| Since ancient times our ancestor's harvested the | | | | main ingredient in motion sickness drugs such as |
| many herbs and spices that grew wild around them, | | | | Dramamine, for controlling symptoms of seasickness |
| mixed potions, and treated ailments. Man was after all | | | | and motion sickness. Ginger stimulates saliva flow and |
| a hunter-gatherer, and an omnivore, (an organism | | | | digestive activity, settles the stomach, relieves |
| which gets its food energy from both plant and | | | | vomiting, eases pain from gas and diarrhoea, and is |
| animal material).The humble herb and spice rack in | | | | effective as an anti-nausea remedy. This aromatic |
| your kitchen today need not be just a decorative | | | | herb also helps lower cholesterol. Herbalists have also |
| feature, although they look quite pleasing to the eye | | | | found it to be useful as a pain reliever.9/. MINT |
| hanging on the wall, in both modern and old fashioned | | | | Herbalists the world over use mint, as a premier |
| styled homes. They can in fact hold a plethora of | | | | stomach tonic, to counteract nausea and vomiting, |
| natural healing ingredients that can also add great | | | | promote digestion, calm stomach muscle spasms, |
| taste to the foods you eat every day.Of all the | | | | relieve flatulence, and ease hiccups. Menthol, the |
| herbs and spices you can choose from for flavour, | | | | aromatic oil in peppermint, also relaxes the airways |
| there are 15 that are more powerful than the rest. | | | | and fights bacteria and viruses. Menthol interferes |
| Below is the list and you may well be surprised to | | | | with the sensation from pain receptors, thus it may |
| learn of the many diverse conditions for which | | | | be useful in reducing headache pain. Scientific |
| they've proven so very useful.1/. BASIL Basil is an | | | | evidence suggests that peppermint can kill many |
| herbal carminative, that is, it can relieve gas and | | | | kinds of micro-organisms, and may boost mental |
| soothe stomach upsets. One possible explanation for | | | | alertness. In one study, people who inhaled menthol |
| its calming effect is a compound called eugenol, which | | | | said they felt as if it relieved their nasal congestion, |
| has been shown to help ease muscle spasms. | | | | although it didn't increase their measurable airflow.10/. |
| Research is still preliminary, but laboratory studies also | | | | OREGANO Oregano contains at least four |
| suggest that compounds found in basil may help | | | | compounds that soothe coughs and 19 chemicals |
| disrupt the dangerous chain of events that can lead | | | | with antibacterial action that may help reduce body |
| to the development of cancer2/. CAYENNE Cayenne | | | | odour. The ingredients in oregano that soothe coughs |
| pepper is a hot red powder made from tropical chilli | | | | may also help un-knot muscles in the digestive tract, |
| peppers. It contains alkaloid capsaicin, which relieves | | | | making oregano a digestive aid. This familiar spice also |
| pain by blocking the chemicals that send pain | | | | contains compounds that can lower blood pressure |
| messages to the brain. If you eat cayenne at the | | | | too.11/. PARSLEY Diuretic herbs such as parsley |
| first sign of any type of headache, with plenty of | | | | prevent problems such as kidney stones and bladder |
| water as a chaser, this spicy herb may be an | | | | infections and keep our body's plumbing running |
| effective alternative treatment. Added to food, | | | | smoothly by causing it to produce more urine. They |
| cayenne perks up appetite, improves digestion and | | | | also relieve bloating during menstruation. Also there's |
| relieves gas, nausea, and indigestion. The herb also | | | | a reason for that parsley on the edge of the diner |
| thins phlegm and eases its passage from the lungs, | | | | plate, its not just there for fancy decoration; it's an |
| thus helping to prevent and treat coughs, colds and | | | | effective breath freshener because it contains high |
| bronchitis.3/. CINNAMON Cinnamon bark contains an | | | | levels of chlorophyll.12/. ROSEMARY Rosemary is one |
| oily chemical called cinnamaldehyde that kills a variety | | | | of the richer herbal sources of antioxidants, which |
| of illness causing bacteria, including the dreaded E.coli, | | | | have been shown to prevent cataracts, and contains |
| Salmonella, and Staphylococcus aureas. Research | | | | 19 chemicals with antibacterial action that help fight |
| shows that cinnamon is also able to stop the growth | | | | infection. Traditionally used to ease asthma, this |
| of the Asian flu virus. Herbalists report that cinnamon | | | | common culinary ingredient has volatile oils that can |
