Turmeric Turmeric (IndiaNepal)

Why India and Nepal?

Turmeric is sourced from various parts of India and Nepal. It is used extensively as a spice in both places, and consequently, grown abundantly for that market.

The Harvesting and Distillation Process

Turmeric is a rhizome, or an underground stock of the plant from which roots grow, that is typically dried and ground as a spice. It is sometimes grown as an intercrop alongside corn, sugarcane, and other crops. Many farmers grow turmeric after they have been growing sugarcane for a few years. They pull out the sugarcane and plant turmeric because it helps provide nutrients for the soil. Farmers in India often say that growing turmeric is like a natural pesticide and fungicide for the soil—growing turmeric has proved healthy for the soil itself—and that sugarcane planted after turmeric has a significantly higher yield.

The essential oil is produced through steam distillation. After farming and harvesting (done by both men and women), the turmeric roots are sorted into various grades (typically by women). Our Turmeric essential oil is a blend that comes from distilling both dried and fresh turmeric.

Social Impact

In 2023, the doTERRA Healing Hands Foundation has helped raise funds to support specific upgrades and maintenance of the Swami Shree Nirdoshanandji Manavseva hospital in India, which will impact more than 292,000 people every year and will help communities in the turmeric sourcing area. The work includes the installation of solar panels to provide energy to the hospital, new bathrooms and upgrades to different departments in the hospital including the purchases of new machines for the ophthalmologic department.

In 2024, an impactful five-day dental treatment clinic was organized. This initiative, staffed by two American dentists alongside local professionals, provided essential dental care to over 400 patients, including turmeric farmers who often face significant barriers to healthcare access. Some of them traveled more than 100 miles to receive the treatment. Beyond individual transformations, the dental camp also facilitated capacity-building within the local healthcare system. Through hands-on training led by the American dentists, local professionals were empowered to perform complex procedures such as wisdom teeth extraction and to optimize equipment usage, enhancing the clinic’s ability to serve the community effectively.