History and Origin of Turmeric

Turmeric is a relative to the spice known as ginger. It has been found to have been used in ancient China, India, Malaysia early as the seventh century AD for its rich color which can be used in art and fabric, but also as a medicine.  It was also found to be used by ancient Hawaiians. In the Hindu religion turmeric is used as a powerful dye agent. Turmeric used along with lime juice to create the bright red forehead mark seen in many of their religious followers.  Buddhist and Hindus associate the yellow-orange coloring dye with both the solar plexus chakra and sacral chakra. It is interesting to note that Marco Polo referred to turmeric as Indian saffron used for dying cloth. The ancient Greeks also used turmeric for its orange-yellow dye properties.