Herbs to Keep Handy

|

64kman

Herbs to Keep Handy
Many different plants can be used to advance health and fitness. However, many are significantly more useful and worth always keeping at home. This list of herbs can be used in cooking and many can be raised yourself with your gardening skills to aid with general wellness.
Chamomile

The herb chamomile is incredibly useful and adaptable, so have some on hand. It is a fantastic addition to your kitchen cupboard and first aid box. The greatest feature is that it’s easy  to grow. The calming benefits it has on uneasiness or anxiety are widely recognised, and it also relieves headaches, constipation, , upset stomach, and headaches.

It can also be applied to treat sleeplessness, intestinal issues, and pain. Steep chamomile flowers (dried)  in boiling water for around 5 minutes to make a tea. For a deep and comfortable sleep, enjoy it before bed. Additionally, chamomile supplements in capsule form are available.

As an anti-inflammatory, chamomile is excellent for treating cuts, wounds, haemorrhoids, arthritis, and other inflammatory conditions (1).

Menstrual cramps are a specific issue for women. There are many women who experience this on a monthly basis, so the fact that chamomile has been proven to alleviate symptoms it is encouraging (2). Osteoporosis is another concern that impacts women, especially after their periods end. The bones deteriorate and break readily at this point.   Because of it ’s effect on the hormone oestrogen, chamomile has been demonstrated to aid in preventing this (3). Actually, chamomile seems to be a woman’s best friend.

Lavender

Another plant that helps promote restful sleep is lavender, especially if you struggle with insomnia. It improves your mood by assisting with both physical and mental relaxation. You may be able to get better sleep just from this, as it will make you feel more at ease.Particularly following arduous activity or exercise, use lavender to ease muscle tension and pain. It is also believed that inhaling the scent of lavender blossoms relaxest people. So place several stems of it by your bed or under your pillow, and before you go to sleep, take a few deep breaths to enjoy the soothing aroma (4).

Lavender is an easy plant to grow, and w ith flowers that draw bees and butterflies, it creates a lovely border. jThereafter, you will benefit from a home grown supply of organic materials on hand.

John’s wort

Numerous mental health issues, including stress, anxiety, and depression, are treated using this herb. Additionally, it helps with sleeplessness and nerve pain. Do not use it in addition to prescribed medication, despite the fact that it is quite helpful at enhancing mental health. There is the possibility of interactions and negative side effects (5).

Turmeric

Strong anti-inflammatory effects are present in this herb, resulting in it’s ability to  aid in easing arthritic pain. It can settle the gut and treat ulcers, indigestion, and other digestive issues. Because it serves to enhance brain function, it can also assist in the fight against depression. Curcumin, a component of turmeric, has also been proven to aid in the destruction of malignant cells (6), which is a compelling argument for keeping turmeric in the kitchen pantry.

One thing to keep in mind is that very few herbs are helpful when trying to treat cancer using them. Do not take Ginkgo Biloba or St. John’s Wort if you are already getting therapy. Those herbs can cause cancer medications to exit the body too quickly, which prevents them from working (7).

Ginger

A terrific addition to the kitchen pantry is ginger. In addition to being delicious and improving the flavour of food, it also offers therapeutic benefits. Turmeric and ginger both have the power to effectively combat cancer (8). If cancer has been  in your family, it is highly recommended that you include ginger and turmeric in many of your meals to help safeguard yourself against this deadly condition.   Tumeric and ginger can be used in a variety of dishes, including stews, soups, and curries, and even in smoothies.
Ginger relieves morning sickness, motion sickness, arthritis, and nausea and vomiting (9). Additionally, it can aid in lowering cholesterol and blood pressure (10). Ginger is excellent at helping recovery from digestive issues (11). If this hasn’t persuaded you to regularly consume ginger, I don’t think you ever will.

Ginkgo Biloba

Due to its potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, this plant (12) aids in the prevention of arthritis, heart disease,  and even cancer. It is available as a supplement, so taking it regularly makes a lot of sense. It has been proven to be effective in warding off Alzheimer’s disease (13). Depression, anxiety, ADD/ADHD, and Alzheimer’s disease are all associated with good brain health. Ginkgo biloba improves blood flow, particularly to the brain and heart (14). Therefore, it is obvious that this powerful herb can support your mental health.

Rosemary

Another herb that is simple to cultivate in the garden and is excellent in cooking is rosemary. It has even been demonstrated to delay the onset of dementia and help with memory loss (15).
Rosemary can treat respiratory issues of bronchites and asthma and bronchitis, soothe a woman’s menstrual cramps, and relieve headaches, particularly migraines (16). Additionally, depression may be treated with it (17). If you are on blood thinners or diabetes medications, do not use rosemary oil as it may reduce their effectiveness (18).

