Turmeric

Turmeric is a traditional herbal remedy that has been used for centuries and in recent years has been hailed as a "miracle cure" for a range of illnesses from arthritis to auto-immune disease. Penelope Ody, one of Britain's leading herbalists, draws on the extensive scientific studies that have appeared on curcuminoids (one of the many chemical constituents of turmeric) in one of the most authoritative book on turmeric currently available. In Turmeric Penelope Ody provides a history of turmeric and its therapeutic role. From its cultivation to its traditional use in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine to its centrality to the Asian diet (including some recipes, since many will be familiar with turmeric as a culinary spice). Turmeric has been used medicinally in South Asia for more than 4,000 years; today its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties are well established and may be helpful for a host of illnesses, from arthritis and diabetes to Alzheimer's and heart disease. Penelope Ody investigates this ancient remedy's suitability for twenty- first century ailments separating the hysteria about its benefits from a realistic evaluation into how it can help to improve any reader's health.