There are multiple healing benefits that certain herbs can provide, including being anti-inflammatory, better digestion, and providing a boost to the immune system. Some of the best healing herbs and spices are annatto, basil, cardamom, cayenne, chamomile, cinnamon, fenugreek, garlic, ginger, rosemary, saffron, and turmeric.
What Are the Healing Properties of Spices?
The primary reasons spices are considered to be healing are that they are high in antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, and other biological compounds that help to improve digestion, provide a boost to the immune system, reduce the amount of pain experienced, improve blood sugar regulation, and even have health benefits that can help protect against specific chronic health problems like cancer and heart disease. Antioxidants are beneficial because they protect against free radicals, which are compounds that increase the risk of developing chronic diseases. Regarding pain reduction, certain herbs and spices have an analgesic effect, which leads to lower amounts of pain.
What Herbs and Spices Are Good for Healing?
Several herbs and spices have healing properties, including antioxidant content, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial. Examples of such herbs and spices are basil, bay leaves, black pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, thyme, and turmeric. Basil has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-stress properties, along with compounds that assist with pain reduction, improve blood vessel function, and boost the immune system. Bay leaves contain antioxidants, as well, and are antifungal and antimicrobial. They also have the potential to reduce the risk of developing cancer, improving how the body reacts to insulin, decreasing cholesterol levels, reducing the risks of skin infections, and lessening the time it takes for a wound to heal. Black pepper contains a compound called piperine, which is considered an antioxidant and can improve the digestive process; it is also anti-mutagenic and anti-tumor. Cardamom can help to improve blood pressure. Ginger is known to reduce nausea, pain, and vomiting, showing the benefits of reducing blood pressure and menstrual pain and assisting with weight management. Rosemary has shown some evidence to help improve memory capabilities, cognition, and muscle tension and decrease the time it takes for hair to grow. Turmeric is anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiparasitic, antiviral, and antioxidant. Cinnamon, cloves, oregano, parsley, sage, and thyme are all known to be antioxidants and have cell-promoting capabilities to reduce free radical damage.
What Is the Most Powerful Healing Herb?
Some of the most potent healing herbs are cinnamon, echinacea, evening primrose, ginkgo biloba, neem, turmeric, and valerian. Cinnamon can reduce blood sugar levels, echinacea can provide a decent boost to the immune system, and evening primrose can help reduce PMS and eczema symptoms, along with reducing any pain experienced in the breasts. Ginkgo biloba can help improve dementia cases, and neem helps purify the blood and improve oral health, as well as acne, eczema, and other skin-related problems. Turmeric is an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, and antiparasitic. Valerian can allow for better episodes of sleep, sometimes even being recommended in place of sleeping pills.
What Do Cinnamon, Ginger, and Garlic Do to the Body?
These three herbs and spices can diminish inflammation within the body, boost metabolic rate, and improve heart health. There are antioxidants and oils in these items that help lessen pain and soreness within the muscles while shortening the recovery time. Garlic contains a compound known as allicin, which helps boost blood circulation by going through the process of fat breakdown. Ginger also helps decrease blood sugar and cholesterol levels and improve one’s blood pressure measurements. Regarding metabolism, allicin within garlic also helps to increase it with the breakdown of fat.
What Is the Best Spice to Reduce Inflammation?
Some of the best spices to help improve inflammation are black pepper, garlic, ginger, oregano, and turmeric. Turmeric contains curcumin, which has a role in inflammation reduction, particularly within the brain and joints. With this inflammation reduction, turmeric has also been found to help reduce Alzheimer’s symptoms, improve brain function, and lower risks of heart disease. Garlic contains vitamins B6 and C, which are considered antioxidants. Oregano helps to improve inflammatory conditions with a compound called beta-caryophyllene contained within it. This compound assists with arthritis relief and quicker recovery from bacterial and viral illnesses. The antioxidants within oregano are also considered to be anti-cancerous.
What Is the Strongest Antiviral Herb?
Several herbs are considered to be strong fighters of viral infections. These include basil, fennel, garlic, oregano, and sage. Oregano is considered part of the mint family. It contains antiviral compounds, like carvacrol, that proved in a study to reduce murine norovirus activity, one of the leading causes of stomach flu. Sage is also part of the mint family and is a traditional remedy to viral illnesses; research found that sage can help fight off HIV-1 and HSV-1. Multiple varieties of basil help fight off viruses, especially enterovirus, hepatitis B, and herpes. Research conducted with fennel found it can be a potent antiviral against herpes and parainfluenza type-3. Lastly, garlic has led to elimination of HPV-derived warts and has helped fight off HIV, HSV-1, influenza A and B, rhinovirus, and viral pneumonia.
What Herbs Help with Sleep?
Several herbs can assist with receiving better-quality sleep, and certain ones have varying effects. Herbs that have a sedative effect include lavender, passionflower, and valerian. Herbs that are relaxing are ashwagandha, California poppy, and lemon balm. Those that give an extra boost to melatonin production are Magnolia officinalis and tart cherry. Herbs that have a mix of these qualities include holy basil, l-theanine, nutmeg, and skullcap.
Choosing a healthy plant-based and vegan diet is most beneficial when it comes to:
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Higher levels of energy;
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Improved sleep;
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Aids in energy and overall happiness;
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Provides a sense of comfort and relief;
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Could prevent major diseases such as obesity and diabetes;
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Accomplish weight-loss and management; and
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Improves mental and cognitive functioning.
There are really no excuses not to try healthier habits in your everyday life. If you are a man or woman looking for specific benefits of adopting healthier habits or just want to know about the general healing properties of herbs. Please remember to comment or post any health questions, or contact us directly!
Also feel free to share any of your favorite recipes to make and share it with the Assuaged community on our ➡️ Share A Recipe ⬅️ page!
References
Atlantic Health System. (2024, February 15). The health benefits of 10 flavorful herbs and spices. Atlantic Health System. https://www.atlantichealth.org/health-articles/healthy-living/the-health-benefits-of-10-flavorful-herbs-and-spices.
Bauer, B.A. (2018, February 15). Valerian: A safe and effective herbal sleep aid? Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/insomnia/expert-answers/valerian/faq-20057875#:~:text=Results%20from%20multiple%20studies%20indicate%20that%20valerian,the%20Valeriana%20officinalis%20have%20been%20widely%20studied.
Charneca, S., Hernando, A., Costa-Reis, P., & Guerreiro, C.S. (2023). Beyond seasoning - The role of herbs and spices in rheumatic diseases. Nutrients, 15(12), 2812. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15122812.
Jiang, T.A. (2019). Health benefits of culinary herbs and spices. J AOAC Int, 102(2), 395-411. https://doi.org/10.5740/jaoacint.18-0418.
Johns Hopkins Medicine. (n.d.). 5 spices with healthy benefits. Johns Hopkins Medicine. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/5-spices-with-healthy-benefits#:~:text=2.,tacos%20or%20create%20a%20curry.
Kubala, J. (2019, October 21). 15 impressive herbs with antiviral activity. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/antiviral-herbs.
Leech, J. (2023, February 15). 10 delicious herbs and spices with powerful health benefits. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/10-healthy-herbs-and-spices#:~:text=The%20effective%20dose%20is%20typically,at%20lowering%20blood%20sugar%20levels.
Todd, L. (2021, June 30). 10 of the healthiest herbs and spices and their health benefits. Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/healthy-herbs-and-spices.
