidentally), is caused by inflammation. Take away the inflammation and, voilà! Pain-free and mobile.
Turmeric contains a particular constituent called curcumin (which is what gives it its bright yellow color, in case you’re ever playing Trivial Pursuit and that question shows up). Curcumin is antibacterial and anti-inflammatory. The beauty of this powerhouse combo is that if there’s a bug in the system (bacteria, that is; not a design flaw), then turmeric has it covered. Inflammation? Got that, too.
Because of these properties, turmeric can be used internally or externally. Internally, it is used for bleeding, infection, viruses, asthma, arthritis, and pain in general. Externally, it is used on cuts, wounds, scratches, and burns. Because turmeric is such an incredible medicinal herb for easing inflammation and preventing all kinds of disease, it would not hurt to take turmeric when you need a little extra help in the health department. I’d even recommend applying this flower essence externally on painful joints and areas of inflammation, just to see what would happen.
Now to the big stuff. Studies have shown that turmeric may be able to treat cancer. While we know that, as an antioxidant, turmeric protects the body against free-radical damage, herbalists and doctors have found that turmeric also seems to trigger the destruction of cancer cells. According to a phase-1 study by the UK’s Cancer Research Center, “[it] seemed to show that curcumin could stop the precancerous changes becoming cancer.” And, “A number of laboratory studies on cancer cells have shown that curcumin does have anticancer effects. It seems to be able to kill cancer cells and prevent more from growing.”
Cautionary notes: More lab studies are being done. If this is a therapy you are interested in trying, please do so with the guidance of a professional practitioner. You need to take large doses of turmeric to get enough curcumin into your system, and while turmeric is widely considered to be completely safe, those who are on blood thinners or prone to kidney stones or gallstones may have trouble. Also, if you find yourself experiencing stomach distress, dehydration, or constipation, dial it back.
As far as I know, there have been very few case studies with people using turmeric flower essence. There aren’t even that many companies offering the essence. That makes this (more or less) virgin territory, people! Rather exciting, really, but because there is little research and few trials with the essence (again, as far as I know), that means we’ll just have to hypothesize until we can experiment on our own.
Let’s think first about the part of the plant we use in natural healing — the root, which is all about groundedness and rootedness. Turmeric reproduces through its rhizome, and it’s the root itself from which the flower springs, not the stem as in so many other plants. So, the fact that all this rooted, grounded energy is forced up through the plant into this beautiful floral expression is some pretty deep (literal and metaphorical) mojo.
Let’s also think about the appearance of the root and the flower. The root itself is rather dull and resembles a small potato from the outside, but when you cut into it, you expose an incredibly yellow, pungent, sunny flesh. The flower, too, is hidden amongst these impressive, spiky-looking bracteoles. The bracteoles themselves don’t have much scent, aside from the slightly pungent scent the rest of the leaves have. The flower’s scent, however, seems to depend on the variety of turmeric. Some varieties have a strong sweet smell, and some have barely any scent at all.
The point, at least as far as flower essences go, is how appearance and reality differ. Turmeric does all it can (seemingly) to protect its delicate flowers and disguise its pungent, bright, colorful root. So for someone who needs a little nudging to shine forth their bright, inner yellow pungency, turmeric would be a good choice. Also, for those who feel they need to protect themselves (through distance or clothing or persona, for instance), turmeric might help them feel more at ease in their own skin.
In my research, I’ve found turmeric associated with the sun and with fire. However, I’ve also found turmeric associated with Mars, which is fiery and masculine; with the moon, which is feminine; and also with a water element. Why the discrepancy? Magic is not a well-documented science; at least, it doesn’t have money for research behind it. All we really have to go on is the experience, practice, and information from our own workings.
Let’s take the first association with fire, Mars and the sun, and masculine energy. Turmeric is yellow. It tastes and feels fiery. In the ancient Indian healing system of Ayurveda, turmeric is associated with Pitta (the fire element), digestion (again, fire), and it induces sweating. This makes a good case for association A.
But! Turmeric was traditionally used mostly by women and in the kitchen. It had cosmetic use (the yellow pigment on the skin) and was very often prepared and served in milk (also an obviously feminine association). It was used as an offering to Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity. The Sanskrit name for turmeric is Kanchani, which translates to “golden goddess.”
