Healing herbs Sep 05

HEALING HERBS & SPICES

Nowadays most of us use herbs for a bit of flavour and colour in our food,
but far more importantly, herbs and spices have been used as medicines - in
food, drinks, and applied externally - for many thousands of years.

The humble parsley is not only rich in protein and vitamins A, B-complex, C
and K, but is also mildly antibacterial and great for the digestive system.
It's also good for freshening the breath, and many people eat it raw to
neutralise the odours after eating garlic.

Sage used to be used to treat night sweats in Tuberculosis patients, and
carries ellagic acid (as do strawberries) which can prevent damage to the
body's DNA. It is also reknowned to help memory, and is being investigated
in its potential use in the fight against the effects of Alzheimer's
disease.

Rosemary is a powerful antioxidant, helps reduce stress, and is great to
help fortify the immune system.

Thyme helps clear out the intestinal tract and is a great aid to digestion,
as well as having antiseptic qualities.

Asafoetida, used in many Indian recipes as an alternative to garlic, helps
to eliminate stagnant waste from the intestinal tract and is great for
clearing out toxins from a junk food- or meat-heavy diet.

Garlic itself is one of the most powerfully medicinal natural products
around, and many practitioners of natural health say that if you were to use
only one herb regularly, then make sure it is garlic. It contains high
levels of zinc and potassium, is known to increase the numbers of white
blood cells, boost the immune system, regulate blood pressure, reduce
cholesterol, and can also act as a powerful antioxidant agent and a
deterrant to stomach and colorectal cancers. And that's just INSIDE the
body! Used outside the body garlic and it's juice can act as an antibiotic
and fungicidal, and was used by the ancient Egyptians to treat wounds and
infections - not to mention it's ability to repel vampires ;o). And to
think some people are still paranoid about the smell on their breath!

Echinacea is a very popular herb, often found in heath stores in liquid
form, used to fight colds and flus throughout winter, especially when used
in conjunction with garlic.

Ginger has as many positive natural health benefits as garlic, and has a
long history as a natural breath freshener, a cure for nausea (often used
during pregnancies to combat morning sickness) and mild respiratory
problems, as well as being a natural preservative and anti bacterial agent.
Studies have even shown that ginger reduces the effects of motion sickness
and flatulance! Chinese medicine has featured ginger strongly for over 7000
years, and ginger features as a component in more than half of all
traditional Chinese medicinal remedies.

Turmeric has been used in Indian Ayurvedic medicine for over 5000 years to
promote healthy digestion and as an antioxidant and natural antibiotic.

Cummin, lemongrass and mint are all used to aid digestion - thus are often
used in dishes which are a bit harder for the body to digest.

Coriander also stimulates digestion, as well as being a mild pain reliever
and appetite stimulator. Coriander seeds are also thought to reduce
cholesterol. A poultice of ground coriander seeds can be used to relive
painful joints caused by rheumatism, and the leaves are sometimes used as an
external fungicide.

Honey contains ALL the vitamins and minerals considered to be essential for
good health - the B vitamins, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid,
pyridoxine, biotin, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), nicotinic acid, iron, copper,
manganese, silicon, chlorine, calcium, potassium, sodium, phosphorus,
aluminum and magnesium. Unlike fruit and vegetables, it never loses its
vitamins during harvesting, storage and preparation. Honey can also be
applied externally as a healing agent, to prevent blisters on burns, and to
promote healthy skin.

Citrus Fruits have long been touted as being beneficial in vitamin C, but
are also strong in fibre and folate, which are both essential for cancer
prevention. Vitamin C itself strengthens the fortitude of the whole body
and immune system, and is one of the strongest ingredients in fighting the
winter flu.

And lastly, my old favourite - the chilli! All chillis contain capsaicin,
the active ingredient which not only gives you a burn and stimulates your
digestion, but is also of great benefit to the respiratory system, heart,
and blood pressure.

For further reading, check out these sites I found during my research.

http://www.whatreallyworks.co.uk/

Loads of information on this site about a whole lot of interesting subjects,
including some funky cleansing booster drinks!

http://www.daawat.com/resources/cookingforhealth/

Heaps of interesting facts about a variety of herbs and plant foods.

http://www.huahin-tourist-information.com/massage_en/kraut.htm

A run through of Thai herbs and spices and their medicinal properties.

All of these herbs and spices can be taken raw or added to cooking, and with
a little research you can learn more about infusing them into teas and such.
A very simple example of a restorative drink would be a "Hot Toddy" -
usually a little hot water with whisky or brandy, and a touch of lemon and
honey added.

Be excellent to each other!

Shane Pinnegar

September 2005