| bark also helps regulate the menstrual cycle and | | | | reduce the airway constriction induced by histamine, |
| checks flooding during menopause. Also | | | | that chemical culprit of asthma and other allergy |
| cinnamaldehyde has a tranquilizing effect that helps | | | | symptoms. Herbalists think that rosemary may also |
| reduce anxiety and stress.4/. CLOVE Oil of clove is | | | | help ease breast pain by acting as a natural drying |
| 60 to 90 percent eugenol. A potent pain deadening | | | | agent to fluid filled cysts.13/. SAGE The oils found in |
| antimicrobal. Clove has earned the official | | | | sage are both antiseptic and antibiotic, so it can help |
| endorsement of the FDA as an effective stopgap | | | | fight infections. Sage is effective for symptoms of |
| measure for tooth pain. Clove is also among the | | | | menopause, night sweats and hot flashes, because |
| spices that can help the body use insulin more | | | | of its estrogenic action and because its tannins can |
| effectively, thus lowering blood sugar somewhat. In | | | | dry up perspiration. There's also compelling evidence |
| one lab study, clove was also found to speed healing | | | | that sage may b of value to people with diabetes for |
| of the dreaded cold sores.5/. DILL Dill has been used | | | | whom the hormone insulin does not work as |
| to soothe the digestive tract and treat heartburn, | | | | efficiently as it should. Lab studies indicate that sage |
| colic and gas for thousands of years. In fact, the | | | | may boost insulin's action.14/. THYME Thyme contains |
| word dill comes from the Old Norse word dilla, | | | | thymol, which increases blood-flow to the skin. The |
| meaning to lull or soothe. The herb has an | | | | warmth is comforting, and some herbalists believe |
| antifoaming action that suggests why it might help | | | | that the increased blood-flow speeds healing. An |
| break up gas bubbles. Like parsley, dill is rich in | | | | anti-spasmodic. Thyme relaxes respiratory muscles |
| chlorophyll, which also makes it useful in treating bad | | | | and is endorsed for treating bronchitis by Commission |
| breath.6/. FENNEL Rich in volatile oils, fennel is what's | | | | E, the expert panel that judges the safety and |
| known as a carminative herb, meaning that it can | | | | effectiveness of herbal medicines for the German |
| ease bloating, gas pains, and digestive spasms in the | | | | government. Aromatherapists say that thyme's scent |
| small and large intestines. Fennel can also reduce bad | | | | is a mood lifter.15/. TURMERIC Many clinical studies |
| breath and body odour that originates in the | | | | agree that curcumin in turmeric has anti-inflammatory |
| intestines. Women who are breastfeeding may find | | | | effects, including a significant beneficial effect in |
| that fennel, which works in a way similar to the | | | | relieving rheumatoid arthritis and carpal tunnel |
| body's hormones, increases milk flow.7/. GARLIC | | | | syndrome. Curcumin, which gives this spice its familiar |
| Intact garlic cloves contain an odourless, | | | | yellow pigment, may also lower cholesterol. Turmeric |
| sulphur-containing amino acid called alliin. When the | | | | is also packed with antioxidants, including vitamins A, |
| garlic is crushed, alliin becomes allicin. Research shows | | | | C, and E, which have been shown to prevent |
| that allicin helps lower cholesterol and blood pressure | | | | cataracts.Passed down to us by our forefathers and |
| and also helps prevents blood clots. Garlic can also | | | | countless generations throughout the world, these 15 |
| reduce the risk of developing atherosclerosis | | | | food additives and enhancers are just a selected few |
| (hardening of the arteries). Compounds in this familiar | | | | that are currently known to have medicinal and |
| bulb kill many organisms, including bacteria and viruses | | | | beneficial properties, yet represent the more |
| that cause earaches, flu and colds. Research indicates | | | | commonly used. By including these herbs and spices |
| that garlic is also effective against digestive ailments | | | | into your daily cooking or diet on a regular basis, you |
| and diarrhoea. What's more, further studies suggest | | | | will greatly enhance your quality of life, and reduce |
| that this common and familiar herb may help prevent | | | | the need for those expensive, and often damaging |
| the onset of cancers.8/. GINGER When it comes to | | | | pharmaceutical drugs.To your continued good |
| quelling the queasiness of motion sickness, ginger has | | | | healthJohn Elliott aka Oaky Wood is the co-founder |
| no equal say herbalists. In fact, researchers have | | | | of The Corner 4 Women is a poet, writer, artist, |
| demonstrated that ginger beats dimenhydrate, the | | | | webmaster and designer. |