Dry herbs by hanging upside down in a dark spot |
Herbs have been cultivated for thousands of years for
culinary and
medicinal reasons
We have them mixed in as part of our landscaping and sustainable gardening. Here are 5 things to know about herbs.
Rosemary has pretty flowers |
2. Herbs heal. Herbs that have flavorful or aromatic leaves often have healing or antibacterial properties.
Parsley has flavonoids that function as antioxidants. In addition Parsley has volatile oils—particularly myristicin which has been shown to reduce tumor in animal studies.
Cilantro has dodecenal in it which has powerful antibacterial ability which studies suggest is particularly effective at fighting salmonella.
Basil is an antioxidant when you take it internally and you can rub the leaves on your skin as a mild antibacterial. Rosemary can improve memory when sniffed and when rubbed on the skin is an antibiotic.
Cayenne pepper has Capsicum which can reduce the pain of shingles or other nerve pain.
Garlic kills bacteria (and your friends if you breathe on them).
3. Herbs can act as Probiotics and Gut healers. Turmeric has curcumin which has anti-inflammatory effects comparable to cortisone. Because it can suppress inflammation and also increases mucin in the stomach it aids digestion and helps prevent ulcers. Ginger has peristalsis which helps the intestine walls move food through the gut. Licorice root, peppermint and cinnamon are three other digestion helpers.
4. Herbs are natural pesticides. If you plant herbs around your flowers you can keep bugs away. Aphids hate garlic, chives and coriander (cilantro). Flies hate Basil, Catmint has nepetalactone which is a natural pesticide (you just soak it in water and spray) . Mosquitoes hate basil and rosemary. Most beetles hate rosemary and mint. Ticks and fleas hate lavender. You can see why herbs were grown all around houses in the old days... kept the critters out AND you cooked with it and took the herbs medicinally.
Turmeric and Garlic Heal |
Tumeric How to
- Dig it up and break off parts of the rhizome after the plant parts die back in fall. Replant some of the pieces
- To process scrape the skin off with a knife and then boil in water until soft. This may take a couple of hours.
- Dry on absorbent paper in the sun for a week or two.
- It will shrink to a third of the fresh size and be rock hard.
- Pound in a mortar and pestle, then grind to a powder in a coffee grinder.
- It will keep well in the freezer and refrigerator.
- Take it in capsules or soup for the health benefits and taste
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Follow the Castle Gardener. Perfecting permaculture and organic practices that are NO WORK and can be done by a farm girl with painted nails..