Herbals

“Everything on the earth has a purpose, every disease an herb to cure it, and every person a mission.”

In this section of Seattle Organic Restaurants I'm going to talk about herbals. Using herbals as medicine for improving mental and physical health has been a long tradition in Egypt, China and India. Here are some of the famous herbals that have been used for centuries for their medicinal use:

Celery Seed: Celery seeds are good for gout and arthritis. The compounds in celery seeds are anti-inflammatory.

Bay Leaf: Bay leafs are good for migraines and diabetes. Bay leaves have compounds called parthenolides that are pain killer. Bay leaves can be added to both food and hot drinks (tea or hot water) but should not be eaten by themselves.

Cayenne: Cayenne is good for arthritis, bronchitis, colds, influenza and chronic pains. Cayenne has capsaicin that helps the pain killer production in body called endorphins.

Garlic: Garlic is good for heart problems, lowering bad cholesterol level and reducing high blood pressure. Garlic dilutes the blood and has blood thinning effect that is good for lowering the level of cholesterol and reducing the chances of heart problems. I personally love garlic and add it to almost every dish I make. Garlic also cleanses the body and prevents the growth of bacteria and fungi.

Licorice: Licorice is really good for enlarged prostates and controlling urinate. An important compound in licorice called glycyrrbizic doesn’t let testosterone to convert itself to dydrotestosterone. This can help both prostate enlargement and frequent urination. You might think that munching licorice candy might be beneficial then, but keep in mind that Licorice candy sold in the states is made of anise not licorice. You can add a piece of licorice root in your tea for its health benefits and as a natural sweetener. Be aware that using too much licorice can increase blood pressure and heart problems.

Rosemary: Rosemary has been known to be a great remedy for Alzheimer disease. The breakdown of acetylcholine causes Alzheimer and rosemary contains several compounds that prevent breakage of acetylcholine. Many researchers and scientists believe that rosemary can be as beneficial as Alzheimer’s drug called “tacrine” and doesn’t have many side effects that “tacrine” has such as damaging the liver. I love adding rosemary to chicken, fish or whole wheat bread. Rosemary can also be absorbed through the skin therefore you can rub rosemary solution in your skin.

Ginger: Ginger is really good for stomach pains, poor circulation and cold. In many parts of Asia ginger is considered a medicine. Ginger tea made of hot water and lemon is used for treating nausea, motion sickness, vomiting, common colds and poor circulation (for cold hands or feet). Gardening herbs can be really relaxing and rejuvenating! It’s an amazing workout for your body and a deep wonderful relaxation for your soul.