Turmeric is a spice that comes from the root Curcuma longa, a member of the
ginger family, Zingaberaceae (P ierce, 1999). It is bright yellow and has been used as a coloring
agent in food in the United Stat es. In India, it has been used for centuries as a spice and a food
preservative, and also for its various medicinal properties. In Ayurveda (Indian traditional
medicine), turmeric has been used for various purposes and through different routes of
administration. It has been use d topically on the skin for wounds, blistering diseases such as
pemphigus and herpes zoster, fo r parasitic skin infections, and for acne. It has been used via oral
administration for the common cold, liver diseases, urinary tract diseases, and as a blood purifier.
For chronic rhinitis and coryza, it has been used via inhalation (Eigner and Scholz, 1999; Majeed
et al., 1996)