India has one of the world’s lowest rates of Alzheimer’s disease, due to the fact that Turmeric or Curcumin, is the primary component of the curries used in much of the food of India. It alleviates dementia or Alzheimer’s symptoms caused by oxidation and inflammation. Also known as Haridra, in Sanskrit, Turmeric has bitter, pungent and astringent qualities that are pacifying to Kapha and stimulating to Vata and Pitta. In addition to its anti-inflammatory effects, Turmeric 
stimulates the circulation and purifies the blood. Because of these properties, it is a complexion enhancer because it clears stagnation from the blood, while building and purifying it and therefore can be helpful in the treatment of anemia. Additional uses include the management of diabetes, high cholesterol, heart disease, cancer, gastrointestinal conditions marked by infection or inflammation, the pain of arthritis, and conjunctivitis. Simply sprinkle turmeric on foods that you are cooking, or take a teaspoon in a glass of warm milk. Additionally, it can be taken in tablet/capsule form according to the dosing recommendations on the bottle. Keep in mind that in order for it to have any therapeutic effect, if must be taken consistently just like how it is eaten in India. Be careful because it can stain clothing and skin, but the preventive therapeutic effects are worth it. I lost my Mother to Alzheimer’s and I would like to help prevent another family from going through the trials of this devastating disease.
Health In Your Spice Cabinet? Discover Turmeric
Connect With Us
Until I started learning Ayurveda this year, I actually believed that cancer and arthritis and Alzheimers were like the lottery: it was just pure chance, and there was nothing I could do about any of them. There were, of course, family histories, which added to your chance of losing, but you can’t control them either!
Now that I see all of these as Kapha imbalances, and as I watch Americans eat a Kapha-esque diet of mythic proportions, it looks very different to me. I know I can’t “control” everything, but I now know that I can stop contributing the building blocks (literally too much earth – Kapha) to all of these killers.
And with the little I know already, I’ve lost 20 pounds, have energy I haven’t had for 20 years, and aches and pains which I thought were “normal” as I aged have faded away.
It takes work – daily maintenance, yoga, mediatation, holding my own wellness in my hands, and eating for health instead of to medicate myself and my feelings; but it’s worth it already, and I can see 20 years from now how powerfully worth it this will be to the quality of my life.