Herbs and Spices for Healing

Lemon Balm (Melisa officinalis)
Lemon balm is a fragrant lemon scented perennial growing to about 2ft tall. A member of the mint family, is considered a calming herb. It was used as far back as the Middle Ages to reduce stress and anxiety, promote sleep, improve appetite, and ease pain and discomfort from indigestion (including gas and bloating, as well as colic). Even before the Middle Ages, lemon balm was steeped in wine to lift the spirits, help heal wounds, and treat venomous insect bites and stings. Today, lemon balm is often combined with other calming, soothing herbs, such as Valerian, chamomile, and hops, to help promote relaxation. Zones 4 - 10

 

Medical Medium

Tarragon is a culinary and medicinal herb that is rich in vitamins A, C, and B-complex and minerals such as zinc, copper, iron, and magnesium. It is known to help stimulate the appetite, relieve flatulence and colic, balance the body’s acidity, alleviate the pains of arthritis, rheumatism and gout, regulate menstruation, stop hiccups, prevent dyspepsia, and expel worms from the body. Tarragon contains poly-phenolic compounds that are known to help lower blood glucose levels. Tarragon is often used to help prevent strokes and heart attacks due to its ability to prevent clot formation inside narrow blood vessels in the heart and brain. It is also known to help prevent or slow down the oxidative process that forms cataracts and other degenerative diseases. Tarragon tea is an excellent tonic after a heavy meal as it is a mild, natural diuretic that helps the system flush out toxins produced by the digestion of heavy, rich protein based meals. Drinking tarragon tea before bed can also help to overcome insomnia and promote a restful and healing nights sleep. To make a tea, use two teaspoons of fresh or dried herb to two cups of water and add lemon and/or honey if desired. Fresh tarragon leaves act as a local anesthetic and can be applied to aching gums or teeth, cuts, and/or sores to help numb and relieve pain. Tarragon is a wonderful addition to fresh salads, guacamole, soups, stews, steamed or roasted vegetables, rice, and potatoes. Tarragon can be found online or at you local health food store in tincture, extract, capsule, cream, essential oil, or tea form. Fresh tarragon is generally available in the produce section at your local grocery store or farmers market.

 

Medical Medium

Milk Thistle is a potent detoxifying herb that can help to aid liver function, manage cholesterol, prevent cancer, and lower blood glucose levels. It has powerful anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and anti-viral properties and has been used over the years to help protect the liver from strong medications such statin drugs, phenytoin, seizure medication, and acetaminophen as well as from the effects of chemotherapy and radiation. Milk Thistle has been shown to help fight against hepatitis C as well inhibit cancer cell growth for breast, cervical, and prostate cancers. It has also been shown to benefit gall bladder disorders, cirrhosis, type 2 diabetes, parkinson’s disease, jaundice, obsessive-compulsive disorder, headaches, PMS, and rosacea. Milk Thistle is also highly effective in the treatment of osteoarthitis and other autoimmune conditions such as fibromyalgia, bursitis, chronic fatigue syndrome, and eczema. Milk Thistle is esteemed for its ability to help restore and protect the liver from chemicals, environmental toxins, and alcohol and is excellent for helping to strengthen the digestive tract and aid in the healing of irritable bowel syndrome, colitis, and chron’s disease. Milk Thistle is a rich source of zinc, selenium, iron, antioxidants, and flavonoids. Milk thistle can be taken as a tea, capsule, tincture, or extract form and is found online or at your local health food store. Silymarin is the active compound in Milk thistle seeds that contains most of the healing properties. For the best results, look for a brand that states on the label that each dosage contains at least 70%-80% silymarin.

Add dried rosemary to your beef burgers (or any meat burgers) to combat carcinogens (cancer causing agents) and because it gives the burgers an even more fabulous taste. Tip from Pearl for using Rosemary from page 340 of Trim Healthy Mama:

“I try to add rosemary whenever I prepare charred or browned meat. Rosemary is a potent antioxidant. It combats the carcinogens (HCA’s) that are formed when meat is browned or gets charred and crusty. It’s a great idea to add rosemary any time you are trying to get a good crisp on meat but especially important when char grilling.”

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Turmeric is a natural wonder in the healing world and has been used as a powerful anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiseptic, and anti-depressant since ancient times. The main component in turmeric, curcumin, has phenomenal anti-cancer properties and has been known to help to inhibit prostate, skin, colon, mouth, esophageal, lung, stomach, pancreatic, liver, and breast cancer. Turmeric is also a known blood purifier and helps to soothe respiratory ailments, improve liver function, support the circulatory system, regulate menstrual cycles, prevent cognitive diseases such as Alzheimer’s, and heal gastrointestinal disorders. Turmeric significantly decreases inflammation that is attributed to arthritis and other auto-immune disorders such as lupus, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome. Turmeric also helps the body to digest proteins and fats as well as to regulate blood sugar for diabetics. It’s antioxidant properties have beneficial anti-aging effects and its anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-microbial properties aids in healing skin wounds and abrasions as well as inflammatory skin irritations such as psoriasis and eczema. Turmeric is available as a powder, capsule, tincture, tea, spice, and/or ointment. Supplementing with turmeric or adding it to your diet will provide benefit for your whole body and is one of the best things you can do for prevention, repair, and longevity.