Turmeric is used a lot in Indian cooking, as an antiseptic and as a Cosmetic product as well. Turmeric is of the ginger family.

Culinary Use:

The roots are boiled for several hours and then dried in hot ovens, after which they are ground into a deep orange-yellow powder commonly used as a spice in indian curries. Turmeric is used in baked products, dairy products, ice cream, curd (yogurt), biscuits, sweets, cake icings, sauces etc. It is a significant ingredient in most commercial curry powders. Turmeric is used in savory dishes, not sweet ones.

Medicinal Use:

In Ayurvedic practices, turmeric is thought to have many medicinal properties and many in South Asia use it as a readily available antiseptic for cuts, burns and bruises. My mom has used it for us a lot and we use it for our kids a lot as well…It works like magic especially for swellings. Practitioners of Ayurvedic medicine say it has fluoride which is thought to be essential for teeth. It is also used as an antibacterial agent. It is taken in some Asian countries as a dietary supplement, which allegedly helps with stomach problems and other ailments.

Cosmetic Use:

Turmeric is currently used in the formulation of some sunscreens. Turmeric paste is used by some Indian women to keep them free of superfluous hair. Turmeric paste is applied to bride and groom before marriage in some places of India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, where it is believed turmeric gives glow to skin and keeps some harmful bacteria away from the body.