Turmeric

Used for over 4,000 years in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine, turmeric was considered a sacred herb in ancient India. Referenced in Sanskrit texts as 'haridra,' it was used in religious ceremonies, as a dye, and as medicine. Hippocrates documented its use in Greek medicine, and Arab traders brought it to Europe in the 13th century where it became known as 'Indian saffron.'

Tradition: Ayurveda

Origin: South Asia