By Maryann Readal
I love when The Herb Society’s Herb of the Month is a plant that I can grow in my garden. This month’s herb is turmeric, Curcuma longa, a plant in the ginger family (Zingiberaceae). It is winter hardy in USDA Zones 8-11 and it thrives in heat and humidity, making it a good choice for my Texas garden. The pale yellow flowers are pine-cone shaped and long-lived, and the rhizomes, which are underground stems, continue to send up flowers and leaves throughout the growing season. Turmeric does well in a lightly shaded garden or it can be grown in a pot. In the fall, the plant goes dormant until late spring of the next year. The rhizomes can be dug in the fall and saved for planting in the spring or they can be boiled, dried, and then ground to create the turmeric spice. Curcumas are low maintenance plants whose flowers are beautiful in the summer garden, giving the garden an exotic, tropical look and feel.
Curcuma longa is a native of India, where you will find the cuisine laced with the spice made from its rhizomes. India has been a major producer, exporter, and consumer of turmeric for a long time. Remnants of turmeric have been found on pottery pieces that date back to 2500 BCE. The ground rhizome is used in Asian cuisines and it is the principal ingredient in curry powder. The leaves of the plant are used to wrap food and the flowers are edible. Turmeric rhizomes make a bright yellow dye that was once used to dye the robes of Buddhist monks. This dye is also used in the cosmetic industry and as a food dye in butter, cheese, pickles, and yellow mustard. The healthy drink Golden Milk served in trendy cafes and health food stores is made with turmeric, cinnamon, ginger, honey, and nutmeg added to warm milk. It is a very pleasant drink indeed.
Turmeric has been used as a medicine since ancient times. It plays an important role in Ayurvedic medicine, the ancient Indian system of natural healing. It also is important in Chinese traditional medicine. There are 100 names for turmeric in Ayurvedic literature, one being jayanti, meaning one who is victorious over diseases (Avery, 2015).
Turmeric has gained much attention in recent years because of its healing properties. Curcumin is the constituent that gives turmeric its color as well as its powerful medicinal benefits. It is considered to be a better anti-inflammatory than ibuprofen. It also helps protect the body from developing cancer cells, particularly in the colon. In addition, it supports healthy heart function and cholesterol levels (Avery, 2015). Studies have linked improved brain health and memory to curcumin. According to WebMD, consuming higher levels of curcumin “may help to reduce the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.”
In the Hindu religion, turmeric is considered sacred and auspicious. It is a part of many Indian religious and social celebrations and rituals. It is a Hindu wedding custom that the groom drape his bride with a turmeric-dyed string which shows that she is ready for marriage. In another wedding custom, a turmeric paste or powder is applied to the bride and groom to give their skin a glow and to ensure their prosperity. Wedding clothes are sprinkled with turmeric water to purify them. In some places, newborns are anointed with turmeric paste to protect them from evil and ensure a long life. In southern India, wearing a piece of turmeric rhizome is thought to ward off evil. In some Hindu religious celebrations, worshippers dust themselves with turmeric powder.
For more information and recipes using turmeric, please see The Herb Society’s Herb of the Month webpage.
Photo Credits: 1) A turmeric plant in flower (Susan Vogelgesang, Western Reserve Herb Garden, Cleveland, Ohio); 2) A cup of golden milk (courtesy of the author); 3) Golden milk recipe (Rachel & Dr. Josh Axe); 4) Indian wedding preparations (notsoboringgirl via Wikimedia Commons); 5) Turmeric rhizome and powder (PickPik); 6) Indian temple worshipper with turmeric on face, hair, and beard (courtesy of the author)
Medicinal Disclaimer: It is the policy of The Herb Society of America, Inc. not to advise or recommend herbs for medicinal or health use. This information is intended for educational purposes only and should not be considered as a recommendation or an endorsement of any particular medical or health treatment. Please consult a health care provider before pursuing any herbal treatments.
References
Avery, Tori. 2015. What is the history of turmeric? Accessed 9/22/24. Available from https://www.pbs.org/food/stories/turmeric-history
Kaur, Amanjot. 2019. Historical background of usage of turmeric: A review. Accessed 9/21/24. Available from https://www.phytojournal.com/archives/2019/vol8issue1/PartAT/8-2-135-332.pdf
Missouri Botanical Garden. N.D. Curcuma longa. Accessed 9/21/24. Available from https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=287580
Prasad, S. and B. B. Aggarwal. 2011. Turmeric, the golden spice: From traditional medicine to modern medicine. In: Benzie I.F.F., Wachtel-Galor S., editors. Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. Chapter 13. Accessed 9/22/24. Available from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92752/
WebMD. 2022. Golden milk: Are there benefits? Accessed 9/22/24. Available from https://www.webmd.com/diet/golden-milk-health-benefits
Maryann is a member of The Herb Society of America’s Texas Thyme Unit in Huntsville, TX. She is a Texas Master Gardener and a certified Native Landscape Specialist with the Texas Native Plant Society and has received The Herb Society’s Nancy Putnam Award for Excellence in Horticulture. She lectures and writes about herbs and plants and does the herb training for several Master Gardener programs. She gardens among the pines in the Piney Woods of East Texas.
