Did you know that the turmeric root – a staple of Asian cooking – has uses beyond the kitchen?
Cooking
The most well-known use for turmeric, is as the main ingredient in curries. The root is dried and ground into a fine power. It is then combined with coriander and cumin to make the spice mixture for curry.
Turmeric and ginger tea
Turmeric and ginger tea is a great way to treat inflammation. Using fresh or pickled sliced ginger and dried turmeric, along with a teaspoon of fresh lemon juice and hot water, you can make an excellent Chinese herbal detoxifier.
Beauty aid
Turmeric also has antibiotic properties make it a very soothing face mask to treat blemishes and acne. Women in India also use it to remove unwanted facial hair. An article in a popular Indian lifestyle magazine suggests mixing equal parts of turmeric and chickpea flour with a bit of warm water to make a thick paste, which is then applied to the face. After it dries, they wash it off with a warm washcloth and they report facial hair comes off with the mask.
