Today, more and more Americans are pulling away from their fast food diets and pill popping medications to go back in time to the Eastern medicinal benefits of herbs and plants. Most of today’s modern medicine is manufactured from natural plant parts anyway, so it makes sense that using the right herbs in cooking can help prevent or even reverse some problematic symptoms naturally.
Below is a list of several herbs that can be added to just about any recipe, giving it added flavor along with health benefits, without taking harsh chemical pills. Of course, you should consult your health care professional before taking any herbs of natural supplements to treat medical conditions, but for minor digestive issues, these herbs below may be able to alleviate some problems.
Alfalfa leaves and seeds come from a mild medicinal plant. Because it is mild, most people do not have any problems using this herb, unless the user has allergies such as hay fever and grass. Alfalfa is a natural a concentrated nutrient source that is rich in insoluble fiber and therefore aids digestive elimination. Alfalfa, a member of the legume family, is also rich in phytoestrogens and isoflavones that cause hormonal balance in the body.
Anise
Anise is a tasty herb used in a variety of cooking recipes. A member of the parsley family, anise helps aid digestion and reduces gas. Like alfalfa, anise is a good source of phytoestrogens. Besides aiding in digestion, anise is also known for use by a pregnant or breast feeding women to naturally promote breast milk production.
Basil
Basil, most commonly used in leaf form, is a well-known herb used in a variety of dishes, and particularly in Italian foods, and is also known to help promote proper digestion and reduce gas. In addition to aiding in digestion, basil is often used as a mild antimicrobial and can often be found as a scent or ingredient in soaps, lotions and cleansers.
Black Pepper
Black Pepper is one of the most common condiments found on tables in America besides salt, but in Asia, black pepper is used as a detoxifier and anti-aging herb. However, because of its warming tendency to the digestive system, black pepper helps with digestion and relieves gas.
Black pepper is also known to increase circulation, help regulate blood pressure and reducing pain during joint movement.
During digestion, black pepper helps reduce free radicals and prevents the useless breakdown of vitamin A.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a mild herb that provides a fragrant scent, a warming aromatherapeutic benefit, and a mild energy boost. In digestion, cinnamon is known to improve digestion, help control diarrhea and relieves abdominal spasms due to gas. Recent studies show cinnamon may also help regulate blood sugar and insulin. Cinnamon has even been said to help relieve minor menstrual cramps.
Fennel
Fennel, usually in seed form, increases digestion and digestive activity. Fennel is known to help relieves gas and aid in proper waste elimination. Fennel has also been known to increase libido.
Lemon Peel
Lemon peel is a wonderful, natural and inexpensive digestive aid. It can be used for abdominal bloating, nausea and poor appetite.
That little sprig of parsley on the side of your plate can do a lot more for you than just decorating dinner. Parsley is shown to help the urinary system by acting as a mild diuretic to help with water retention and bladder problems. Parsley, like its cousin herb anise, is a source of phytoestrogens. When combined with turmeric, parsley greatly aids digestion. Lastly, parsley contains over three times as much vitamin C as oranges and double the calcium of broccoli.
Turmeric is highly popular in India for joint health and is often combined with ginger. Turmeric is known to have strong antioxidant activity, even more powerful than vitamin C and vitamin E. Turmeric may aid in lowering cholesterol. In digestion, turmeric can be used to aid with problems such as indigestion and gas.
Ginger aids digestion and, and is one of the best herbs for nausea, which is why many old wives tales tell you to drink ginger ale or ginger tea when feeling sick to your stomach. Ginger is known to relieve stomach spasms and menstrual cramps. Like cinnamon, ginger may help regulate blood sugar, among many other positive effects on joint health, digestion, and more.
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Remember, it’s important to consult a nutritionist and/or your health care professional before you change your diet drastically or use herbs for medicinal purposes, but if you are simply wanting to live and eat healthier, adding the herbs listed above to your recipes or drinking herbal teas with these ingredients and making them a part of your normal routine is a quick and easy method of promoting good health.