We have the good fortune of always having some home grown  turmeric on hand.

If its not fresh then I will have a large jar of our turmeric, dehydrated and powdered.

In east Asia, turmeric has been used for thousands of years as a culinary herb, as a medicine and as a dye

Who would have thought that right at our finger tips, growing in our own back yard, is a plant that can be used to not only flavour your food but also to help your body maintain health

Therapeutic benefits include

•  turmeric when used in cooking legumes will reduce gas production
• the production of gastric wall mucosa is increased when using even low doses of turmeric protecting the stomach lining from digestive acids and helping to reduce feelings of nausea
• bile flow is increased. Bile is used to digest fats and also help lubricate the intestine thereby helping prevent constipation
• because turmeric increases digestive enzyme output from the pancreas, digestion improves. Very beneficial for those with sluggish, weak digestion
• turmeric reduces platelet aggregation (the stickiness of your blood) and also increases the anti-coagulant activity of blood. Cautions: If you are taking medication to thin the blood, it is important to not take turmeric in medicinal doses
• there is a low incidence of cardio-vascular disease in countries where turmeric is commonly used, suggesting turmeric can aid lower cholesterol levels
• turmeric has a powerful anti-inflammatory action which makes it useful for conditions such as asthma, eczema and arthritis
• turmeric in medicinal doses helped reduce swelling and stiffness of the joints in those who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis
• turmeric can be made into a tea and used externally to treat fungal infections such as tinea and as a wound healer

Turmeric is  a wonderful plant which is also easy to grow

Experiment with amounts according to your taste

I have used it with great results in soups, stews, stir fries and casseroles. Not only does it impart a delightful flavour but it also produces its characteristic bright yellow colour along with all its medicinal properties

Turmeric keeps well in a dark cupboard in the winter months and if I have any left when the warmer weather comes they are looking a bit shrivelled but are good to plant

Golden Milk. This is a delightful way to use turmeric. First you need to make the paste. Take 1/2 cup of turmeric powder, one heaped tablespoon of coconut oil, and a good pinch of pepper. Put in a small saucepan and add one cup of water. Stir so that all ingredients are mixed and then continue stirring until the mixture turns into a paste. Cook the paste gently for a couple of minutes. Place this paste into a clean jar and store in the fridge. To make Golden Milk heat one cup of milk (oat milk is my favourite) and add one teaspoon of the paste. After a couple of minutes of gentle cooking the Golden Milk is ready!This drink is great for soothing the pain of headaches, back pain, arthritic pain, toothaches,  and earaches .