Health Benefits of Herbs & Spices
Herbs and spices have been used for centuries for their medicinal properties as well as for their culinary enhancements. Researchers continue to study the healing properties that can be offered by these natural remedies.
Herbs can enhance the flavor of foods and even makes it more beneficial to our health. We can flavor meat, stew, pasta and casseroles with basil, garlic, oregano or rosemary. To enhance the natural sweetness of foods, we can also try cinnamon, ginger or nutmeg. We can also heat up a dish by adding black, red or white pepper.
When using fresh herbs in recipes, we must remember:
Clean and cut herbs before adding to dishes.
Gently crush them in the palm of hand to release their flavor.
Add fresh herbs at the end of cooking, so their flavor will last.
Herbs and their Uses
Everything from ginger root to dandelion has a specific function as a medicinal herb. And in certain combinations, these natural wonders have been known to alleviate everything from acne to infertility. St. John's Wort has shown great promise as a mild antidepressant; Catnip works quite well as a fever reducer; ginger aids digestion; and the list goes on and on. As always, nature has found a way to assist us in a variety of health-related issues.Herbs also have significant results in natural beauty and skin care. Among some of the common herbs used for skin care, neem, turmeric and holy basil are said to be great in enhancing your beauty. Holy basil when mixed with neem powder, mint leaves and a little turmeric powder, are good for dark spots on the face. Tea Tree oil is believed to be excellent for hair growth and for banishing lice.
As a natural moisturizer, unrefined Shea Butter can be used on the skin for softening it. It is also good for cracked heels and improving the appearance of stretch marks. If you massage your scalp with Jojoba oil, your hair grows wonderfully well. The extract of the berries of the small palm, Saw Palmetto, also works very well for improving the scalp and the skin condition. Aloe vera is known to work on the skin for giving it a radiant appearance and a smooth, youthful look. basil, a plant considered sacred in India, is used quite extensively in cosmetics.
My Favorite Herbs & Spices
These are my favorite herbs & spices just because of their amazing health benefits. They not only cure us from common ailments but also eleminate the root cause of the disturbing elements from our body. They have multiple applications and have great results.
- Aloe Vera
- Aloe Vera is a stemless or very short-stemmed plant growing to 80-100 cm tall, spreading by offsets and root sprouts. The leaves are lanceolate, thick and fleshy, green to grey-green, with a serrated margin.
- Indian gooseberry (Amla)
- Amla is an extensively used herb in making ayurvedic medicines. Amla is supposed to rejuvenate all the organ systems of the body, provide strength and wellness.
- Ashwagandha
- Ashwagandha has been used as a sedative, a diuretic, a rejuvenating tonic, an anti-inflammatory agent, aphrodisiac and an immune booster.
- Bacopa Monnieri (Brahmi)
- Brahmi is used as a mental tonic, to rejuvenate the body, as a promoter of memory and as a nerve tonic. It improves memory and helps overcome the negative effects of stress.
- Garlic
- Garlic is one of the oldest known medicinal plants, and also one of the most effective remedies to lower blood pressure. It also slows the pulse and modifies the heart rhythm, besides relieving the symptoms of dizziness, shortness of breath and the formation of gas within the digestive track.
- Commiphora mukul (Guggul)
- Guggul is widely used for treating obesity and high cholesterol. It lowers serum cholesterol and phospholipids, and also protects against cholesterol- induced atherosclerosis.
- Bitter Melon (Kerela)
- Bitter Melon, also known as Bitter Gourd or Karela is a herb that helps regulate blood sugar levels and keeps body functions operating normally. Its principle constituents are lectins, charantin and momordicine.
- Azadirachta indica (Neem)
- Neem is a very famous herb in India and possesses miraculous medicinal properties. It is known as Azadirachta indica in its biological terms. Neem has been used as pesticide since early ages because of its remarkable property of fighting away with pest and microorganism.
- Boswellia Serrata (Shallaki)
- Shallaki is extensively used as an anti-inflammatory agent for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, low back pain, myositis, fibrositis, and osteoarthritis.
- Shilajit
- Shilajit is considered as one of the most potent and unique rejuvenatives. In Sanskrit Shilajit means ruler of mountains and suppressor of weakness. It helps in subduing weakness and makes our body rule over all the diseases.
- St John's Wort
- St John's Wort is one of the best investigated medicinal plants. It has a combination of elements; foremost among them is "hypericin". It reacts with specific chemicals in the brain to temper emotional discomfort, lift depression, and calm the nerves.
- Terminalia Arjuna
- Arjuna is a valuable herb used in the treatment of angina, coronary artery disease, heart failure, edema, and possibly hypercholesterolemia. It has successfully proven its worth in heart related illness.
