Natures Best Anti-Inflammatory Remedy

Turmeric is my number one anti-inflamatory remedy for the relief of chronic and acute pain. It has been used for over 4,000 years to treat a variety of conditions. Turmeric is probably the most well researched medicinal plant in history for good reason. It has been the subject of over 700 peer-reviewed studies. Studies have shown that this wonder plant outperforms pharmaceutical drugs in its effects against many chronic debilitating diseases, and does so with virtually no adverse side effects. Here are some of the diseases that turmeric has been found to help or alleviate:

Arthritis

Alzheimer's disease

Bacterial Infections

Cancer

Digestive problems

Heart disease

Viral Infections

And many more…

Turmeric is a perennial plant that grows in India, Southern Asia, and the tropical regions around the world. It also grows well in here in South Florida at the Hippocrates Wellness. Each year we grow dozens of turmeric plants in the Hippocrates Organic Garden for use in our kitchen and for the benefit of our guests. It is best eaten raw but, it can also be dried and ground to a powder to be used as a culinary seasoning, as a tea, or put in capsules and taken orally. It has a strong pungent taste and is one of the primary ingredients in curry for Indian flavored cuisine.

Grow Your Own

If you live in a tropical region like South Florida you can grow turmeric outdoors. In other parts of the world you can grow turmeric indoors as a potted plant. Either way, you should use rich, well-drained soil such as a good organic potting soil. Choose a sunny location or partial shade. Purchase the raw turmeric rhizomes online or from your local grocery store or Asian market. You can break off the branches of the rhizomes to create more plants. Plant the rhizome pieces two inches deep and twelve inches apart. Keep the soil moist but not too wet or the root may rot. Fertilize with compost tea or side dress each plant with compost once every two weeks.

It takes eight to ten months for the plant to reach maturity. During this time the plant will grow leaves 5 - 6 feet high. Eventually, the plant will bloom a stunningly beautiful white flower. Shortly afterwards the plant will start to turn yellow and the leaves will dry out. That’s the signal when your turmeric is ready to dig up. Cut the dried leaves off from the rhizome and gently brush the dirt off. Do not rinse with water as this may cause the rhizome to rot. It is now ready to use. Save a few pieces of root and start more plants for the next season. You can store any excess in an air-tight container kept in a cool dark place where it will keep for up to 6 months.

Hippocrates Turmeric