| Since ancient times our ancestor's harvested | | | | motion sickness drugs such as Dramamine, for |
| the many herbs and spices that grew wild | | | | controlling symptoms of seasickness and |
| around them, mixed potions, and treated | | | | motion sickness. Ginger stimulates saliva |
| ailments. Man was after all a | | | | flow and digestive activity, settles the |
| hunter-gatherer, and an omnivore, (an | | | | stomach, relieves vomiting, eases pain from |
| organism which gets its food energy from both | | | | gas and diarrhoea, and is effective as an |
| plant and animal material).The humble herb | | | | anti-nausea remedy. This aromatic herb also |
| and spice rack in your kitchen today need not | | | | helps lower cholesterol. Herbalists have also |
| be just a decorative feature, although they | | | | found it to be useful as a pain reliever.9/. |
| look quite pleasing to the eye hanging on the | | | | MINT Herbalists the world over use mint, as a |
| wall, in both modern and old fashioned styled | | | | premier stomach tonic, to counteract nausea |
| homes. They can in fact hold a plethora of | | | | and vomiting, promote digestion, calm stomach |
| natural healing ingredients that can also add | | | | muscle spasms, relieve flatulence, and ease |
| great taste to the foods you eat every day.Of | | | | hiccups. Menthol, the aromatic oil in |
| all the herbs and spices you can choose from | | | | peppermint, also relaxes the airways and |
| for flavour, there are 15 that are more | | | | fights bacteria and viruses. Menthol |
| powerful than the rest. Below is the list and | | | | interferes with the sensation from pain |
| you may well be surprised to learn of the | | | | receptors, thus it may be useful in reducing |
| many diverse conditions for which they've | | | | headache pain. Scientific evidence suggests |
| proven so very useful.1/. BASIL Basil is an | | | | that peppermint can kill many kinds of |
| herbal carminative, that is, it can relieve | | | | micro-organisms, and may boost mental |
| gas and soothe stomach upsets. One possible | | | | alertness. In one study, people who inhaled |
| explanation for its calming effect is a | | | | menthol said they felt as if it relieved |
| compound called eugenol, which has been shown | | | | their nasal congestion, although it didn't |
| to help ease muscle spasms. Research is still | | | | increase their measurable airflow.10/. |
| preliminary, but laboratory studies also | | | | OREGANO Oregano contains at least four |
| suggest that compounds found in basil may | | | | compounds that soothe coughs and 19 chemicals |
| help disrupt the dangerous chain of events | | | | with antibacterial action that may help |
| that can lead to the development of cancer2/. | | | | reduce body odour. The ingredients in oregano |
| CAYENNE Cayenne pepper is a hot red powder | | | | that soothe coughs may also help un-knot |
| made from tropical chilli peppers. It | | | | muscles in the digestive tract, making |
| contains alkaloid capsaicin, which relieves | | | | oregano a digestive aid. This familiar spice |
| pain by blocking the chemicals that send pain | | | | also contains compounds that can lower blood |
| messages to the brain. If you eat cayenne at | | | | pressure too.11/. PARSLEY Diuretic herbs such |
| the first sign of any type of headache, with | | | | as parsley prevent problems such as kidney |
| plenty of water as a chaser, this spicy herb | | | | stones and bladder infections and keep our |
| may be an effective alternative treatment. | | | | body's plumbing running smoothly by causing |
| Added to food, cayenne perks up appetite, | | | | it to produce more urine. They also relieve |
| improves digestion and relieves gas, nausea, | | | | bloating during menstruation. Also there's a |
| and indigestion. The herb also thins phlegm | | | | reason for that parsley on the edge of the |
| and eases its passage from the lungs, thus | | | | diner plate, its not just there for fancy |
| helping to prevent and treat coughs, colds | | | | decoration; it's an effective breath |
| and bronchitis.3/. CINNAMON Cinnamon bark | | | | freshener because it contains high levels of |
| contains an oily chemical called | | | | chlorophyll.12/. ROSEMARY Rosemary is one of |
| cinnamaldehyde that kills a variety of | | | | the richer herbal sources of antioxidants, |
| illness causing bacteria, including the | | | | which have been shown to prevent cataracts, |
| dreaded E.coli, Salmonella, and | | | | and contains 19 chemicals with antibacterial |
| Staphylococcus aureas. Research shows that | | | | action that help fight infection. |
| cinnamon is also able to stop the growth of | | | | Traditionally used to ease asthma, this |
| the Asian flu virus. Herbalists report that | | | | common culinary ingredient has volatile oils |
| cinnamon bark also helps regulate the | | | | that can reduce the airway constriction |
