Spices to cook with that support our health

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 In the last few years the healing properties of turmeric have come front and center in the alternative healing circles and probably in the world of main stream medicine. As usual the nutraceutical companies have tried to find "The active ingredient" and encapsulate it and sell it in bottles. However the medicine of ancient India cannot be encapsuled in a bottle. It is the medicine that Hippocartes spoke of, saying: "Let food me your medicine and medicine be your food." That is why the food of India is always spiced. The spices add to the beneficial effects of the food and they also carry the medicine.


I have the great fortune of studying with Vaidya (wise man) Rama Kant Mishra who carried forward the ancient medicinal wisdom from any generations back. He says his ancestors carried Frankincense and Myrrh to the Christ Child. Be that as it may there is no question that he carries a deep wisdom about spices and herbs and food as medicine.


Here is a 8 minute video of him speaking about how to use Turmeric. 

 https://www.google.com/search?q=you+tube+vaidya+mishra+and+turmeric&oq=you+tube+vaidya+mishra+and+turmeric&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIJCAEQIRgKGKABMgkIAhAhGAoYoAEyCQgDECEYChigAdIBCDcyMTRqMGo3qAIAsAIA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:a2cbdad6,vid:cafoiHQiwPw,st:0

The important aspect of using these herbal formulas for cooking with on a daily basis is the VOC's or Volatile Organic Compounts.  When making up these curry powders or "Masalas" is that you start with the Coriander, Fennel and Cumin seeds and grind them up fresh.  That way the volatile compounds that give them their aroma are most available. If you have bottles of spices sitting in your cupboard for months or even years most of the active components of the spice have evaporated.  If you open up a bottle of spice and the aroma is not there the benefit is not there.


So here is the formula:

1 part Turmeric

6 parts Coriander seed ground to fine powder

6 parts Fennel seed ground to fine powder

1 part cumin seed ground to fine powder

Store in glass jar with tight lid (turmeric can dissolve plastic)

When cooking with these spice you need to use some clarified butter or ghee to liberate the fat soluble substances as well as using veggies that are moist.  Sometimes you may have to add a tabelspoonful or 2 of water to maintain the moisture.

Depending on your body type you might also want to add a bit of black pepper to thsis formula if you are a Kapha type. However Pitta and Vata do not need the extra heat that is already there in teh Turmeric and is being balanced by the cooling properties of the Coriander and Fennel.  After a few months of using this formula you can increase the Turmeric to 2 parts. Enjoy.

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