You don't have to be a Top Chef to know that one of the most valuable culinary secrets is that herbs used in the kitchen have medicinal properties.
You can bet that if you have an Italian grandmother, she is well aware that the Oregano and Basil she uses in her famous spaghetti sauce are digestive aids as well as herbs that have antibiotic properties; helping keep her family healthy during the cold winter months.
Chances are, your family has their own arsenal of kitchen herbs used as medicine throughout the seasons, the knowledge of which has been handed down from generation to generation.
Practicing alternative self care is easy when you know which herbs in your spice cabinet can be included as part of a healing diet or used as supplements.
The Herbs
Some of the most commonly used herbs are Oregano, Basil, Thyme, Anise, Fennel, Mint, Chamomile, Cayenne and Turmeric. You might be familiar with the uses of some of these herbs, yet there may be some things these herbs are capable of that you may not have known.
Some of the most common complaints can be remedied by herbs that we might never have thought of for that purpose. With proper planning, one can create a healing menu for every ailment, every day of the week.
The next time you use Rosemary as a seasoning think about the fact that you’re using an aromatic herb that also benefits blood pressure and proper circulation.
Cayenne Pepper, used popularly in the Master Cleanse Program and added to many Mexican dishes, is known to speed up metabolism and help promote weight loss.
Catnip is not just for cats anymore. You can make a tea of this herb to soothe an upset stomach, calm a colicky baby, reduce fever or use as a wash to bring out a rash. This multifaceted herb is part of the mint family.
Fennel is another wonderful herb to have in the kitchen. Its seeds can be chewed after a meal to promote healthy digestion and ease flatulence. Its use is popular throughout the Mediterranean as well as in the Middle East. If you’ve ever gone to an Indian restaurant and seen a bowl of dried herb with bright colored specks sitting out, this is Mukhwas, a mixture of Fennel, Anise Seed, Coconut and Sesame Seeds. These beautiful herbs are meant to be used as a digestive aid.
Indian curry recipes often call for Turmeric, recognizable by its vibrant orange hue. This delicate spice is scientifically proven to have anti-inflammatory properties and has been used by athletic trainers to decrease swelling after a sports injury. Internal swelling is one of the main sources of many diseases afflicting Westerners today. Turmeric is a good remedy to have on hand in the kitchen and may even aid people who suffer from asthma.
Cloves have a bite that take away the sting of a tooth ache, just soak a teaspoon of cloves in an ounce of extra virgin olive oil overnight and apply it to the affected area as you would over the counter Orajel.
If you suffer from chronic headaches or migraines herbal nervine tonics are often employed for easing tension and helping the body return to optimal function. In your kitchen you may find Peppermint, commonly thought of for stomach ailments, this herb is highly effective in treating nausea and pain associated with migraine headaches.
For colds, flu and bronchitis, stock up on savory herbs such as Sage, Thyme, Rosemary and Marjoram. These herbs are anti-spasmodic: reducing the action of a chronic cough, astringent: reducing inflammation and creating a protective barrier within the body, expectorant: allowing for mucous to be expelled from the lungs, and sedative: calming to the system. Make a strong tea of these herbs, add ginger and fresh local honey to ease a chronic cough, relax the nervous system and help a fever break.
If you suffer from insomnia, Chamomile tea is a great way to unwind from a hectic day. Many people have used this gentle herb for stomach issues, but don't let Chamomile's subtle properties fool you; it’s a hard working little flower that packs a big punch in all it can do. Chamomile is an infant’s best friend. If your baby suffers from colic, just make a tea and allow it to cool and put it in with their formula or spoon feed it to them as much as they will take. You will see results almost immediately. Chamomile can also be used as a wash for sore eyes and as a compress to reduce mild inflammation of insect bites and wounds.
Not only can herbs be added to your diet to increase health, sustain wellness and nourish the body, but many fruits and vegetables, sea vegetables, minerals and grains are therapeutic as well.
Connecting to our food as medicine
Before grocery stores and pharmacies, which became a product of the industrial revolution, our ancestors relied on the seasons and their own harvests to nurture their bodies during the year. Storehouses and basement refrigeration, canning and drying were the primary method of preserving food for the year ahead. Folk medicine was the herbs you found in the wild, the vegetables and fruit you grew in your gardens and the natural wisdom of how to use these substances to heal, which was passed down by word of mouth over the years.
While much of the wisdom of the ages has been lost, a lot of it has been preserved in books and handed down by wise men and women who kept this knowledge flowing into today’s modern world. In recent years, alternative medicine has become the preference for many American families. As rising costs in healthcare have caused many to become uninsured, people are looking for ways to remain healthy without having access to modern medicine. In addition, individuals who seek a more nature based way to nurture their bodies are returning to greener lifestyles, invoking the memory of their ancestors to embrace organic gardening, alternative healthcare, bodywork and environmentally safer options in their daily lives.
Because kitchen herbs are so versatile, they can be used in a variety of ways as part of a healing diet, as supplements and in body care products such as creams, salves and oils. The most popular way of ingesting herbs for medicinal purposes is by drinking tea. You will find that your children will readily drink a sweet healing tea over a chemical filled over the counter medicine.
It is important to know that not all herbs, even kitchen herbs, in a healing diet are for everyone. Some who have compromised immune systems should consult their regular healthcare practitioner prior to taking any herbs. Nursing and Pregnant mothers should also communicate with their health care provider regarding which herbs they are taking.
Herbs work with your body to gently, yet powerfully nurture and nourish it. Although herbs can work slower than a single compound pharmaceutical, they work more directly to bring about balance to the body as a whole. It’s nice to know there is a whole arsenal of healing remedies available right in your own kitchen.
It is always good to know that remedy for illness need not be expensive and that it is readily available to most of us.
Most chemically-based medicines only work on the symptoms but not the cause. Most natural medicines like herbs work on the cause of the illness. Healing might take longer than chemically-based ones but you can be sure that the effect would be long-lasting and in most cases, permanent.
Nourishing food as medicine? It's a great way to go.
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