Herb of the Month: Turmeric

In this month’s issue of Better Nutrition (aka “The Medicine Hunter”) discusses the health benefits of turmeric. “A large body of science shows that curcumin, a compound in turmeric root, possesses significant healing properties and is chiefly responsible for the herb’s overall healing powers,” writes Kilham in the article. Turmeric has a long Ramuan tradition, so we thought it would be helpful to give you a breakdown of this mystical herb.

Basics: Turmeric or kunyit in Malay, is one of the oldest and most important herb-cum-spice species. Its ancient and modern usages include being an ingredient in folk medicine, food flavoring, dye and even religious and ritual ceremonies since 600 B.C., according to Herbs of Malaysia. A perennial herb native to Southeast Asia, turmeric is currently cultivated commercially in India, China, Indonesia and Indochina. The plant grows about one meter tall and has aromatic, light green leaves with sharp, pointed tips. Turmeric is extensively used throughout the world to flavor, color and increase the quality of preserved foods.

Uses: Turmeric can be applied to the body for an array of skin and eye conditions. The essential oil of turmeric is used in perfumes, and its resin is used as a flavoring and coloring ingredient in foods. In traditional medicine, turmeric is used for a variety of stomach and digestive system conditions. Turmeric is also the main spice used in many curry dishes.

Health benefits: Medicinally, its chemicals are known for maintaining healthy inflammatory response. For these reasons, it is traditionally used in treating immune health and kidney function. Turmeric also promotes normal bile secretion, helps maintain healthy cholesterol levels and addresses post partum discomfort. 

Turmeric, 3 Ways:

1. Boost your sexual energy. Ukup kering—or dry herbal steam—uses freshly pounded turmeric, black seed and lime juice for strengthening and toning up vaginal and cervical muscles. Mix fair parts of each to create your own mix.
2. Settle your stomach. According to WebMD, taking 500 mg of turmeric four times daily helps soothe upset stomach.
3. Spice up your meal. An important spice in Asian cuisine, turmeric is one of the most popular ingredients in curry dishes. Don’t be afraid to get creative, either—turmeric can also be sprinkled over pasta sauce and salad dressing, or sprinkled on meats such as roasted chicken. Try this recipe.

Have you ever used turmeric to spice up a dish or taken the herb as a dietary supplement? Do you know of other turmeric health benefits? Feel free to leave us a comment! 

Stress Fighting Foods – Ramuan Style

Now that fall is officially here, an onslaught of stresses may return as quickly as they disappeared on your summer vacay. If you’re someone who turns to food in times of stress, don’t worry. You can use this to your advantage for boosting your health, and not your waistline. 

According to David Zinczenko, author of Eat This, Not That, you should eat when you’re stressed – it’s our bodies’ “natural reaction to want to store calories to face whatever challenge is causing the stress in the first place.” Inspired by one of his recent Yahoo! Health articles, we’re going to provide you with some stress fighting foods – in true Ramuan fashion, of course.

1. Mangosteen

Mangosteen is a tropical “superfruit,” native to the Malay Peninsula. Mangosteen is revered in Southeast Asia for its rare flavor, which is a cross between a passion fruit and a peach; and it is often eaten as a dessert fruit or made into jams. According to Health and Beauty from the Rainforest, Mangosteen has been found to contain potent antioxidants known as xanthones, which help support the immune system.

2. Green tea

Made with steamed tea leaves, green tea contains EGCG and has been widely studied. Green tea’s natural compounds promotes cell health, supports cardiovascular health, supports caloric burning and combats oxidative stress. How’s that for stress relief?

3. Bananas

The Malays refer to it as, “Pisang.” This popular and simple fruit contains a wonderful combination of natural sugars, magnesium (a stress relieving mineral) and potassium that supports immune health. Serotonin is a powerful natural hormone that excites the brain and makes one feel great. The natural vitamins and minerals found in bananas—which include vitamins B6, K, C and iron—also help keep the nervous system in tip-top condition, plus support immune health, vitality and general health. So when taking on your next big task, why not stock up on a few bunches to help boost your mood? 

If you're feeling stressed, how do you keep yourself from reaching for that piece of pizza or can of diet soda? Do you have any go-to healthy foods besides the three we mentioned?  (There are plenty more!) 

5 Ramuan Secrets for Boosting Energy

Short of throwing back a couple energy drinks or running up your Starbucks card every day, what can you do to naturally keep your energy up Monday through Friday? Just ask yourself one simple question: WWMD (What Would the Malaysians Do)? Malaysians follow the ancient traditions of ramuan (which means “synergy), and it’s all about balance, moderation, a holistic approach and attuning the body’s energies with the rhythms of nature. Here are 5 natural ramuan secrets for boosting energy:

1. Exercise – Studies have shown that regular exercise plays a significant role in increasing energy levels, reducing fatigue and increasing sexual desire. The Malays have long practiced traditional exercise that is a series of bodily movements combined with breathing techniques known as senaman asak badan. Many of the postures resemble elements from the natural world (think yoga)--for example, bending tree, tiger, snake, warrior and blowing flute pose. Benefits include improved flexibility, agility, endurance, and strength. 

2. Detox – Herbal cleansing is a part of the Ramuan regimen. Biotropics Ramuan’ Men’s Detox and Women’s Detox offer a natural way to help purify and rejuvenate the body based on Malaysia’s centuries-old traditions and practices. The men’s formula includes seven plant extracts, plus a special herb coating as well as phyllanthus and ginger, which are traditionally used for cleansing, rejuvenation and digestive and liver health. The women’s formula helps promote a youthful complexion and support improved digestion and rejuvenation.

3. Massage – Massage has been known to improve energy levels. Traditional Malay massage or urut Melayu, a deep-tissue oil massage with long kneading strokes, focuses on the flow of blood in the urat or veins and arteries. Its aim is to stimulate energy points and loosen and warm up muscles among other things. If you can’t afford a trip to the spa, ask your partner to give you a hand! 

4. Herbal Supplements – Think it’s hard to pronounce herbs like Tongkat Ali or Kacip Fatimah? Try finding them in your neighborhood supermarket. Biotropics Ramuan makes it easy to harness the energy of these rare, potent Malaysian herbs with TenagaXX (men’s) and Asmara (women’s). Kacip Fatimah has been known to promote energy and vitality, postpartum firming and toning, and supports overall emotional well-being in women. The better known Tongkat Ali promotes male sexual vitality, overall energy, and well-being.

5. Foods – Most people know that greens pack a potent punch, but why not turn it up a notch? The Malaysians typically eat ulam, a fresh leafy herbal salad at lunch or dinner. They believe it has anti-aging properties (a recent study showed that it has significant antioxidant activity). For adventurous foodies, here's a recipe to try out. While finding actual ulam is not practical for most of us in the U.S., Biotropics Ramuan makes it easy for people around the world to enjoy the health benefits of ulam through its Ulam Antioxidant Blend, a unique composition that contains 7 herbal extracts. It’s where food meets medicine.