Turmeric...the wonder herb!

carkris said:

The book anti cancer also
The book anti cancer also talks about tumeric

VickiSam said:

Meena . Thank you for 'how to use' tip;
and postings .. wonderful idea .. Running out to buy tumeric ..


Vicki Sam

I spoke with someone trained in Traditional Chinese Medicine who recommended Turmeric, or the active ingredient in it, Curcumin,  for immune support during chemotherapy.  That,  and a few other spices, herbs,  etc.  (piperezine, coriander, cumin, sour sop or graviola, milk thistle, lycopene . . . vitamin C and D . . . follow directions on bottle or read up on your own on the internet -- use some skepticism and compare what different sources say).   I believe Piperezine is a component of, or another name for, black pepper, which also has medicinal properties.  

Turmeric has always been known to have medicinal qualities in Chinese and East Indian traditional medicines.  Now there is a lot of evidence-based data -- research done on it and how and why it works.      It is not a "cure" but it supports the body and encourages healing.

I also found that when I was going through the worst of my chemotherapy and had no appetite, that a curry or stew made with extra turmeric and other curry spices (sometimes bringing out the flavor by heating them in hot butter or coconut oil at the beginning of the recipe) actually tempted me to eat more -- smelled appealing -- and I normally do not care for turmeric in cooking.  Chemo will alter your sense of taste and smell.

Suggestions for cooking: 

Get any "curry powder" --  Durkee's or any brand you are familliar with, or try a garam masala powder (a type of curry powder, under many different brands) and add a bunch of turmeric. Buy spices by the pound at an Asian grocery or even on amazon to save money.  Shop for better prices.   I usually have a 1:3 ratio  of curry powder to turmeric powder -- varies with the day and how I feel, but the idea is to take more turmeric and I am not a fan of turmeric alone.   I throw in cumin and coriander seed powder (this can be bought as a mix, used in certain East Indian dishes), cinnamon, cloves, cardamom -- and whatever smells good for me on a particular day.  The above spices can't hurt and some have been researched for beneficial compounds that are anti-oxidants etc.   Put them in the pot and cook with them.  They have a different flavor if lightly "roasted" in butter or coconut oil in the pan before adding other items -- I find this appetizing. Your tastes may vary (probably from day to day).

You might want to sautee some onions and garlic to go with the curry powder mix,  and use this to flavor your pot of vegetables, stew, curry, whatever.  Sweet red or green pepper, or hot pepper if you like hot food (I usually don't, but then, when I lose all sense of taste, sometimes a little "zing" of heat is appetizing -- varies from day to day for me so I keep my stew or curry or soup or whatever mild, and add heat later to a small portion).

The Capsules:

I know that I won't always eat what is good for me.  I tried, and I just didn't have the energy to cook with turmeric every day or even every week.  So I will be going back to the capsules of turmeric.    Don't get the cheapest brand, but you don't have to get the most expensive either.  Find a company that seems to be solid, that tests some of its products, and the quality seems good --  (not a lot to test, but some companies are more careful and consciencious, while other companies provide poor or false ingredients).  I read reviews of different brands of the same supplements on amazon, and learn all sorts of things that way.  Also search medline and other science-publication sites, or just do searches.  If you have the energy, that helps you make decisions. Capsules are more expensive than the powdered Turmeric sold for cooking.  

My grandmother used to make her own capsules of herbs, but that is so time consuming and probably not something you want to do when you aren't feeling well.   There used to be gadgets to help you fill your gelatin capsules with herbs and supplements -- for the really dedicated!  

I don't think you can go wrong with just taking capsules of Turmeric according to the directions on the bottle.  I was told Turmeric and Piperazine were two ingredients that support the immune system and work together to be even better than either alone; so you can buy them separately or in combination.