So, which association is it? There’s no definitive answer, but I feel turmeric has a healing, feminine quality. I have nothing but instinct to back that up, but hey, that’s magic for you.
Despite its associations, everyone seems to agree on turmeric’s magical uses: protection, sensuality, love, and prosperity; and the ability to uplift emotions, uncover hidden beauty, heal, and even (in one bit of research) ward off crocodiles. I mean, come on! Crocodiles? You just can’t beat that.
Sensual, warm vanilla meets hot, sunny, and passionate turmeric. For this desire-stoking magic, mix 1⁄2 teaspoon turmeric powder with 1⁄2 teaspoon vanilla extract and 2 teaspoons almond oil. Apply to the pulse points. Vanilla invites warmth, love, attraction, and passion. Turmeric adds a desirable glow to your body, aura, speech, and presence.
Not only that, but turmeric sprinkled in food or in small dishes set around the bedchamber (a passion spell just calls for a word like “bedchamber,” no?) invites desire, warmth, truth, and true soul connections. Invite your loved one in for a sensual curry or spicy Indian-themed meal. Burn yellow candles anointed with the vanilla-turmeric scented oil.
Invoke some fiery courage by ingesting turmeric — especially in spicy curries and other Indian cuisine; the spices add to the bravery-stoking fires. You can also anoint yourself with a special, sunny, courage-inspiring oil. Combine 1⁄2 teaspoon turmeric powder, 1 teaspoon almond oil, and 2 drops cinnamon essential oil. Mix up and apply to the pulse points. If you have extra-sensitive skin, skip the pulse points and combine the ingredients in a little vial, inhaling when you find yourself in need of courage.
Magical spells aren’t just incantations and intentions (although that’s a part of magic, surely). Often, most of the magic comes from ingesting, bathing, or wearing the herb.
If your loved one is sick, keep a turmeric plant or fresh root in their room, allowing all that energy to seep where it’s needed. Alternatively, take turmeric baths (1 tablespoon turmeric powder in a nice, warm bath), or sip on turmeric milk (1 cup nut or dairy milk with 2 teaspoons turmeric powder). Heat, blend with a teaspoon (or more) of honey, and sip with intention. Anoint the body with turmeric powder, either on the pulse points (extra power) or anywhere with pain. (Worried about staining? See Don’t Want to Glow? Test First).
I imagine one reason why I can’t find many outlets carrying turmeric flower essence is because turmeric takes so long, and is rather tricky, to grow. The flowers, too, are nestled inside spiky-looking protective bracteoles and are not the easiest thing to harvest. Or maybe because its flowers don’t produce seeds (that’s right — flowers, but no seeds), no one has thought of adapting turmeric for this purpose. I don’t know. But it’s a beautiful flower that is very exotic and ginger-looking.
Basic teas/decoctions. You must boil turmeric root and can’t steep it like a regular tea, so technically, these are decoctions and not teas. To decoct the root, you can do two things: You can buy (or grow) turmeric fresh and slice thinly or grate it, then simmer the root for 10 to 15 minutes. Or you can buy the herb already dried and powdered, add water to it, simmer for 5 to 10 minutes, then blend it up and drink (blending it gives it a highly recommended fluffiness, not to mention that it distributes the turmeric particles so you ingest as much as possible, leaving less sediment on the bottom of the cup). For the fresh herb, I’d recommend a scant tablespoon of grated turmeric per cup; for dried, try a heaping teaspoon.
Tea for inflammation. To fight inflammation, I recommend using the basic powdered herb decoction (see above). The powdered herb has the most surface area, so its medicinal qualities are more easily extracted. Since turmeric is best absorbed by the body when taken with a bit of fat, add 1 teaspoon cold-pressed coconut oil to your tea, then blend. Avoid dairy and nut milks; dairy milk aggravates inflammatory conditions, and commercial nut milks have preservatives that can cause inflammation. Blending it up (I use a nifty stick blender, but you can also use a standard blender) allows you to drink the actual herb itself, getting all kinds of the bonus nutrients and anti-inflammatory action.
