Amazing Guide to Herbs’ Uses and Benefits

There are a number of delicious foods you can eat for the sake of your health — but still, all too often, we hear complaints that healthful food just doesn’t taste good.

Enter herbs and spices. The aromatic flavorings can transform a dish without adding calories or fat (for the most part). But many of the roots and seeds and leaves and flowers pack surprising additional health benefits of their own. From promoting longevity to fighting pain and more, here are 20 of the healthiest herbs and spices of all time.

1. Black Tea leaves-reduces heart problems

Black tea as a way to reduce the risk of heart-related problems has been studied  although more thorough testing is needed.

How to use it: A couple cups of black tea a day is a good amount, and the caffeine will help you stay alert throughout your day.

2.  Mint – To soothe an upset stomach

Mint seems to be a powerful cure for stomachaches, as well as being used for relaxation and as a diuretic.

How to use it: Mint tea is the most common and popular way to ingest the herb.

3.  Eucalyptus – Relieves lung Congestion

Perhaps best known for being the food of choice for koalas, eucalyptus is also used as a cleaning agent and to treat lung problems. It appears to have an mucolytic (mucus-clearing) and anti-inflammatory component that works particularly well in this area.

How to use it: Eucalyptus essential oil is a good option to keep by your bed or, if you can find it, use a vapor rub with eucalyptus as one of the primary ingredients.

4.  Parsley – Fights halitosis

Parsley is packed full of vitamins and has some more specific uses, such as treating bad breath. This may be due in large part to the plant’s high concentration of chlorophyll, which has some evidence in treating bad breath.

How to use it: Consuming it in your food, by itself, or in a blended drink are all good ways of using parsley for this particular ailment.

5. Ginger Prevents Nausea

Significant results have been found in ginger’s ability to ease nausea, even for motion sickness.

How to use it: Some specialists recommend taking ginger before the nausea sets in; for example, if you know you get airsick, you can chew ginger gum before takeoff. If taking ginger when nausea is already present, there are a variety of products including teas and candies that contain the roo

6. Licorice – Soothes a sore Throat

There has been some scientific examination of licorice root’s anti-inflammatory effects on sore throats, with promising results.

How to use it: You can find teas and lozenges with licorice root at a variety of grocery and health food stores, as well as online.

7. Ginseng – Boosts energy levels

Ginseng root has been tested in a number of studies for its effectiveness in fighting fatigue, with significant (though few) results.

How to use it: Ginseng can be found in a number of products including “natural” energy drinks, though as with all energy drinks these should be used with caution. You can also get ginseng in capsule form, often grouped with other herb and vitamin capsules at regular grocery stores, as well as health food and supplement stores.

8. Chamomile – promotes sleep

There have been very few scientific studies on chamomile’s ability to encourage sleep, but it remains a popular herb for this purpose.

How to use it: Chamomile as a sleep aid is typically taken as a warm tea, with many brands specifically marketing it as a “nighttime” or “sleepytime” tea.

9.  Lavander – eases tension

Evidence from scientific trials suggests that lavender works well to relieve tension and stress.

How to use it: Aromatherapy products such as oils, lotions, and herb pouches are all good ways of using the scent to relieve stress.

10. Nettle – treats dandruff

espite the name, stinging nettle has a number of recognised medical properties including as an anti-inflammatory. It has also been used as a natural treatment for dandruff.

How to use it: There are a few commercial shampoo products containing stinging nettle, though you may have better luck on sites like Etsy.

11. Cinnamon – Controls blood sugar

 wide range of research suggests cinnamon is an effective ways in managing sugar levels, particularly useful for people with Type II diabetes.

How to use it: Cinnamon can be added to a variety of foods and beverages, and can be purchased in capsule form for a higher concentration.

12. St. John’s Wort – helps in depression

Extensive research as been done on the plant’s effectiveness in treating mild to moderate depression and it is sold over the counter as such.

How to use it: Capsules, tinctures, and teas containing St. John’s Wort can be found in health food and supplement stores and some grocery stores, as well as online.

13. Calendula -preevnts wound infection

More commonly known as marigolds, calendula has several practical uses,most notably as a wound healing agent. This is due to the plant’s antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties.

How to use it: Topical ointments and creams containing calendula can be bought online or at health food and supplement stores.

14.  Comfrey- alleviates dry skin

Comfrey has had a somewhat controversial history in recent decades, and is now not recommended for any kind of internal use. Topical use of the plant is still pervasive, however, as it has shown a notable ability to treat dry or inflamed skin.

How to use it: Though it may be harder to find them in mainstream product lines, you can often find comfrey soaps and lotions on sites like Etsy or anywhere else artisan grooming products are sold.

15. Rosemary – improve memory

This ultra-fragrant, evergreen herb has garnered interest in recent decades for medical and pharmaceutical uses, most notably as a mild memory enhancer.

How to use it: Aromatherapy products such as essential oils can be found for rosemary, but the plant itself can leave a noticeable scent even when dried.

16. Passion Flower – reduces anxiety

There are around 500 species under the Passiflora genus, most of which are appreciated for their beautiful blooms as well as their tasty fruit. It has proven to be a viable treatment for some anxiety forms.

How to use it: Passionflower tea has a pleasant and sweet taste and can be found in both health food stores and most regular grocers. Tinctures and essential oils also exist.

17. Tobacco – treat bee stings

Tobacco is regarded for little else than its addictive nicotine content, but it also doubles as a surprisingly impressive way to treat wasp and bee stings.  Tobacco acts as a sort of anesthetic to the area, possibly helping to draw out the sting’s toxins as well.

How to use it: Unroll a cigarette and place the tobacco against the sting, then hold it down with a moist washcloth. The moisture is needed so that “juice” will flow to the sting.

18. Sage – fights Alzheimer’s

This grey-green herb has a faint and pleasant smell, and much like rosemary has been said to boost memory recall. While this claim hasn’t been tested, studies have found that sage is a somewhat useful treatment for people with mild to moderate Alzheimers.

How to use it: Sage can be administered in liquid elixir form or in capsules.

19.  Chrysanthemum – fights colds

Chrysanthemum’s medicinal properties are not widely tested by Western scientists, but it is a popular part of Chinese treatments for colds and other mild sickness.

How to use it: Warm chrysanthemum tea is recommended.

20. Fennel Seeds – soothes indigestion

Fennel seed has shown promising results as a relief agent for bloating and constipation.

How to use it: Fennel can be bought both in capsule form and as a tea.

Source: http://www.healthdigezt.com/amazing-guide-to-herbs-uses-and-benefits/