Turmeric, known as ‘olena in Hawaiian, is a type of ginger that has been used in Asia for thousands of years. The bright yellow color of curry spice is due to turmeric and it is famous for leaving yellow and red stains on anything it comes into comes into contact with. Tumeric serves as a fabric and food dye, a pungent, mustard-smelling spice, and as a medicine thanks to its active ingredient curcumin.
Tumeric has a long list of health benefits. When used as a paste, it has anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties that help cuts and burns and it treats skin conditions like psoriasis. Its anti-inflammatory properties help with arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis and athletes use it in paste or spray form to help reduce the pain of a hard work out. The spice has been shown to prevent cancer including prostate cancer, breast cancer, and melanoma, and in animal studies it has been shown to reduce cancer growths and the spread of cancer. Turmeric has long been used as a natural liver purifier in Aryuvedic medicine. It is a natural pain killer, helps with weight management by supporting metabolism of fat, and is showing promise in treating multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s When listed out, turmeric looks more like a miracle drug than a spice. The U.S National Institute of Health currently has registered 19 clinical trials underway to study use of dietary turmeric and curcumin for clinical disorders such as nephropathy, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, lymphoma, cystic fibrosis, irritable bowel syndrome, depression, psoriasis, colon cancer, pancreatic cancer, Alzheimer’s, metabolic syndrome, and more. Turmeric does have side effects for those with gallstones, stomach ulcers, or bile duct obstruction, those with liver or heart conditions, and pregnant women should be cautious since it is a uterine stimulant.
The plant needs warmth and lots of rain, making the island of Hawaii a perfect place to grow it. Hawaiian recipes call for turmeric in eggplant dishes, when roasting taro, and in purple sweet potato salad. Many farms on the Big Island grow ‘olena so the root is widely available at farmers markets and health food stores in Hawaii.
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