Herbs and Spices

Our family has been putting in our early garden this week and I have been wanting to blog about it.  So when a friend became sick, I started thinking about just how important the topic of herbs and spices is to our nutrition.   For thousands of years man  has cooked with herbs. We have fallen into the idea that herbs are for flavor, but herbs are so much more than that.  Herbs are full of a variety of nutrients such as mineral salts (calcium, magnesium) essential oils, mucilage, bitter principles and others.  The essential oils in oregano, thyme, cinnamon and others are extremely successful at killing many bacteria such as e.coli and salmonella.

Not all herbs that are sold are worth buying.  It is very important to buy non-irradiated and if possible organic, which means you need to either grow them, buy them locally or from a health foods store such as Whole Foods.

 Here is a list of herbs and spices that I use extensively and the healing properties that I value them for. Most of these herbs or spices have many other healing benefits as well.   Some of these I make tea with and some I cook with, but most I do both with:

• Oregano (anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal)

• Thyme (anti-bacterial and good for chest congestion and bronchitis)
• Cinnamon (anti-bacterial and anti-fungal)
• Fenugreek (This combined with thyme is amazing for congestion and by itself stimulates digestion)
• Cayenne pepper (anti-bacterial and maybe anti-others)
• Marjoram (love the flavor but not sure what it does for me)
• Chamomile (anti-inflammatory and relaxing before bed)
• Turmeric (anti-inflammatory)
• Tarragon (stimulates bile production, which helps to process our food correctly)
• Ginger (stimulates the digestion, sooths nausea and carsickness, helps heat up the body an rid it of viruses or bacteria)
• Peppermint (helps indigestion)
• Cumin (stimulates digestion)
• Cilantro (heavy metal detoxification, such as mercury)
• Basil (anti-bacterial)

I cook with tons of these herbs and use them as healing teas when we feel under the weather. The above list is just what I personally have been using on a regular basis.  There are so many more herbs and spices and I am always eager to incorporate new ones into our diet.  I love the complexity of flavors that these foods bring, but I think what most amazes me is that God did not just create herbs and spices for flavor, but for healing and well-being!  We can think of it as just daily providing our bodies with the arsenal it needs to keep itself healthy.  It really is remarkable.