| menstrual cycle and checks flooding during | | | | induced by histamine, that chemical culprit |
| menopause. Also cinnamaldehyde has a | | | | of asthma and other allergy symptoms. |
| tranquilizing effect that helps reduce | | | | Herbalists think that rosemary may also help |
| anxiety and stress.4/. CLOVE Oil of clove is | | | | ease breast pain by acting as a natural |
| 60 to 90 percent eugenol. A potent pain | | | | drying agent to fluid filled cysts.13/. SAGE |
| deadening antimicrobal. Clove has earned the | | | | The oils found in sage are both antiseptic |
| official endorsement of the FDA as an | | | | and antibiotic, so it can help fight |
| effective stopgap measure for tooth pain. | | | | infections. Sage is effective for symptoms of |
| Clove is also among the spices that can help | | | | menopause, night sweats and hot flashes, |
| the body use insulin more effectively, thus | | | | because of its estrogenic action and because |
| lowering blood sugar somewhat. In one lab | | | | its tannins can dry up perspiration. There's |
| study, clove was also found to speed healing | | | | also compelling evidence that sage may b of |
| of the dreaded cold sores.5/. DILL Dill has | | | | value to people with diabetes for whom the |
| been used to soothe the digestive tract and | | | | hormone insulin does not work as efficiently |
| treat heartburn, colic and gas for thousands | | | | as it should. Lab studies indicate that sage |
| of years. In fact, the word dill comes from | | | | may boost insulin's action.14/. THYME Thyme |
| the Old Norse word dilla, meaning to lull or | | | | contains thymol, which increases blood-flow |
| soothe. The herb has an antifoaming action | | | | to the skin. The warmth is comforting, and |
| that suggests why it might help break up gas | | | | some herbalists believe that the increased |
| bubbles. Like parsley, dill is rich in | | | | blood-flow speeds healing. An anti-spasmodic. |
| chlorophyll, which also makes it useful in | | | | Thyme relaxes respiratory muscles and is |
| treating bad breath.6/. FENNEL Rich in | | | | endorsed for treating bronchitis by |
| volatile oils, fennel is what's known as a | | | | Commission E, the expert panel that judges |
| carminative herb, meaning that it can ease | | | | the safety and effectiveness of herbal |
| bloating, gas pains, and digestive spasms in | | | | medicines for the German government. |
| the small and large intestines. Fennel can | | | | Aromatherapists say that thyme's scent is a |
| also reduce bad breath and body odour that | | | | mood lifter.15/. TURMERIC Many clinical |
| originates in the intestines. Women who are | | | | studies agree that curcumin in turmeric has |
| breastfeeding may find that fennel, which | | | | anti-inflammatory effects, including a |
| works in a way similar to the body's | | | | significant beneficial effect in relieving |
| hormones, increases milk flow.7/. GARLIC | | | | rheumatoid arthritis and carpal tunnel |
| Intact garlic cloves contain an odourless, | | | | syndrome. Curcumin, which gives this spice |
| sulphur-containing amino acid called alliin. | | | | its familiar yellow pigment, may also lower |
| When the garlic is crushed, alliin becomes | | | | cholesterol. Turmeric is also packed with |
| allicin. Research shows that allicin helps | | | | antioxidants, including vitamins A, C, and E, |
| lower cholesterol and blood pressure and also | | | | which have been shown to prevent |
| helps prevents blood clots. Garlic can also | | | | cataracts.Passed down to us by our |
| reduce the risk of developing atherosclerosis | | | | forefathers and countless generations |
| (hardening of the arteries). Compounds in | | | | throughout the world, these 15 food additives |
| this familiar bulb kill many organisms, | | | | and enhancers are just a selected few that |
| including bacteria and viruses that cause | | | | are currently known to have medicinal and |
| earaches, flu and colds. Research indicates | | | | beneficial properties, yet represent the more |
| that garlic is also effective against | | | | commonly used. By including these herbs and |
| digestive ailments and diarrhoea. What's | | | | spices into your daily cooking or diet on a |
| more, further studies suggest that this | | | | regular basis, you will greatly enhance your |
| common and familiar herb may help prevent the | | | | quality of life, and reduce the need for |
| onset of cancers.8/. GINGER When it comes to | | | | those expensive, and often damaging |
| quelling the queasiness of motion sickness, | | | | pharmaceutical drugs.To your continued good |
| ginger has no equal say herbalists. In fact, | | | | healthJohn Elliott aka Oaky Wood is the |
| researchers have demonstrated that ginger | | | | co-founder of The Corner 4 Women is a poet, |
| beats dimenhydrate, the main ingredient in | | | | writer, artist, webmaster and designer. |