The ancient roots and benefits of turmeric

Turmeric is the most widely recognized, researched and commonly used Ayurvedic spice. Few medicinal plants possess its breadth of qualities and curative uses. For over 4,000 years turmeric, or the “spice of life,” as it is affectionately called, has been woven into the very fabric of Indian, Tibetan and Bhutanese culture. It is used as a spice, for medicinal purposes and even in religious rituals.

It was during the New Age movement of the 1970s that Americans began to embrace alternative medicine and the concept of preventive medicine. Ayurveda came to the West as many sought to achieve balance and wellness outside of Western medicine and pharmaceuticals.

We were first introduced to turmeric after our Founder Joel Einhorn had a serious mountain biking accident and traveled to Kerala, India, to explore the ancient remedies of Ayurveda. This is where he discovered the indispensable healing powers of turmeric.

There are at least 53 different names for turmeric in Sanskrit, which indicates the reverence this culture has towards the spice. These names include haridra (dear to hari, Lord Krishna), jayanti (one that wins over disease), and bhadra (auspicious or lucky).

Turmeric was widely mentioned in the ancient foundational Ayurvedic text, the Charaka Samhita. It is considered tri-doshic, which means that turmeric balances each of the three doshas in Ayurveda: pitta, vata and kapha. (The doshas are also known as mind-body types. Each expresses unique blends of physical, emotional and mental characteristics.)

Turmeric in Bhutan

While the majority of turmeric is grown and consumed in India, this plant has also been used in Bhutanese medicine for the last 5,000 years. It is Bhutan where we have chosen to source our turmeric blend and to follow the ancient growing and harvesting practices from the 2,500-year-old book of the Sowa-Rigpa.

Bhutan is a land where happiness is measured as a national product dubbed “Gross National Happiness,” and turmeric plays an important role in their ancient traditions and medical practices. Bhutan’s climate is perfectly suited to grow this tropical root. This Himalayan nation practices organic farming and uses simple, natural, and time-tested cultivation techniques. In 2012, a plan was put in motion to make the country the first fully organic nation in the world.

“Anyone who is somewhat health savvy knows that turmeric is good for you. Every now and then, I would incorporate it into my diet via smoothies or as a spice in various dishes, but it’s nice to now start off my day with a healthy dose of this magical dust. Whenever you take a step to better your health, you instantly feel better about yourself. After about a week into taking HANAH Turmeric+ daily, I feel great. I've noticed improved focus and faster recovery times after intense workouts. I’m a fan.” - HANAH customer Laura A.

The wide array of turmeric’s healing capacity

Turmeric has been proven to be effective in treating some of the most intense ailments affecting people today, including arthritis, inflammation, acne, urinary tract and kidney infections, anemia, the common cold, headaches, food poisoning, parasites, fever, diarrhea and poor circulation. It has also been used to heal wounds, as mosquito repellent and to treat external ulcers. Due to its versatility, turmeric is one of the most important herbs in any natural medicine cabinet.

Focus on cognitive support

Turmeric has at least 10 neuro-protective functions that support healthy cognition. Because the brain is predominantly fatty tissue, fat-soluble toxins may accumulate in the brain and cause damage. Turmeric is a fat-soluble substance that may have the capacity to remove toxins from the deep tissues in the brain, and elsewhere.

Chronic inflammation is a key contributor to Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative disorders. Researchers have discovered that curcumin can cross the blood-brain barrier and help to reduce neuroinflammation, improve brain function in healthy adults, and discourage the buildup of amyloid-beta, the primary component in the plaques that clog up the brain in patients with Alzheimer’s and other degenerative brain conditions.

Curcumin isolation vs. whole turmeric

As the benefits of turmeric were studied, curcumin was isolated as the source of much of the benefits. This prompted many companies to jump on the bandwagon of creating supplements with large amounts of curcumin. However, there are other compounds in whole turmeric which curcumin extract does not contain. Therefore, we utilize the entire plant to make the most of its restorative and curative potential.

Vintage, terroir-grown turmeric vs. mass produced, low-quality versions

Turmeric has become widely available around the world, to the point that you can even pick it up at your local supermarket. Unfortunately there are very little quality control or guidelines in place to ensure purity or quality. It is therefore hard, if not impossible, to distinguish between top grade turmeric and the lower quality versions.

To help put your mind at ease, know that every batch of HANAH Turmeric+ is hand-harvested from its natural habitat in Southern Bhutan by a local women's collective of growers. It is rigorously tested, including DNA testing, to ensure that it is 100% pure and contains high levels of inflammation-taming, tumor-reducing, clarity enhancing curcuminoids. In addition, our turmeric comes from small, carefully selected regions and is harvested and produced following the high standards of the 2,500-year-old Sowa-Rigpa book of traditional medicine.

Turmeric harvesting and production is tightly controlled and licensed in Bhutan, so you can be assured that we source the purest ingredients and produce and bottle them under strict controls to ensure we are delivering a product that is the highest quality available.

Ancient wisdom with 1000 milligrams of turmeric and black pepper

The piperine in black pepper has been shown to elevate the human body’s absorption of the powerful curcumin compound by up to 2,000 percent. That’s why we decided to include 110 milligrams of it in HANAH Turmeric+. Another way to increase curcumin’s uptake is to also consume some high-quality fat at the same time, such as HANAH Vechur Ghee, which is also found in HANAH ONE. Doing so – as well as consuming turmeric as part of curries and other Ayurvedic recipes regularly – will unlock its full physical and mental benefits, which include:

Anti-inflammatory properties ease joint pain and improve skin conditions
Increases mood stability
Supports proper digestion
Antioxidant and antimicrobial
Stimulates the immune system
Nourishes the heart and circulatory system
Excellent support for liver and bile production – boosts bile flow by 50%
Regulation of serotonin, dopamine and other neurotransmitters
Protection of the brain from the damaging oxidation of free radicals
Enhanced memory and focus
Increased levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein that stimulates the growth of new brain cells

HANAH Turmeric+, our latest product from the mineral rich soils of Bhutan

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Introducing HANAH Turmeric+, the first turmeric supplement sourced directly from the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan