Discover the Herbal Wonders: Medicinal Herbs in Cooking!

Herbs are a wonderful way to add flavour to your food and drinks without adding fat, salt or sugars. They also tend to have health-promoting properties.

From fragrant oregano to subtle-sweet marjoram to savory thyme, discover how these herbs can improve both your taste and health. These plants truly are the reason for “let thy food be thy medicine”..

Culinary Herbs with Medicinal Properties

Herbs bring the spice of life to meals, and they can also help boost your health. Centuries--even millennia--of tradition and years of recent scientific research back these herbal wonders' potential to improve your mood, aid digestion, ward off infections and even prevent chronic illnesses like heart disease and arthritis.

As more and more herbs grow easily in our gardens, on our windowsills or at the local market, we can tap into their healing properties to ease common ailments and promote overall wellness. Learn which culinary herbs are medicinal, how to grow and prepare them for use in teas, infusions and tinctures, and find simple recipes for herbal skin care and remedies that soothe, refresh and heal.

Rosemary's earthy taste is a great match for roasted root vegetables, meat and fish dishes, and a cup of its calming herb tea helps with insomnia. It's a memory-boosting herb and a powerful antioxidant that can help reduce oxidative stress, which is linked to heart disease, Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative disorders.

Therapeutic Herbs

Many herbs, especially those that are often used as spices, have medicinal or therapeutic properties. These can include antioxidant, antitumorigenic, blood-sugar lowering and cholesterol lowering effects as well as immune system stimulants and mood enhancers.

Medicinal herbs can be taken in the form of whole plants, herbal extracts, syrup, ointments and capsules. The herb's ingredients may vary depending on the method of extraction, the temperature and length of time - examples of herbal extraction methods include alcoholic extract (tinctures), vinegars and hot water extractions of roots or barks (decoctions) and cold infusions of herbs or seeds or petals (macerates).

While herbal medicines can help with some conditions and illnesses, it's important to remember that they aren't magic bullets and should be used with caution. They may interfere with some prescription medications, and they may have potential side effects - some of which can be severe. Checking with a reputable resource such as the Memorial Sloan-Kittering Cancer Centre Integrative Medicine Database can be helpful.

Medicinal Herbs in Teas

The herbs, flowers and seeds often used for medicinal teas have been around as natural home remedies for hundreds and thousands of years. They can help treat everything from digestion issues to scurvy, insomnia and even the common cold!

Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) is one of the most popular medicinal herbal plants in the world, adored for its relaxing and sleep-inducing properties. It’s also a soothing nervine and a natural antidepressant.

Fennel is a medicinal herb with a licorice-like flavor that can help relieve stress and anxiety. It can also aid indigestion and boost metabolism.

Lemon balm is a perennial that has a subtle lemony flavor and is also part of the mint family, so it’s not surprising that it’s great for treating stress, anxiety and insomnia. It’s also a natural digestive aid and acts as a painkiller. Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) is widely used to soothe a cough and other breathing and lungs related issues. Iceland moss is another medicinal herb to help clear the throat and ease congestion.

Medicinal Herbs in Infusions

Herbs add a rich, distinctive flavour to dishes. They also have medicinal properties that can help soothe and nourish us. They can help with everyday ailments such as headaches, colds, stomach aches and indigestion or contribute to our overall wellness.

Infusions are a form of herbal tea but made with whole herbs like leaves, stems, flowers and roots. The key difference is that the herbs are allowed to steep for longer, which allows the herb’s medicinal constituents to become more bioavailable. For example, if you make a cup of stinging nettle tea, it will only have a few milligrams of calcium, but an infusion of the same amount (stirred into hot water for 10 minutes) will contain over 1000mg of calcium.

Jekka shows you how to make an assortment of nourishing herbal infusions as well as some recipes that are ideal for soothing specific ailments and improving your general health. From chamomile to fennel, there’s an infusion for every ache and pain.

Frequently Asked Questions

What plant helps with infection?

There are plants out there that help fight infections. Some even contain anti-bacterial properties. One of them is mint.

Mint has been used for centuries to treat respiratory infections such as cold symptoms and flu. Mint also supports digestion and relieves gas pains. You may find relief with peppermint tea if you have an upset stomach. Peppermint oil has antibacterial properties, which make it effective against germs.

Peppermint tea contains menthol, beta-carotene, vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, iron, and potassium. These nutrients support healthy immune systems and provide energy to keep your body strong.

You can make peppermint tea at home by adding one teaspoon of dried mint leaves to boiling water. Let steep for five minutes and drink hot three times per day.

Or you can buy peppermint tea bags at any grocery store. Simply add two teaspoons of dried mint leaves to a cup of hot water. Steep for 10 minutes and strain. Drink hot three times per day for best results.

Should You Use Herbs and Spices for Brain Health?

Herbs and spices have been used for centuries to improve brain health. Research shows that these natural remedies may help prevent dementia and Alzheimer's. Some herbs may even boost memory.

However, no scientific evidence proves that eating an herb-rich diet can keep your mind sharp. When it comes to improving cognitive function, there are more effective ways to do it.

One study found that older adults who took 1000 mg of vitamin B6 daily had fewer mental lapses than those taking placebo pills. Another study showed that drinking coffee could increase blood flow to the brain. Other studies suggest that exercise, socialization, and sleep improve brain health.

The bottom line is that herbs and spices probably won't make much difference to your overall health. But they might give you extra energy and focus, which can come in handy during the day.

What are healing flowers?

Healing flowers are plants that promote peace and tranquillity. They help us unwind after a stressful day and make us feel more relaxed.

They also help us connect to our inner selves and reconnect with nature.

These beautiful blooms are used for meditation, prayer, and contemplation.

We call hundreds of varieties of flowering plants ‘healing’ because they provide such a fantastic experience.

This list includes roses, lilies, irises, daffodils, peonies, tulips, hyacinths, and many more.

But there are two species that I find particularly special. These are the Geranium and Lilium.

Geraniums are very easy to grow and come in various colors. Liliums are also known as lily-of-the-valley, which means 'lily' and 'valley.' Both of these species are popular garden flowers.

Healing flowers are often found growing near water. They are said to bring peace and calmness to those who meditate with them.

In ancient times, people would light candles in flower petals to symbolize the sun. This way, they could honor the sun without needing to go outdoors.

Some say that when you look at these flowers, you may see angels dancing.

How do you make medicinal herbs?

There are many different methods to make herbs into medicinal products. The most common method is to dry the herbs in a warm, dark location before grinding them into a powder or extracting their essential oils. This can be accomplished by hanging herbs upside down in bunches, laying herbs on a drying screen, or using a food dehydrator.

Once dried and ground, herbs can be stored in airtight containers for future use. Other herbs may require special preparation, such as infusing herbs into oil or vinegar, making tinctures with alcohol, or distilling herbs to create essential oils.

Learning the correct techniques for preparing herbs can help ensure that they retain their medicinal properties and potency for optimal health benefits. Using fresh herbs is usually best, but herbs can also be grown in a pot or garden and harvested when they are mature. Herbs can be purchased at health food stores, online retailers, and specialty shops.

No matter where herbs come from, the preparation techniques remain the same; drying herbs in a warm location followed by grinding or extracting the essential oils. You can make your medicinal herbs with the right herbs and preparation techniques.

When making herbal preparations, it is essential to remember that herbs can vary in potency, so always dilute herbs before use or follow the directions on any product label. Additionally, herbs are best used fresh, as many of their beneficial components degrade over time.

Following safety guidelines and paying attention to the potency of herbs can help ensure that you get the most benefit from your herbs. With a bit of practice and preparation, anyone can make therapeutic herbs with medicinal properties. Remember that herbs should never replace any medical advice or treatments prescribed by a doctor. Always consult a licensed healthcare professional before using herbs medicinally.

Statistics

• The global herbs market is expected to reach more than $125 billion by the end of 2025.
• For those with high cholesterol, garlic supplementation appears to reduce total and/or LDL cholesterol by about 10-15% (72Trusted Source73Trusted (healthline.com)

External Links

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• Detoxification and antioxidant effects of curcumin in rats experimentally exposed to mercury - Agarwal - 2010 - Journal of Applied Toxicology - Wiley Online Library

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• Peppermint oil (Mintoil®) in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome: A prospective, double-blind placebo-controlled randomized trial


• Curcumin reverses the effects of chronic stress on behavior, the HPA axis, BDNF expression, and phosphorylation of CREB

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• Bouquet garni - Wikipedia

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• Amazon.com: Starwest Botanicals Organic Bilberries Whole, 4 Ounces: Grocery & Gourmet Food

How To

What to look for in herbs?

Herbs contain natural compounds that may help treat various conditions. In addition, herbal remedies may provide relief when used along with conventional treatments.

Herbal remedies include teas, capsules, tablets, ointments, creams, lotions, oils, and topical applications. Some of these products are meant to be taken internally, while others are applied externally.

The most common uses of herbal remedies include relieving minor aches and pains, treating cold symptoms, reducing fever, controlling coughs and sore throats, easing digestion problems, soothing skin irritations, alleviating menstrual cramps, and providing general health benefits.

When buying herbs, look for the following:

• Freshly picked plants. Avoid dried herbs unless they've been stored in a cool place. If possible, buy herbs directly from farmers' markets.
• Pure extracts. These are made by extracting the active ingredients from herbs using alcohol or water. Look for 100% pure extractions.
• Certified organic herbs. Organic herbs must meet strict standards set forth by the USDA.
• Natural flavors. Many herbs have strong scents that can overwhelm other foods. Adding flavorings such as vanilla, almond, or orange helps mask their smell.
• Potency. The amount of active ingredient per unit weight varies depending on the type of herb.
• Packaging. When purchasing herbs, check the packaging to ensure that it's clean and free of chemicals.

Resources:

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