The Kitchen Witch Quick-Guide to Making Herbal Remedies by Mimi Riser

Author:Mimi Riser
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: natural remedies, home remedies, natural healing, holistic health, herbs and spices, homemade cosmetics, homemade herbal remedies, herbs for health, herbal brews and potions
Publisher: Mimi Riser

Chapter 4

Spice Rack = Medicine Cabinet

(Along with the previous list, many of the following also make good tea ingredients. The spices in particular, like cinnamon and ginger, are often mixed with less palatable herbs to improve the flavor of a medicinal blend besides adding therapeutic value of their own.)

ALLSPICE (Pimenta officinalis): Aromatic, carminative, digestive, stimulant. Also an antioxidant with certain anti-cancer actions.

ANISE SEED (Pimpinella anisum): Antiseptic, antispasmodic, aromatic, carminative, digestive, expectorant, stimulant, stomachic, tonic. Aids digestion and tones the stomach. Alleviates cramps and nausea, etc.

BASIL (Ocimum basilicum): Antidepressant, antiseptic, antispasmodic, appetizer, carminative, digestive, galactagogue, stomachic. May help prevent cancer.

BAY LEAF (Laurus noblis): Carminative, digestive, laxative, warming.

CARAWAY SEED (Carum carvi): Antispasmodic, appetizer, carminative, digestive, emmenagogue, expectorant, galactagogue, stomachic. (A decoction made from equal parts anise, caraway, and fennel seeds is said to be a good intestinal purifier.)

CARDAMOM (Elettaria cardamomum): Appetizer, carminative, stimulant, stomachic.

CAYENNE PEPPER (Capsicum frutescens): Anodyne, appetizer, digestive, irritant, sialagogue, stimulant, tonic. Contains the alkaloid capsaicin, which relieves pain by blocking the chemicals that send pain messages to the brain.

CELERY SEED (Apium graveolens): Carminative and sedative.

CHERVIL (Anthriscus cerefolium): Digestive, diuretic, expectorant, stimulant. An infusion of chervil is sometimes used to lower blood pressure.

CHIVES (Allium schoenoprasum): Appetizer and digestive.

CINNAMON (Cinnamomum zeylanicum): Adaptogen, antibacterial, carminative, diaphoretic, digestive, tonic. Warming and energizing. Contains cinnamaldehyde, which kills a variety of illness-causing bacteria, including E. coli, Salmonella, and Staphylococcus aureas. Cinnamaldehyde also has a calming effect that helps reduce anxiety and stress.

CLOVES (Syzygium aromaticum or Caryophyllus aromaticus): Anodyne, antiemetic, antiseptic. Clove tea can relieve nausea and help stop vomiting (add one pinch of the powder to a cup of boiling water). Some sources say that clove helps the body use insulin more efficiently, and so may help lower blood sugar.

CORIANDER & CILANTRO (Coriandrum sativum): If you’re talking about the seeds, it’s coriander, while the leaves are known as cilantro. Both are medicinal: Antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, digestive.

DILL (Anethum graveolens): Antibacterial, antispasmodic, calmative, carminative, diuretic, galactagogue, stomachic. Rich in chlorophyll.

FENNEL (Foeniculum vulgare): Antispasmodic, aromatic, carminative, digestive, diuretic, expectorant, galactagogue, stimulant, stomachic, and possible estrogenic effects (therefore, use with caution during pregnancy). A cooling spice, good for the stomach and intestinal tract. As a dieting aid, it’s reputed to stave off hunger pangs.

FENUGREEK SEED (Trigonella foenum-graecum): Carminative, digestive, expectorant, mucilaginous, restorative, tonic, uterine stimulant. Dates back at least to ancient Egyptian times. Has often been used to strengthen those recovering from an illness. In the Middle East fenugreek is used to treat diabetes. (Caution: Fenugreek should not be used during pregnancy.)

GARLIC (Allium sativum): Anthelmintic, antibacterial, antihistamine, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antiviral, carminative, cholagogue, digestive, diuretic, febrifuge, vasodilator. Garlic helps lower cholesterol and blood pressure, helps prevent blood clots, and may help prevent cancer.

GINGER ROOT (Zingiber officinale): Adjuvant, appetizer, carminative, diaphoretic, expectorant, rubefacient, vasodilator, and circulation stimulant. One of the oldest and most popular medicinal spices. Good for digestion, colds, coughs, cramps, flu, nausea, and a scientifically proven remedy for motion sickness. Also helps lower cholesterol.

HORSERADISH (Armoracia lapathifolia): Diuretic, rubefacient, stomachic.

HYSSOP (Hyssopus officinalis): Antiviral, astringent, carminative, emmenagogue, expectorant, stimulant, stomachic, tonic.

MARJORAM (Marjorana hortensis): Antispasmodic, calmative, digestive.

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