One thing you ought to know about me is that I am head over heels in love with everything that’s organic! Be it in cosmetics and food, you name it! It all started in the year 2012 when I decided to try a holistic approach to health after a daunting incident.

Earlier that year, I still had my post-pregnancy weight on and had trouble with gout. I had recurring UTI that I had to have myself checked with the OBGYNE. On my initial check-up, I was diagnosed with a small cyst on one of my ovaries. I was also having boils which recurred twice on my lower right belly (coincidently where the diagnosed cyst was situated within). My OB told me that I had to take prescription meds (which I think were, uh, antibiotics?) and had to return for a follow-up in a few days to know the nature of the cyst (since she explained that some cysts are just physiological and/or are non-malignant).

Confession: I didn’t have the guts to return for a follow-up checkup.

That became my wakeup call. I knew I had to do something about my health. I was just starting to build a family and here I am, overweight, unwell and helpless. Currently I was breastfeeding my son (until he turned 3) so I couldn’t opt for drug medications. That was when I chose to turn to nature’s power. Initially, I discovered turmeric (or luyang dilaw) by chance.

My initial intention was to treat the boils that I had, and had hear-says from old folks that turmeric had been widely and traditionally used in our country in treating boils and alleviate inflammation. I bought one contained in a bottle in powdered form from the Old City Market. In the long run, I also bought turmeric in its natural whole (non-powdered) form.

Afterwards, I did my own research thru the internet and it wowed me by how much benefits it can offer as to health per se. Here’s one site of which has ample info on Health benefits is the world’s healthiest foods.org on Turmeric.

According to the same site, turmeric can give you a hand full of benefits with regards to the following health issues:

• A safe Anti-inflammatory

• Cystic Fibrosis

• Cancer Prevention

• Inhibits Cancer Cell Growth and Metastases

• Improved Liver Function

• Cardiovascular Protection

• Lowers Cholesterol

• Protection against Alzheimer’s Disease

… and God knows what else!

By now, I bet you’re beginning to ask what this potent organic medicine is. Here’s what it looks like:

(photo source: http://healthydebates.com/science-confirms-turmeric-effective-14-drugs/)

Basically, on what turmeric is:

It comes from the ginger family; in fact they’re very akin as to features except to its color once you peel it. Ginger, when peeled, has a yellowish-white core whereas turmeric has that deep yellow-orange (staining) color, an attribute of its effectiveness. And no, it doesn’t have that sharp spicy taste like ginger has, only pure and tolerable root/tea flavor (once you get used to it).

I read less than a few about turmeric and breastfeeding. I figured that there wasn’t enough info that turmeric shouldn’t be taken if one is nursing her child so I tried MODERATELY, but for the benefit of those who doubt, it would be best not to use it; let alone for pregnant women, surely turmeric should be a big no-no for a while.

I thought practically that moderation was the key, so I took it reasonably at first but with devotion of everyday intake before heading off to work (a cup of turmeric tea in the morning and that’s it). I took it faithfully (of course, along with the strong affirmation of God’s healing willpower) that I even influenced my in-laws in taking it, too, that upon waking up in the morning, they already have Turmeric tea prepared and just enough to do for all of us (yes, at the time, we were still living in with my in-laws).

Now, here’s the best part of the story. Late in 2013, with fair intake of turmeric, other healthy food options and regular exercise, I decided to have myself checked again for the 2^nd time after a year of having been diagnosed with Ovarian Cyst. All the while, while sitting in the waiting area for my turn, I was praying to God for good results and claimed that He has already taken away the cyst that shouldn’t be mine. Upon check-up, I initially told my OB that I was the same patient whom she had diagnosed with ovarian cyst. She did a scanning with her thingamabobs and, to my rejoice, she said that she couldn’t find a trace of cyst in my ovaries (btw, never again did I have to cross path with gout and boils).

Could it be the turmeric? Probably. Divine intervention? Certainly. The thing is, in the beginning, man was already given the authority to rule over and take care of nature and its wonders. Just think of what God had in mind while creating NATURE in its incredible original state. I think it’s really amazing how He thought of putting in tiny measures of His power into simple plant lives such as the turmeric.

I thank God for the gift of nature.

Hopefully, in my next new brews I’d finally be able to share with you how I make Turmeric Tea as simple as a piece of cake (by that, I meant figuratively, no cake shall be associated with the recipe LOL).

Until next time!

– Bonzai Melo