The autumn chill is creeping in, sunlight hours have started to decrease, and many people have winter wellness on their radar. Once overlooked in the west, curcuma longa – more widely known as turmeric – is a simple spice that should be considered in your winter wellness routine.

The tale of turmeric

Turmeric is best known as a spice and one of the main components of curry powder and Asian cuisine. Turmeric has a long traditional history of use where both Ayurvedic and Chinese practitioners championed its use to support circulation, digestion, liver health, and joint mobility. It’s even believed to support your skin to create a radiant glow. Described in Chinese herbal practice as a herb which helps to restore harmony between Yin and Yang in your body, it seems an ideal addition to help your body with the winter sniffles and to support your respiratory system to help expel mucus.

What makes turmeric so great?

Today, we know that the key to this spice is the principal, active component known as curcumin. Research during the last 25 years has produced over 3,000 papers which conclude that curcumin has many positive effects on your body, including its role in supporting your immune system. These benefits have been linked to natural antioxidants in curcumin. Unfortunately, the curcumin content in traditional turmeric is tiny – only about three percent.

To achieve best benefits from curcumin, many people have been taking large quantities of turmeric several times a day. However, the same curcumin that supports your health can also have unpleasant effects. More is not necessarily better, as high doses can cause digestive upsets, amongst other things. Another downside of traditional curcumin is that it is poorly-absorbed, a common stumbling block for those looking to feel its wide-ranging health benefits.