Herbs and spices are not only adding magic to your dishes, they can do wonders to heal several ailments, going from an upset stomach, boosting your immune system to fighting heart diseases and cancer. The use of medicinal herbs is as old as humanity itself.
In ancient times monks and healers all over the world grew gardens full of herbs to cure all sorts of ailments. In our modern times of conventional medicine domination and pollution, more and more people are becoming interested in growing their own medicine at home.
Why adding harmful chemicals to your system if you have an all-natural solution at hand?By investing a small amount of money and sweat, you’ll have your own fresh ingredients to flavor your dishes, make infusions, teas, and balms to keep you and your family healthy.
Creating an herb garden is fun and you’ll soon notice all the benefits of having one. Be amazed by the wonderful scent it gives to your garden and discover its many healing powers. There are a lot of herbs and you can’t cultivate them all. So which ones to choose? Hard question I know.
I’ll list my 5 favorites. If you don’t have a garden, don’t worry, most herbs can be cultivated in pots on your windowsill or balcony.
1. Mint or Mentha
Healing Powers:
Everybody loves the wonderful fragrance of mint. Its smell alone recovers and refreshes the spirit. Mint is an ideal remedy for an upset stomach. Its antispasmodic effect eases nausea and prevents gas and bloating. Drinking mint tea after a heavy meal is the best thing to do to avoid an upset stomach. Another great benefit is its ability to treat colds and flu. Mint is well known for soothing headaches and muscle aches and reduces nervousness and fatigue.
How to use:
- Use the fresh leaves for a shooting cup of tea or add it to your smoothies
- Diffuse the essential oil in the sick room to ease the breath, kill germs, and create a calming effect on mind and body
- Pairs well with: fresh pineapple, watermelon or strawberries. Treat yourself to a mint-chocolate combination. Or why not try to add some mint to your smoothies, salads, or homemade ice cream recipes?
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2. Basil or Ocimum basilicum
Healing Powers:
One of those must-have herbs. Its fragrant leaves are often used to season Italian-style dishes. Like other herbs in the mint family, it settles the stomach and improves appetite. It works as a natural disinfectant and can be used as an insect repellent. Basil has the magical ability to make you feel happy for no reason. It increases the production of dopamine and serotonin in your brain, both known as the ‘feel good hormones’. ALSO READ: How to Balance Your Hormones Naturally
How to use:
- Use the fresh leaves for a refreshing and stimulating cup of tea
- Pairs well with: tomatoes, olives, strawberries, fresh mozzarella, pizza, pasta, melon, fish and, feta cheese. Try some homemade pesto recipes
- Crush the leaves and rub onto insect bites
- Remove a wart by rubbing basil on the nub and cover with a bandage
Scroll down for more healing herbs and their uses!
3. Dill or Anethum graveolens
Healing Powers:
Adding more dill to your diet will improve your health in many ways. It eases gas pains, bloating, and settles the stomach. Dill works as well as some of the prescribed antibiotics for killing harmful intestinal bacteria. But that’s not all. It protects the body against free radicals and carcinogens and prevents bone loss.
How to use:
- Although the seeds contain more of the healing compounds, leaves are frequently used to season food or prepare a nice cup of tea
- Pairs well with: eggs, fish, dressings, sauces, and salads
4. Parsley or Petroselinum crispum
Healing Powers:
This herb is loaded with healing powers and nutrients. The leaves and roots contain high iron levels and are rich in vitamin A, B, C, and minerals. Parsley adds color to your dishes and helps digestion, prevents flatulence and a bad breath. The leaves and root can be used as a natural diuretic and shows great anti-allergic properties.
How to use:
- The leaves and root can be used in juices, smoothies, or teas
- Pairs well with: seafood, salads, grains, onions, Parmesan cheese, stews, pasta, and tomatoes
5. Cilantro or Coriandrum sativum
Healing Powers:
Lately, cilantro gained a lot of popularity. It has become an excellent culinary herb that not only adds a delicious flavor to your food but will improve your health as well. Cilantro has the ability to bind heavy metals in your blood and carries them out of your body. It reverses the buildup of toxins that cause chronic fatigue, joint pain, and depression.
How to use:
- Both leaves and seeds can be used to season your food. The leaves work well in a detox juice or smoothie
- Pairs well with: avocados, seafood, corn, black beans, and curries.
Of course, there are much more for you to discover but adding these five herbs, regularly, to your diet will improve your overall health. Other herbs you should give a try include ginger, cinnamon, marjoram, sage, lemon balm, Sint John’s Worth, thyme, etc.
ALSO READ: 10 Healing Herbs To Grow In Your In Your Survival Garden
What’s your favorite herb and what do you use it for? Your feedback is hugely appreciated in the comment box below.
Thanks for reading. I hope this information was helpful. Until next time!
Amy Goodrich
Crazy cat lady, life and food lover, certified biologist, and holistic health coach.
I have Peppermint, Spearmint, Lemon Balm, Catnip, Basil, Dill, Parsley, Sage, Thyme and Penny Royal. I always put peppermint or spearmint and sage in my tea. I haven’t used the other herbs like I should. I have also, lately, added peppermint leaves to my salads.
I love spearmint and our pineapple-mint variety. I always add lots of fresh mint and a bit of green tea, lemon balm, cinnamon stick and cardamon pods to my teapot. Parsley we add to nearly every dish and basil we mainly use to make pesto. Mint, basil and parsley work great in green smoothies. I have never tried the penny royal variety.