Tea to heal the stomach. If you’re a longtime sufferer of acid reflux or acid conditions, then you must heal the lining of the stomach. Marshmallow (sadly, I’m talking about the herb, not the fluffy, sugary, gooey goodness of campfire and hot chocolate fame) has been shown to heal and protect the stomach lining as well as the esophagus, fixing any damage an overly acidic condition has wrought. And the antibacterial qualities of the turmeric and the coconut oil will keep those sore spots clean and healthy while they heal.
Note: Marshmallow root likes to soak up everything around it and hustle it through the body, so don’t take any medicines or supplements 30 minutes before or after you drink this tea.
Brew the powdered turmeric base decoction, but add the contents of 2 marshmallow capsules when you add the turmeric. Then add 1 teaspoon cold-pressed coconut oil when you blend up the drink. Drink three cups a day (or more, if you really, really like it).
Tea for sweetening sleep. Turmeric, as an anti-inflammatory, eases pain and stiffness that can keep you awake at night. For a nighttime tea, gently heat 11⁄2 cups milk in a small saucepan. Add a sprinkle of cinnamon, 1⁄4 teaspoon fennel powder, 1 licorice capsule (opened, the powder sprinkled into the brew), 1⁄2 teaspoon turmeric powder, and, if you have some, the contents of 1 (or 2, if you’re especially agitated) kava-kava capsule. Simmer for 10 minutes. Add a good dollop of honey or stevia to taste, then blend until foamy. Pour into a preheated mug and sip until sleepy.
Note: If you have low blood pressure, you might want to limit using licorice to only once in a while.
Tea for joint and bone health. Combine a chunk of fresh turmeric root (or 1 teaspoon powder), 1 tablespoon dried dandelion root, a 1⁄2-inch piece of fresh chopped gingerroot (or 1 teaspoon dried), and 2 cups water in a small saucepan. Dandelion contains calcium, silicon, and boron — all essential for bone health. Simmer this for 10 minutes, then strain. Sweeten and add non-dairy milk, if you like.
Tea to ease depression. Turmeric has the ability to lighten the mood while, at the same time, bringing us out of our heads (where most of our troubles begin) with its earthy qualities. Add to this a good dose of licorice (which, you may not know, is an MAO inhibitor; see note on previous page if you have low blood pressure) and Saint-John’s-wort, which is famed for its antidepressant qualities, and you pack a powerful wallop against depression.
In a small saucepan, combine 11⁄2 cups milk or water (I prefer milk), 1 teaspoon turmeric powder, 1 teaspoon licorice powder (or a couple of capsules opened and dumped in), and the contents of two Saint-John’s-wort capsules. Simmer for 5 minutes. You can also add a touch of vanilla extract along with sweetener for sweetness and comfort. Blend up and sip as often as you like.
Makes 2 applications
Turmeric is wonderful for drawing blood to the surface of the skin, flushing out dirt, oils, impurities, and any infection — virus or bacteria — that may be lurking just under the skin (but do test for discoloration first; see Don’t Want to Glow? Test First). This paste should keep for about a week, but make less if you don’t think you’ll use it all.
In a small bowl, mix together the clay, turmeric, apple cider vinegar, witch hazel, and as much water as you need for a paste consistency. Apply the mask to your face, and then sit and relax for 10 minutes. Rinse off with warm water.
Makes 1 cup
Sore throats are caused by many things: voice overuse, inhalation of smoke or other pollutants, illness, dry air, allergies, and irritation. I like to hit all causes of sore throat pain in this one-stop-shop gargle. And slippery elm is as awesome as it sounds — lots of mucilaginous, slippery, soothing coating all over your poor sore throat. You can also make a nice slippery elm and turmeric tea; use the same ratios as below, but leave out the salt.
In a small saucepan, heat 1 cup water until hot (but not boiling). Pour it into a mug and add the sea salt, powdered turmeric, and slippery elm bark powder. Mix this all together and throw back a glug. Gargle for 30 seconds and repeat until all of it is gone. Repeat as often as necessary.
Makes enough for 1 bath
There’s nothing like a bright yellow bath to convince you that you’re not at home and in pain, but actually basking in a sulfur hot spring somewhere where people in organic cotton lounge pants bring you healing drinks and warm towels. (Worried about staining? See Don’t Want to Glow? Test First.)
