Turmeric is a really excellent herbal remedy and spice that has earned a permanent place in my pantry.  This is just a short ‘nutshell’ article, to cover the basics.  If you’re interested in reading a more thorough review of it (with links to the source article) go here (I'll post the link here when I post the article later).

Turmeric is a bright orange root that has been used since ancient times as a food flavoring and medicinal herb.  It’s one of the key flavors of curry, and has a warm, peppery flavor.  And it stains like the dickens.  Indians eat around a teaspoon of turmeric a day in their food. 

I buy bulk, powdered turmeric, so that I can use it in cooking, as well as put it into capsules as a supplement.  Mixing in a pinch of black pepper into a cup of powdered turmeric really boost the body's ability to absorb the curcumin...the active anti-inflammatory.

My herbal home remedy kit will always contain turmeric for treating inflammation (swelling), allergies, and coughs.  I use it in my honey cough syrup remedy here.  In fact, it’s the main component that kicked our persistent whooping cough, and we now use it when we feel a headache or allergic reaction coming on, or just after an injury.  For the most part, reasonable amounts of turmeric can be taken without concern to side effects for healthy, non-pregnant individuals who are not on prescription medications.

Using larger doses (more than about a teaspoon per day) is not advisable for pregnant women or those on prescription drugs.