Herbs And Spices Essay

“Use of herbs as medicines dates back to the beginning of civilized man. The earliest known written records of herbal medicines were inscribed on a six thousand year old clay tablet written by the Sumerians, who lived on the banks of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in what is now known as Iraq”(History).

Throughout history there have been documents found from cultures all over the world revealing that the ancient Chinese, Indians, Babylonians, Egyptians, and Native Americans practiced the use of herbal medicine. The oldest known list of medicinal herbs is Shen Nung’s Pen Ts’ao or Shennong Ben Cao Jing dated back to 3000 B.C. (A Brief History of Herbalism. 2007)

Many people find thyme useful and effective when it comes to heal and treat many diseases. Thyme is a member of the most common herbs in the Labiatae (Mint) plant family, which have been used for centuries. In addition to that, there are about 350 species of thyme with a vast range of uses not only in natural medicine but also in pharmaceutical drugs. Thyme leaves are not the only part that have been used. In fact, oil extract from thyme leaves and its flowers also serves important roles in treating and curing many disorders.

Herbs have been used throughout the ages not just for their culinary benefits. In the use of magick and healing certain herbs and plants are used for their spirits or characteristics.

Medical herbs included: leaves, wood, roots, bark or other parts of the plant. Herbalism is one of the oldest traditions. The book Herbal was written in the 11th century in Canterbury. "The book describes drugs which can be made from animals. The liver and lungs of a fox, finely chopped and taken in wine, were said to be good for asthma." (Mantin & Pulley, 1989,pg.24). Consumers in the Middle Ages were interested in herbalism because of the herbs, spices and 'natural' perfumes. However, these remedies did not work as well as doctors' treatments. Herbalism was not complicated and was known to work well

If handle correctly, the plant is a very powerful herb that can be used in different potions, enchantments, or spells.) He swiftly shifted his eyes, trying to hide

Medicinal herbs were used to cure an array of illnesses such as wounds and helped in relieving pain. However, the effectiveness of such herbs were limited because they could not help in curing infections. Infections were a main reason behind the deaths of people in the past because once a person was infected, there was no way to deal with that infection and cure it. That is how thousands of

Rich in history, aromatic plant materials were used in ritual and herbal medicine throughout ancient cultures

Anyone can grow some basic culinary herbs and use them to cook with. A few garden tips and some very simple recipes are all you need to cook a meal that your friends will talk about for days. Rosemary, chives and parsley are very versatile herbs that can be grown indoors or out. They provide a variety of flavors that will enhance your guest's and your taste buds. To grow indoors you just need medium size pots and a room that receives at least four hours of sunlight a day. You don't want to put the plants right next to the window due to the possibility of sunburn through the glass. To grow herbs outdoors please follow the guide for your zone area. For beginners it would be best to start with young plants instead of seeds. Herbs as a rule

Of course there are the granddaddy herbs – the herbs with the most prestige. These are the most common herbs, which is why they deserve their very own section here.

Herbs and spices are commonly regarded as the most nutritious foods and are used in recipes as inconspicuous ingredients to make them more favorable. However ordinary plants they may seem, they add ripple flavor on recipes. When the herbs and spices are dried, they provide a numerous healthy compounds known as phytonutrients that not only improves the taste of food but also benefits the body.

Coriander is a spice consisting of seeds from the coriander plant, which is also known as cilantro. Powdered or ground coriander is made by grinding these seeds. The ground seed is much easier to use but has a considerably shorter shelf life than whole seeds. How you store your coriander can have a significant impact on how well it resists spoilage. The right storage methods can help you to keep your coriander fresh for a long time.

What are Essential Oils? Essential oils are extracts from leaves, roots, stems, flowers, and seeds of various plants. The oils are distilled into extremely concentrated forms and contain active ingredients that are thought to have beneficial effects. The use of essential oils as treatment for various ailments is known as aromatherapy.

Transition: Now that we have discussed the history of herbal medicine I would like to tell you some common herbs and uses in modern day.

Some of the major diseases that herbs cure are depression, weak immune system, prostate problems, cardiovascular diseases and inflammation. They are used all over the world to treat untreatable conditions and diseases. Scientific research and study have also proven the efficacy of these herbal products. Around 177 drugs have been approved to treat cancer all over the world and more than 70% of them are herbs and natural products.