Turmeric: Is This World-renowned Root CBD’s Perfect Match?

Why is turmeric one of the hottest trends in the health industry and why did we infuse it into our best-selling hemp oil from Mana’s inception? In this post, we’ll explore the history and science behind the renowned “golden spice.”

Hemp is not the only plant that’s been utilized to support overall health and well-being for millennia. Turmeric (Curcuma longa), an herb native to South Asia, is another plant with a rich history.

Its rhizomes (roots) have been used to make spice and traditional medicine for thousands of years, particularly in India. It’s also a long-standing and revered herb in Hawaii, where it goes by the name Olena.

Ground turmeric root has a characteristic orange-yellow color that comes from its main active ingredient curcumin. Curcumin is largely responsible for turmeric’s potential health benefits and has been the subject of intense scientific research with over 10,000 peer-reviewed studies. Curcumin is the perfect match for CBD: another research-backed natural compound that can support overall health through its holistic effects.

Here are some key things to know about turmeric and why it works so well in combination with hemp.

Turmeric’s History

In many ways, the history of turmeric mirrors that of cannabis. Turmeric has been utilized for nearly 4000 years as a medicinal herb, food ingredient, and cosmetic.

The medical use of turmeric was popularized by India’s Ayurvedic system of folk medicine, where turmeric is believed to strengthen energy, improve digestion, regulate menstruation, kill parasites, relieve arthritis, and provide other health benefits.

India’s historical records talk of turmeric being used for a broad variety of health issues, including asthma, allergies, respiratory infections, coughing, sprains, swelling, and disorders of the skin, joints, liver, and digestive system.

It was most commonly taken in the form of juice or milk or applied externally as a paste or poultice to treat skin conditions, cuts, burns, bites, and swollen or painful parts of the body.

The use of turmeric later spread to China, other nearby Asian countries, and Africa, although
India remains the largest producer and consumer of the beneficial herb.

Polynesian explorers also brought turmeric to Hawaii. Olena (“yellow” in Hawaiian) was revered by the ancient Hawaiians for its mana — its life force or spiritual power — and was used to cleanse and purify people, physical spaces, and objects. It was incorporated into traditional medicine practices and used for earaches, sinusitis, and other ailments.

Today, turmeric is used all over the world in a wide variety of foods ranging from curries to smoothies and is also popular as a dietary supplement.

What the Research Says

As we mentioned above, turmeric is one of the most researched medicinal herbs in the world with thousands of published studies. Most of the research has focused on curcumin and other curcuminoids, the main active ingredients in the plant.

Studies suggest that curcumin has anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antiviral, antioxidant, anti-diabetic, neuroprotective, cardio-preventive, and other beneficial properties.

As a result, it has the potential to help with a wide variety of disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis, depression, heart disease, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and digestive issues, and diabetes.

Studies also confirm that turmeric is completely safe, which isn’t all that surprising as it’s been consumed on a regular basis for centuries.

Curcumin and CBD

Hemp and turmeric have been utilized as holistic medicines for thousands of years. As it happens, both of these herbs and their main active ingredients — CBD and curcumin — have wide-ranging effects that can support your overall well-being.

Better yet, there’s research evidence that curcumin can interact with the endocannabinoid system, which is the same way that CBD produces most of its beneficial effects.

The Best of Hawaiian Turmeric

Our goal at Mana Botanics is to bring you the best of what nature has to offer in a clean, sustainable, holistic way. That’s why our hemp products contain not only CBD but many other beneficial natural ingredients, including Hawaiian turmeric.

In fact, we were one of the first hemp companies to combine these two synergistic botanical ingredients to maximize their holistic benefits.

And, unlike most companies, we use fresh, organic turmeric grown right here in Hawaii instead of importing the dried root powder from India. Raw, fresh turmeric preserves all of the plant’s beneficial ingredients, making it superior to the powdered version.

Our turmeric comes from local sources: Honaunau Farm on the foothills of the Mauna Loa Volcano and Aina Culture, a family-run farm based in North Kohala, Hawaii. By sourcing high-quality organic ingredients in this manner we ensure the support of the local Hawaiian economy and regenerative farming.

The end result is uniquely delicious products that deliver quality, potency, and efficacy to you.