Liquorice Root

I loved chewing on pieces of licorice root when I was a kid, not realising how healthy it was for me. Due to its anti-inflammatory characteristics, liquorice can aid with heartburn, indigestion, and digestive tract infections. Additionally, it can aid in breathing when you have a cold or cough. Due to its anti-inflammatory properties and ability to kill bacteria, it has all of these properties (19). Additionally, it is effective for reducing skin inflammation, which eases the signs of eczema, psoriasis, and acne (20).

I have very few fillings and studies shows it prevents cavities, so chewing that licorice root as a kid may have also improved my oral health (21). I’m heading to the health shop right now to buy some.

Citrus balm
This herb is popular for its calming effects which can be used applied to treat tension-related issues such as insomnia, stress and anxiety,  and headaches. It also have antiviral qualities (22). It is simple to produce in the backyard and makes a lovely tea in addition to being used in cooking.

Peppermint

Peppermint can be used to treat digestive issues like constipation, vomiting, diarrhoea and nausea (23). Additionally, it relieves tension headaches and sore muscles. Once more, you can easily plant this garden friendly herb. Use it to make a tea by adding it to boiling water. It is also available as an essential oil or dietary supplement. To treat congestion , boil water and introduce the oil, and breathe it in (24). You should also include peppermint in your first aid box to help with hay fever symptoms. The allergic response that makes you sneeze and have itchy eyes is lessened by it (25).

If you employ these ten herbs routinely, they will make you healthier. The bulk of them can be consumed orally, while the remainder can be bought as supplements or used to make tea. Why not give at least one of them a try and see if it improves your health?

 

References

 

  1. Chamomile: A herbal medicine of the past with bright future https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2995283/
  2. The Effect of Chamomile on Pain and Menstrual Bleeding in Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Systematic Review https://journals.sums.ac.ir/article_47351_70beaba9d5eed32cad101f51c74f3bc4.pdf
  3. Greek plant extracts exhibit selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM)-like properties https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15537303/
  4. Can Lavender Really Help You Sleep Better? https://restonic.com/blog/can-lavender-help-sleep-better-3749
  5. St John’s wort – Hypericum perforatum https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/drugs-and-treatments/st-johns-wort/about-st-johns-wort/
  6. Turmeric https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/cancer-in-general/treatment/complementary-alternative-therapies/individual-therapies/turmeric
  7. Herbal medicine https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/cancer-in-general/treatment/complementary-alternative-therapies/individual-therapies/herbal-medicine
  8. Biological Properties of 6-Gingerol: A Brief Review https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1934578X1400900736
  9. Effects of preoperative administration of ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) on postoperative nausea and vomiting after laparoscopic cholecystectomy https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6035306/
  10. Effects of Ginger on LDL-C, Total Cholesterol and Body Weight https://www.walshmedicalmedia.com/open-access/effects-of-ginger-on-ldlc-total-cholesterol-and-body-weight-2471-2663-1000140..pdf
  11. Ginger in gastrointestinal disorders: A systematic review of clinical trials https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6341159/
  12. EGb761 inhibits inflammatory responses in human chondrocytes and shows chondroprotection in osteoarthritic rat knee https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23483610/
  13. Advances in the Studies of Ginkgo Biloba Leaves Extract on Aging-Related Diseases https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5758353/.
  14. Ginkgo biloba extract improves coronary artery circulation in patients with coronary artery disease: contribution of plasma nitric oxide and endothelin-1 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18446847/
  15. Short-term study on the effects of rosemary on cognitive function in an elderly population https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21877951/
  16. Therapeutic effects of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) and its active constituents on nervous system disorders https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7491497/#B79
  17. Effects of Rosmarinus officinalis L. on memory performance, anxiety, depression, and sleep quality in university students: A randomized clinical trial https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29389474/
  18. Rosemary – Uses, Side Effects, and More https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-154/rosemary
  19. The antiviral and antimicrobial activities of licorice, a widely-used Chinese herb https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4629407/
  20. The treatment of atopic dermatitis with licorice gel https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14522625/
  21. Effect of Aqueous and Alcoholic Licorice (Glycyrrhiza Glabra) Root Extract Against Streptococcus Mutans and Lactobacillus Acidophilus in Comparison to Chlorhexidine: An In Vitro Study https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4148569/
  22. What Is Lemon Balm? https://www.verywellhealth.com/the-health-benefits-of-lemon-balm-89388
  23. A review of the bioactivity and potential health benefits of peppermint tea (Mentha piperita L.) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16767798/
  24. The power of peppermint https://www.uchealth.org/today/the-power-of-peppermint/
  25. Effect of Perilla frutescens var. acuta Kudo and rosmarinic acid on allergic inflammatory reactions https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21239739/