Golden Milk Latte Recipe and The Ultimate Anti-inflammatory Herb

Today we’re talking about turmeric! You know that beautiful orange root packed with terrific anti-inflammatory benefits? We are also sharing our Golden Milk Latte Recipe, one of our favorite ways to enjoy turmeric’s amazing medicinal benefits.

As customers stop by our table at the farmer’s market, their eyes are quickly drawn to our Turmeric Tincture with its bright orange label. Many are familiar with turmeric and use it for its anti-inflammatory properties. Whether mixing it in their drink or sprinkling the powder in their food, they know it to be important for their health. When they see our tincture, they usually jump at the opportunity to try it.

What is Turmeric?

Turmeric is a well-known anti-inflammatory herb that is used for everything from joint pain to gastrointestinal discomfort, to supporting healthy cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar. It is generally regarded as safe and can be taken in a variety of ways. Turmeric comes from the same family as ginger and grows in much the same way. Both turmeric and ginger have beautiful tropical leaves, love the heat of the summer, and grow medicinal rhizomes underground.

Turmeric is best harvested in the fall when the leaves of the plant start to die back. This ensures that the rhizomes have received all of the plant’s energy and nutrients, creating a potent and medicinal powerhouse.

Turmeric is a must have in our herbal medicine cabinet and herb garden! We started growing turmeric from two plants that we bought through mail order from one of our favorite herb companies. The small plants thrived in our hot, humid growing conditions and produced a bountiful harvest in the fall. We replanted pieces of the rhizome and dried the rest for tinctures and other herbal preparations. Each fall, we count down the days to when we can harvest our turmeric. It is like a treasure hunt as we carefully dig up the rhizomes and harvest the gold!

Turmeric Benefits

Turmeric is specifically known for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and liver protectant properties. It is used to promote healthy cholesterol and blood sugar. Curcumin, the group of compounds that gives turmeric its beautiful orange color, has been specifically studied for its anti-inflammatory effects. As a result, curcumin is often isolated from turmeric and consumed as a supplement. While this can have its benefits, herbs are often better when taken as a whole.

A whole plant’s compounds synergistically work together to balance each other out and bring other benefits to the body that would not be utilized if only portions of the plant were consumed.

Turmeric is useful as an aid for gastrointestinal disorders, due to its anti-inflammatory properties. It may also aid liver detoxification and is commonly used for a variety of autoimmune conditions.

Turmeric Safety and Precautions

While turmeric is generally safe, there are a few precautions to keep in mind. Due to its antiplatelet properties, avoid taking turmeric two weeks before surgery. If taken long term, turmeric may have a drying effect on the stomach. Moistening herbs like marshmallow root, or slippery elm bark can be taken with turmeric to counter this problem.

How To Use Turmeric

Turmeric can be consumed in a variety of ways, whether as a powder, tincture, capsule, or fresh from the garden. We like to take turmeric tincture because of its potency, long shelf life, portability, bioavailability, and ease of use. We make sure to add black pepper to our turmeric tincture as the piperine compound in black pepper greatly increases the body’s ability to utilize turmeric’s medicinal properties.

When it comes to dosage, each individual is unique and has their own needs. Turmeric can be taken in various ways, and dosage will vary based on preparation.

What Clients Are Saying

We love hearing reviews and feedback from our clients! One of our favorites is from Charissa.

“I struggle greatly with joint pain and arthritis in my hands and am constantly looking for natural anti-inflammatory agents to help as it can be so debilitating. I absolutely love having this turmeric tincture on hand and keep it in my purse for the tough days to use in a pinch. So pleased with this tincture. Love the Reed family and all their knowledge too.”
~Charissa

Golden Milk

Another way that people like to take turmeric is to make golden milk. Typically, golden milk is made with powdered turmeric combined with warm milk. We love to make a golden milk latte recipe with turmeric tincture, whole milk, maple syrup, and a delicious blend of warm spices. See our recipe below. Golden milk is a fun and delicious way to incorporate turmeric into your life.

We would never be without our turmeric! It is a fun and easy plant to grow and a powerful herb to keep in the cabinet. What are your experiences with turmeric?

~Hannah