Start by running a nice warm bath. To this, add the Epsom salts, powdered turmeric, and essential oils. Soak in the tub for at least 20 minutes, then rinse in a warm shower and bundle up. As a follow-up, you can sprinkle a bit of turmeric in a carrier oil (I like castor oil, since it penetrates the skin into the muscle or joint) and rub it into the affected area.
Makes 1 application
Black drawing salve is a pretty incredible substance. A lot has been written about it, but basically, it contains one key ingredient: pine tar (from the pine tree). Yes, pine tar makes it black and weird-looking, but it also has this amazing, magnetic, and almost magical ability to draw impurities, including (some think) cancer-causing constituents. Mix this with turmeric (whose cancer-fighting actions we’ve already discussed), and you’ve got some potentially powerful purifying action.
This paste is especially good for melanoma or troublesome skin conditions, but also try it for any infected or inflamed skin areas, including stubborn splinters that just won’t emerge from the skin.
In a small bowl, mix together the salve, turmeric, and 2 tablespoons water to form a paste (add a bit more water if the mixture is too thick). Spread the paste on the affected area and cover with a bandage. Let it stay there for 24 hours. Now, here’s the freaky part: You may find that the drawing salve is, well, actually drawing something out of the skin. Don’t be alarmed. Just wash the area, reapply the salve, and bandage. Continue these steps until the salve stops drawing.
Makes 1 poultice
Turmeric meets ginger in this spicy, anti-inflammatory, paste-y goodness. For a bonus, sip on anti-inflammatory turmeric tea while the paste is setting.
In a small bowl, mix together turmeric powder, ginger powder, and enough warm castor oil to make a paste. Apply the mixture to the area of pain, avoiding any broken or infected skin. Cover this with a clean towel and then a hot water bottle or heating pad. Keep the area warm for 15 minutes, then remove the paste with cool water. Repeat throughout the day as needed.
Makes 1 application
Eczema sufferers know how irritating, itchy, and inconvenient an outbreak is. Luckily, we have an ally in turmeric, especially when coupled with our old friend calendula.
In a small bowl, mix together the turmeric powder and ground calendula, then add enough almond oil or witch hazel to make a paste. Apply to the skin and let it sit for 20 minutes. If it’s irritating, rinse it off and try again, using less herb and allowing it to sit for less time. Rinse off with cool water, pat dry, and let the air circulate on the skin. Repeat as necessary.
Makes 8 ounces
I’m a blondie (which may or may not be a gift naturally given to me . . . I’ll never tell), but whether you’re a natural blond or not, turmeric is fabulous for bringing out bright highlights. If you’re white-blond, however, you might want to skip this treatment; it could temporarily give you a yellow glow.
In a bottle, combine the chamomile tea, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, and turmeric powder or turmeric tea. Pour the rinse on your hair after shampooing but before conditioning. Let it sit on your hair and scalp for a few minutes, then rub your scalp vigorously and rinse it out. Condition as usual. Use this rinse once a week.
Turmeric temporarily dyes your skin, and depending on your complexion, you may not like the shade (although, if you mix it with milk or yogurt, as in these recipes, staining isn’t usually a problem). If you’re concerned, rub a little of the turmeric mask/rinse/paste on the inside of your elbow. If you don’t like the color, simply use it at bedtime or try a different herbal treatment that doesn’t include turmeric.
If your skin does get stained, just mix a bit of granulated white sugar with enough water to form a paste and rub this into the stain. Rinse with warm water and repeat if necessary.
Wash the turmeric off of your skin before handling fabric, and use old towels and clothing, just to be safe. If your fabric does become stained, try spot-washing the stain by hand, using cool water and laundry detergent. Pour the detergent right onto the stain and work it in. Place the soapy fabric in cool water, and let soak for 30 minutes or so, then rinse. If the stain is still too visible for your taste, rub a cut lemon on the stain and let that sit for 30 minutes more, then launder as usual.
Serves 4
Can you tell I like cold weather? Or maybe I just like to cook when it’s cold out. Adding turmeric counters the sweetness of the traditional hot chocolate, lending depth and an earthy taste.
In a medium saucepan, combine the non-dairy milk, cocoa powder, 4 cinnamon sticks, nutmeg, turmeric, and cloves, and stir with a wire whisk. Cook over low heat until thoroughly heated (but not boiling). Remove from the heat and discard cinnamon sticks. Stir in the vanilla extract; then pour into individual mugs and top each mug with marshmallows. If you like, garnish with a fresh cinnamon stick (or a candy cane if it’s the holidays).
Serves 4
Here’s another one of my dad’s decadent gems. It used to be oven-fried chicken, but just because I left meat behind didn’t mean I had to leave behind things like this. I added turmeric for a little extra kick.
Makes 16 ounces
This recipe came from my maternal grandmother. My parents made it all the time, and now my sister and her husband make it to give away as gifts each Christmas. Yes, it is that awesome.
Serves 4
I love, love, love thick veggie soups in the winter. Being a New England girl raised on chowder and stew, I associate a good soup with the coziness of a warm house on cold, dark winter evenings.
turmeric (left), ginger (right)
Here, we’ll focus on the more spiritual aspect of turmeric. We’ve already explored how turmeric boosts courage, offers protection, strengthens resolve, and offers grounding. The yoga pose that offers these same supports is Warrior II (Virabhadrasana II).
Virabhadrasana translates as “fierce warrior” and is associated with the Hindu deity Shiva, the god of destruction and rebirth known as “S ´iva the Destroyer” and “S ´iva the Regenerator.” If we want to get really deep (and, heck, I’ve got time if you do), then we can look at Shiva himself. Shiva is often described as having a thousand feet. If that won’t ground you, well, I don’t know what will. Furthermore, Hindu and Buddhist monks traditionally wear saffron-colored robes, which were originally dyed with turmeric.
Starting position. Begin in Mountain Pose (Tadasana). Stand on your mat with your feet together or hip-distance apart — your choice — facing the long side of the mat. Breathe. With all four corners of your feet, feel the earth beneath your feet. Inhale and step or lightly jump your feet about 3 feet apart.
Moving into Warrior II. Turn your right foot toward the short side of your mat, keeping your left foot facing the long side of your mat. Your body itself will keep facing the long side of your mat. Inhale and raise your arms out, stopping when they reach shoulder height. Turn your head to look out over your right arm, and as you exhale, bend your right knee to 90 degrees (or thereabouts). Make sure that your knee is over your ankle; if it’s pushing forward over your toes, wiggle that foot out farther so you’re lined up correctly.
Warrior II Pose
Fine-tuning. Make sure those shoulder blades are gliding down your back — don’t scrunch them up by your ears. Keep your navel drawn in toward your spine and your entire spine lifting upward, out of your pelvis (in other words, good posture!).
Lift through the arches of your feet. We want grounding, not slumping through the arches; not only will this hurt your feet and ankles, but it will cause your knee to round in a weird and painful way. On that note, glance down at that bent knee. You should see your big toe; if so, draw that knee (and thigh, from the hip) toward your baby toe. You’ll feel your outer thigh being activated when you do this. That’s good; that’s what we want. We don’t want your knee to collapse.
Take a break if you need to — those arms are heavy, I know. Then, keep drawing that tailbone down toward the earth. Grounding. Remember grounding. We want a nice long spine — no bunching or pinching in your low back. Keeping your belly drawn in will help, too.
Finishing. After 30 seconds to 1 minute, inhale, straighten your right leg, and drop your arms. As you exhale, turn your left foot to the short side, your right foot to the long side, and repeat everything, this time with your left knee leading.
If it’s hard for you to support yourself on that 90-degree leg, then feel free to support that bent leg with the seat of a chair. Place the seat under the leg that’s bending and lower into it; the seat should be under your thigh. If you’re graced with height, you may need to stack a few blankets or towels on the seat of the chair to make this modification work for you.
If you’re finding it hard to keep your spine straight (in other words, not stick out your bum), then you can try this pose with your back against a wall. Do everything the same way, but try to keep your shoulder blades and both sides of your bum against the wall. Try to stretch your arms out along the wall as well.