Turmeric is a spice that comes from the turmeric plant. It is commonly used in Asian food. You probably know turmeric as the main spice in curry. It has a warm, bitter taste and is frequently used to flavor or color curry powders, mustards, butters, and cheeses. But the root of turmeric is also used widely to make medicine. It contains a yellow-colored chemical called curcumin, which is often used to color foods and cosmetics. Turmeric is commonly used for conditions involving pain and inflammation, such as osteoarthritis. It is also used for hay fever, depression, high cholesterol, a type of liver disease, and itching. Some people use turmeric for heartburn, thinking and memory skills, inflammatory bowel disease, stress, and many other conditions, but there no good scientific evidence to support these uses. Don't confuse turmeric with Javanese turmeric root (Curcuma zedoaria). Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): Some experts warn that turmeric may interfere with the body's response against COVID-19. There is no strong data to support this warning. But there is also no good data to support using turmeric for COVID-19. Follow healthy lifestyle choices and proven prevention methods instead.