Herbs and spices are found in almost every dish people cook. It is what gives food flavor and turns otherwise unpalatable ingredients into something delicious. Each culture has different spices that it favors. Indian foods tend to involve turmeric, cardamom and ginger. Middle Eastern cuisine often contains cinnamon, saffron or cumin. Italians usually cook with oregano, garlic and basil while Mexicans prefer to use chipotles, chili peppers and onions. It is spices that give different cuisines their distinctive tastes. Without spices, chicken piccata, chicken tikka masala and chicken tinga would be almost identical recipes. That said, no one would think of these three dishes as interchangeable. The spices involved are too distinctive. 

Herbs and spices do more than simply flavor food. These tasty plants were also some of the earliest medicines. Native Americans realized that willow bark tea could cure headaches and other minor aches and pains. The ancient Norse recognized that dill could soothe an irritable digestive tract. In fact, the name “dill” comes from the Old Norse word “dilla” meaning “lull” or “soothe.” This ancient wisdom was set aside as modern medicine became more and more easily available. While modern medicine is infinitely preferable for moderate to serious illnesses and discomfort, there is no reason to ignore the centuries of wisdom. For mild issues, herbs and spices may be the perfect treatment and come without the nasty chemical taste of pills or capsules. Here are nine herbs that will heal the body while tasting great. 

Ginger is well known for its many medicinal properties. This underground stem or rhizome, is an extremely powerful anti-inflammatory due to the presence of gingerol. This chemical is found in extremely high quantities in ginger and gives this spice its aroma and flavor. Gingerol is one of the most powerful naturally occurring anti-inflammatories and has been shown to help with conditions such as osteoarthritis. 

 

Gingerol also makes ginger a common cure for indigestion and nausea. Gingerol is rapidly absorbed by the body and lacks most of the side-effects of modern anti-nausea medications. This rapid absorption also helps with treating indigestion. Gingerol has been shown to speed up the rate at which the stomach empties which helps prevent the pain and discomfort of indigestion. Gingerol also helps regulate sugar levels, relaxes the smooth muscles in the gastrointestinal tract and increases the efficiency of the absorption of nutrients and minerals from other foods. 

There are many different varieties of mint: spearmint, peppermint, apple mint, water mint and even a naturally occurring plant named chocolate mint. Each mint specializes in something different, but they all have similar properties. Mints of all types are famous for their abilities to decrease nausea and soothe an upset stomach. This is why some people eat peppermint candies before flying if they are prone to motion sickness and why people suffering from vomiting might drink peppermint tea. The mint will help them keep the liquid down and avoid dehydration.

Mints also help with focus, mental clarity and the attention span required for long tasks. This herb can help increase a person’s energy, especially when its natural fragrance is powerfully present. A mint poultice that is topically applied to a person’s skin can also relieve the itching and burning associated with various skin conditions. In addition, this multipurpose herb can relieve gas, relax airways to assist breathing, interfere with pain receptors to relieve discomfort and kill numerous types of disease causing micro-organisms. 

Thyme is used in many different cultures and dishes. It is common in Italian and French foods, but it can also be found in Middle Eastern cuisine as part of za’atar mixes. This flexible herb contains an oil called thymol which is what gives thyme its characteristic scent. Thymol has powerful antiseptic properties, and while many herbs contain at least some thymol, thymol makes up more than 50 percent of the oils in thyme. As such, thyme is an excellent herb to use to treat bad breath, tonsillitis, laryngitis and mouth sores. Simply gargle an infusion or thyme or some diluted thyme oil to kill the germs irritating the mouth and throat.

The antiseptic properties of thyme also make it a valuable natural medicine when dealing with respiratory infections. Taking thyme extract orally can help relieve chest congestion, asthma and even bronchitis. Thyme was once used to help treat whooping cough, and with the unfortunate number of paranoid parents who refuse to protect their children with vaccinations, whooping cough has returned. Thyme is a good herb to keep on hand in case a vaccinated child has the misfortune to contract a new strain of this disease from a child whose parents distrust modern medicine. Thyme extract can help relieve the worst of the symptoms until more powerful medication can be obtained.

Chamomile flower heads look quite a bit like tiny daisies, but this white petaled plant packs a powerful medicinal punch. There are many types of chamomile, but the most medicinally useful herb is Chamaemelum nobile or Roman chamomile. Roman chamomile is an excellent herb to have in the modern medicine cabinet because it can assist with a silent modern epidemic: sleep deprivation. Roman chamomile is known to help alleviate insomnia and induce sleep. 

