Oregano and Thyme
Herbs Are Good For Our Health
I am a huge fan of herbs. This especially applies to fresh herbs as they are easy to grow and I always have a variety growing in pots around the house. Not only do herbs taste great and add important flavor to most meals but they are also packed with nutrients(part of the reason for their flavor). Then add to this the fact that many herbs started out in the distant past as medicinal plants used for treating ailments and then gradually evolved into the flavoring agents we know today. That is why I try to use as many fresh and dried herbs as possible in my diet each and every day.
The links that follow are about new research on herbs that show the benefits to our health of including these plants in our diets. Don’t wait until you have symptoms or feel ill or “sub-par”, just make a variety of herbs part of your daily diet and many “ills” will never happen. There are very good reasons why so many of these plants have been part of the Indian Ayurveda and ancient Chinese medicine traditions for thousands of years. The more research modern Western science does into the benefits of herbs, the more ancient traditional medicinal cultures are confirmed.
Oregono
Oregano has been used in traditional medicine cultures for a long list of ailments. It is taken both internally and topically depending on the problem. It is one of the most potent antioxidants commonly used as a food.
Oregano also has known antibacterial and anti-fungal properties. New research shows that the essential oil of oregano is capable of killing MRSA, one of the scourges of modern hospitals and resistant to all commonly used antibacterial drugs.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/266259.php
Thyme
Thyme has strong anti-microbial properties that are especially effective against the bacteria that cause acne. It is also used as a diuretic and to settle digestive problems.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/266016.php
Spearmint and Basil
Spearmint
Spearmint is often used internally to treat digestive upsets and toothache. It is used topically to soothe pain. Most people also find the aroma and flavor quite calming.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/266128.php
Basil
Basil has long been used in traditional Tamil and Ayurvedic medicine in India. It has strong anti-inflammatory properties, making it a useful treatment for arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/266425.php
Rosemary and Sage
Rosemary
Rosemary is one of the few evergreen herbs and is a great source of iron and fiber. Rosemary has been shown to improve mental agility and memory.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/266370.php
Sage
Medicinally, sage is most often associated with digestive and mental disorders. Like many herbs it seems to alleviate a great number of conditions.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/266480.php
Cinnamon
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is on of my favorite spices. I add a piece to tea, sometimes add a little ground cinnamon to coffee and red chile sauce and use it often in baked goods.