- Triphala
- Triphala is a composite herbal preparation containing equal proportions of Haritaki, Amalaki and Bibhitaki. It helps in curing the viral infection and leukemia.
- Holy Basil
- Tulsi is an aromatic herb found everywhere in India. It is the most worshipped plant in Hindu culture. This herb contains such a chemical composition that no mosquitoes and flies can come near the plant because of its peculiar odor.
- Turmeric
- Considered a cleansing herb for the whole body, it gives energy and grants prosperity. The finger like stalk is scalded, dried and used for medicinal preparations.
- Wheatgrass
- Wheatgrass is a commonly found herb in India and is known for its nutritional value. It is known, as Triticum aestivum in its biological terms. It contains enzymes like protease, cytrochrome, amylase, lipase, transshydrogenase and SOD (super oxide dismutase).
>> See List of Healing Herbs and Spices
Some More Herbs & Spices
Some other herbs and spices are also very effective and may spice up your health. Know their health benefits and miraculous properties.
- Cayenne pepper and Tabasco sauce: They increases metabolism and fat-burning ability by up to 25%.
- Ginger: It speeds metabolic rate, plus it inhibits nausea and vomiting often caused by morning sickness or motion sickness.
- Peppermint: It is used to treat gastric and digestive disorders, as well as tension and insomnia.
- Mustard: It is a stimulant that can be used to relieve respiratory complaints.
- Horseradish: It is a relative of the mustard family that acts as a digestive stimulant.
- Cinnamon: It is often used as an antidote for diarrhea and stomach upset as well as a metabolism booster.
- Allspice: It is an aromatic stimulant that helps to relieve indigestion and gas.
Healing Power of Culinary Herbs and Spices
For tens of thousands of years, herbs and spices were probably used much more for their magical powers than for their medicinal qualities. They have supernatural significance as well as medicinal value.Discover the healing power of everyday culinary herbs and spices. They are cheap, easy and can do no harm; furthermore, many are sworn to work well.
Insect stings: Apply a freshly-cut slice of raw onion to a sting to help draw out the poison. Hold the onion in place with tape.
Cough: Make syrup of garlic simply by melting 1.5 ounces of honey in 1 ounce of the raw, squeezed juice and give to children suffering with a bad cough.
Upset stomach: Drink two teaspoons apple cider vinegar in 1 cup water.
Rheumatism: 1-2 cloves of garlic, pounded with honey and taken 2 or 3 nights successively, has been reported to relieve rheumatism.
Cough: Mix one-half cup apple cider vinegar, 1/2 cup water, 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper and 4 teaspoons raw honey.
Eliminating worms: Both garlic juice and garlic milk (made by boiling the mashed bulbs in milk) can be used to eliminate worms.
Bee or jellyfish sting: Dot or douse the irritated area with apple cider vinegar to relieve itching.
Dry and itchy skin: Add 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to your bath water.
Mosquito and other bug bites: Relieve itching by using a cotton ball to dab your bites with apple cider vinegar straight from the bottle.
Sunburn: Rub it lightly with apple cider vinegar, and reapply if necessary.
Sore throat: Put a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water. Gargle, and then swallow.
Sore throat: Mix 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar with 1/4 cup of raw honey and take 1 tablespoon six times a day. The apple cider vinegar kills the bacteria.
Sore throat: Mix a tablespoon of raw honey and the juice of one lemon into a cup of warm water, and sip.
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- PreCap2 PreCap2 Jun 15, 2009 @ 7:38 am
- I like your lens first because it's not all about BUY, you gave a lot of information free of charge. That's good. Now about Azadirachta indica (Neem), I learned from Africa how to use it for malaria and typhoid fever ( both tropical mostly), and some important lessons on the uses of Ginger which I'm showing all for free Check Out, and Garlic. 5 Star to you from Ms Stingy.
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- Fatih Fatih Jun 11, 2009 @ 2:56 am
- Home remedies are the best , great ideas with the apple cider. Your lens is great
Read through easily .thank you........Give 5star*****s
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- yorkylad yorkylad Apr 22, 2009 @ 7:10 am
- As a subject close to my own heart I stopped by to look at your lens and was impressed. Nicely laid out and interesting content, gave 5* and added to favourites, well done.
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- medicinewoods medicinewoods Dec 9, 2008 @ 10:43 pm
- I like your lens. It's very informative, very nicely organized and easy to read.
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- flixter flixter Oct 24, 2007 @ 10:49 am
- Hi Nick. I'm also an herbal enthusiast and I've written some articles on
herbal remedies before. I like your lens alot. The presentation is easy on the eyes, the articles are not too long--but comprehensive and packed with tons of information.
by Nick-Mutt
Nick Mutt is founder and CEO of Elite Informatics, an Internet Advertising Company. He is also an active writer and blogger on health related topics.... (more)
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