Roman chamomile also acts as a soother in a variety of ways. It can help a person calm down when they feel anxious or stressed and can soothe an upset stomach. Warm chamomile tea can also help settle a colicky baby. In addition to soothing a person’s stomach or nerves, chamomile can also soothe the irritated skin associated with eczema. To use as an eczema treatement, make a cup of chamomile tea and let the tea cool. Then, bathe the affected skin with the cooled tea. Do this several times a day to relieve the worst symptoms. 

Sage has long been used as medicine. Like many herbs, it can improve appetite and prevent gas, but it also has less common uses. Sage is known to have a hormone regulatory effect on women. It can relieve the symptoms of PMS and menopause. Eating sage can help limit night sweats and hot flashes due to sage’s estrogenic action. 

 

This thick leaved herb can also help those who suffer from diabetes but for whom insulin does not work as effectively as it should.  Recent studies have indicated that sage can boost the efficiency of insulin for diabetics. 

 

Sage can also assist with respiratory issues such as asthma and even act as a neuroprotective. The chemical rosmarinic acid was shown to reduce the effects of the Alzheimer amyloid-B peptide on cells in a 2006 study.  This commonly forgotten herb can also be used to protect nerve cells from dementia and even alleviate some symptoms of depression.

Basil is used in many dishes, especially Italian foods, but it also possesses powerful health benefits. Basil can be used for everything from indigestion to curing fevers. Basil leaves can quench fevers, especially those associated with infections. These same leaves can be used as a natural cough suppressant. Just chew on some fresh leaves to relieve the mucus associated with asthma and bronchitis or to clear up mouth infections or ulcers. Basil “teas” can be used to alleviate the worst symptoms of the flu and help children suffering from vomiting or coughs. A mix of basil juice and honey can also help clear up kidney stones.

Basil seeds are nearly as useful as the herb’s leaves. Basil seeds can be used to rid the body of excess mucus and remove phlegm from the bronchial tubes. They may also have the ability to help lower cholesterol levels and strengthen a person’s heart. 

Cayenne pepper is known for its vivid red color and its spicy taste. It is a staple of many Middle Eastern inspired dishes and found in numerous Indian fusion foods. This spice recently gained both fame and infamy for its use in the dangerous celebrity diet the Master Cleanse. This starvation diet called for its users to consume nothing but a mix of water, lemon juice, maple syrup and cayenne pepper for between 10 and 40 days. 

Despite its presence in such an unhealthy fad diet, cayenne pepper is actually a very healthy spice to include in a person’s diet. Cayenne pepper will improve digestion, relieve gas and help prevent indigestion. It also contains a chemical known as alkaloid capsaicin which is a natural pain reliever. Alkaloid capsaicin actually blocks the neurochemicals that transmit pain messages to the brain. As such, a mix of cayenne pepper and water is known to be an effective prevention for pains such as headaches.

Turmeric contains curcumin which is a chemical that has powerful anti-inflammatory effects. Curcumin does not just work on minor inflammations such as sore muscles or tendonitis. This chemical has been known to have relieved the pain and inflammation that comes with arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome. The curcumin in turmeric can also help lower cholesterol levels in those who regularly consume this vivid orange spice.

Turmeric is also known to act as an anti-coagulant and antiplatelet. It thins a person’s blood like the modern drug aspirin, but turmeric is not known to carry the same risks of excessive bleeding and hemorrhage that some drugs possess. That said, the levels of curcumin in turmeric are not high enough for those at risk of serious conditions, such as deep-vein thrombosis or embolisms, to exchange their modern drugs for a bowl of turmeric powder. Turmeric, instead, works best as a preventative measure and will hopefully keep a person from ever needing more serious antiplatelets or anticoagulants. 

Garlic is a strong smelling spice that is a staple in kitchens across the world. This relative of the onion contains allicin which has a number of health benefits including boosting the immune system and lowering blood pressure. Garlic also has the ability to lower cholesterol. Unusual for a natural cholesterol remedy, garlic seems to affect largely LDL cholesterol, “bad” cholesterol, while having limited effect on HDL cholesterol, “good” cholesterol. 

 

In addition to being heart-healthy, garlic also holds the bizarre title of “ancient performance enhancer.” This strong smelling spice was given to Olympic athletes in ancient Greece to increase their performance in the Games. Recently, studies have shown that the Greeks may have been on to something. Some studies show that garlic can increase exercise performance and lower exercise-induced fatigue. This has not, however, been proven conclusively.

 

Garlic can also help remove heavy metals from the body. In an age where the horrible effects of lead and heavy metal poisoning are well known, garlic was found to reduce symptoms of heavy metal poisoning even more effectively than the modern drug d-penicillamine.