Turmeric Tonic

Red Root & Co Turmeric Tonic is crafted to optimize the benefits of Turmeric with complementary spices and vegetables, creating a potent tonic with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory qualities. Using locally grown and small producer ingredients is of topmost importance to Red Root & Co, and we formulated Turmeric Tonic with local ingredients in mind. Turmeric and Carrots are base ingredients and they thrive growing in the mid-Atlantic region. What’s more, recent scientific studies suggest that Turmeric combined with Black Pepper creates heightened anti-inflammatory synergy (Olendzki and Chaiken 2019). Being responsible stewards of plants and crafting topnotch plant medicine, it was settled that we would bring this pair together in our tonic. Turmeric, Carrots and Black Pepper, plus other robust botanicals and spices, are steeped in a base of raw apple cider vinegar with a touch of raw honey, making this tonic all around alimentative.

Turmeric, Curcuma longa, is enjoyed both as food and medicine; a spice used in Chinese and Indian cooking and part of traditional and current day Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese medicine (Wood 2008:228). Turmeric gained global awareness because of its outstanding qualities both in the kitchen and for health. Curcumin, the compound that gives Turmeric it’s vibrant yellow color, is a polyphenol. Polyphenols are a complex class of phenolics; phenolics often give vibrant colors to flowers, plants and foods. Within this large class many types of phenolics are noted for their antioxidant qualities (Hoffman 2003:90). Antioxidants are rock stars because they scavenge free radicals (and free radicals can damage our cells, no bueno!). Paul Pitchford writes of Turmeric’s diverse qualities “..it is used to improve protein digestion, reduce uterine tumors, decongest the liver, dissolve gallstones, increase ligament flexibility, and reduce menstrual pain (Pitchford 2002:210).

Carrots are a rich source of the antioxidant beta-carotene, as known as Vitamin A. Carrots are alkalizing to the body and can help reduce acidity in blood. Beta-carotene is also good for our skin, eyes and anti-inflammatory for mucous membranes. Paul Pitchford writes in Healing with Foods, “….[carrots contain] large amounts of silicon and thereby strengthen the connective tissues and aid calcium metabolism” (Pitchford 2002:538).

In Western energetic medicine, we consider the effects Turmeric and other plants have on human tissue states of the body, as a continuum of certain qualities conjoined with looking at particular characteristics of plants. For example, we use a spectrum of hot-cold, dry-damp, and tension-laxity. Turmeric has a unique set of qualities that can nudge tissue states within a body (i.e. changing the internal human environment) to help the body resist disease and illness. This brings the body closer to equilibrium and health. For example, Turmeric is stimulating, bitter and pungent. It’s stimulating qualities can help move blood, which is one reason why Turmeric may be helpful in joint inflammation and injuries, bruises, arthritis, and sports injuries (Tierra 2003:124-125). Practitioners working in various traditional medicine systems often have a way of viewing the body that is not allopathic, meaning it does not solely focus on disease, pathogens and pathogen eliminators. Rather, Western energetics looks at how tissue is out of balance and works to bring tissue closer to stasis. For more on this topic, Kiva Rose Hardin has an outstanding and approachable layout on her site.

From a scientific point of view, Turmeric is full of antioxidants, which gets people excited, and it should! If you’ve heard people rave about the health benefits of red wine (red grapes) or Elderberries for example, part of the buzz is the high quality of the phenolics in these plants. Our bodies readily assimilate topnotch polyphenols from foods or beverages. Synergist compounds present in plants work together to nourish the body and taking plants in whole form or whole plant extracts keeps the synergy intact. Herbal infusions such as Red Root & Co Turmeric Tonic use whole botanicals, maintaining nature just as it was designed.

Sources:

Hardin, KR. “Tissue States.” The Enchanter's Green, enchantersgreen.com/tissue-states. Accessed 6 January 2021.
Hoffman, David. Medical Herbalism: The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine. Healing Arts Press, 2003.
Olendzki, Barbara and Jennifer Chaiken. “Eat Better Feel Better: Using Black Pepper to Enhance the Anti-Inflammatory effects of Turmeric.” UMASS Medical School, 28 June 2019, www.umassmed.edu/nutrition/blog/blog-posts/2019/6/using-black-pepper-to-enhance-the-anti-inflammatory-effects-of-turmeric/. Accessed 11 January 2021.
Pitchford, Paul. Healing with Whole Foods. North Atlantic Books, 2002.
Tierra, Leslie. Healing with the Herbs of Life. Crossing Press, 2003.
Wood, Matthew. The Earthwise Herbal: A Complete Guide to Old World Information. North Atlantic Books, 2008.