A plant of the ginger family, turmeric is grown commercially in Southeast Asia. A rhizome or an underground stem, turmeric is known for its medicinal benefits. In addition to being used as a flavour or colour to curry powders, mustard, butter and cheese, turmeric is also called curcumin, Curcuma, or Curcuma aromatica. Used extensively in Ayurveda and other traditional Indian medicine systems, turmeric is commonly called haldi in Northern parts of India, derived from the Sanskrit word haridra. In the south, it is called manjal. Haldi, is an excellent dietary supplement for various medical conditions such as arthritis, disorders of the skin, upper respiratory tract, joints, digestive system, liver, etc.
