Curcumin supposedly relieves inflammation, other medical conditions.
Research also going on at Oregon State U. Quite a lot of info about it here:
http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/phytochemicals/curcumin/
Just to be on the side of the angels, I use as much turmeric in cooking as I can stand. It’s rather an acquired taste. Easier to acquire if I dump in red pepper in one form or another. Tabasco. Sriracha. Gringo Bandito sauce, etc.
One of my co-workers is from India. When I was recovering from the flu she suggested turmeric as a tea. I mixed it with ginger and honey.
I do think it helped.
I take 500mg of curcumin three times daily, mainly for its anti-inflammatory properties.
You are being very polite to tumeric. I'd say it tastes strongly of dirt and soil.
I take it for inflamation in my knees. I told my doc about it, and he approved, but said I'd need to put a lot in my food to get any benefit, as it is not in the best, most available format.
I told him that I did not add it to food, but rather used a heaping teaspoon + water to make a paste and just forced it down my gullet, as it is so nasty I have not found a way to mitigate the dirt taste by mixing it into other food (it just ruins the food!)
The doc said to keep doing this. He also said I cannot OD on it.