Healing Benefits of Spices



Healing Benefits of Spices

Cardamom

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Fruit of the Elettaria cardamomum plant in the ginger family.

Health Benefits: Eases belching, flatulence and indigestion; treats respiratory conditions like coughing, asthma and loss of voice; aids in the elimination of toxins through your skin.

• Chew on cardamon seeds for fresh breath and relief of indigestion and gas.

• Add the crushed leaves or seeds to your bath. Cardamon is stimulating so use when you want to wake up only.

• Crush the leaves and seeds and add to witch hazel. Let sit for several weeks. Cardamon is rich in terpenes which have antimicrobial and anti-viral properties.

• Be safe. Cardamon is considered safe to use with few side effects. However, any herb can cause allergic reaction and interact with medications you may already be taking. Caution should also be used when dealing with young children and herbal remedies as they are much more dose sensitive due to their smaller size and standardization is difficult when dealing with fresh herbs. If buying herbal remedies for improving health in capsule form from the health food store follow the manufactures recommendations.

Disclaimer

This article is meant to be informational and educational regarding traditional uses of herbs for medicinal purposes and not as medical advice. Always follow up with your doctor for concerns regarding your health. The FDA approves herbs as dietary supplements only.

How to Use:

Cardamom isn't just healthy, it's tasty, too. Also known as cardamon, Grains Of Paradise, Ela (in Sanskrit) and elachi or elaichi (in India), this versatile spice works equally well in pungent or sweet dishes. The seeds can be ground into powder, or you can use whole pods (they often have the seeds removed). For the most flavors, crack them a bit before cooking. Stir a few freshly ground pinches of cardamom pods into a shot of orange juice or your morning fruit salad or smoothie, or mix it with white or brown rice before you boil it.

Try cardamom to flavor rice pudding, cakes, ginger fig chutney or crème brûlée.

Cayenne

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Fruit of the Capsicum annum plant in the Solanaceae family, along with chile pepper.

Health Benefits: Eliminates gas from the stomach and intestines; soothes sore throat, cold and flu symptoms; increases metabolism for weight control.

• Take cayenne pepper for general health. Cayenne pepper is high in vitamin C, vitamin A, iron, potassium and niacin. Paprika, a mild form of cayenne pepper, is especially high in vitamin C. Use it if you dislike hot spice.

• Put cayenne pepper in food to make it more digestible. Cayenne pepper contains capsaicin, which stimulates the digestive system by encouraging the output of gastric fluids.

• Use cayenne pepper externally on painful joints, pain from arthritis and to reduce swelling. Cayenne pepper increases blood flow to the area where applied. Make a lineament to apply to the skin by bringing a pint of cider vinegar to boil and adding a tablespoon of cayenne pepper.

• Gargle water mixed with cayenne pepper as a treatment for sore throats and strep throat. Dissolve cayenne pepper powder in water or boil whole cayenne peppers in water for use in gargling. Don't use too much cayenne pepper, or you'll burn your mouth. Store leftover cayenne water in the refrigerator.

Cayenne is a medicinal and nutritional herb.  It is a very high source of Vitamins A and C, has the complete B complexes, and is very rich in organic calcium and potassium, which is one of the reasons it is good for the heart.

How to Use: Add cayenne pepper to Mexican, Creole, or Cajun cooking or any dish that needs a dash of hot spice. Cayenne pepper can be added or replace chili powder in most recipes. Stir a pinch into your food, sprinkle it on hard boiled eggs, and add it to your salad dressing. There are numerous ways that cayenne pepper can be utilized in your food. Give it a try.

Cinnamon

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Bark of a small evergreen tree.

Health Benefits: Tames nausea and stomach ulcers; functions as a mild anti-inflammatory; increases insulin sensitivity to help focus fat burn.

Here is a list of some of the medicinal uses of cinnamon:

o Diabetes (lowers blood sugar)

o Weight Loss and Weight Control (With each cup you drink, you can burn up to 90 extra calories)

o Athlete's Foot

o Indigestion

o Cold and Flu

o Helps the immune system

o Memory Enhancer

o Diarrhea

o Menstrual Problems

o Digestive Problems

o Yeast Infections

o Arthritis

o Boosts metabolism

How to Use: To taste, stir into your favorite natural beverage or smoothie or oatmeal. Cinnamon compliments a number of dishes.

• There are several ways you can take cinnamon. Add a pinch of the ground spice to your favorite tea. Or, add it to the food you eat. Just remember that less is more. You should not consume more than 1/4 tsp. a day or else you could develop problems such as mouth inflammation or digestive distress. You can also try adding a pinch to your morning coffee.

• Fresh ground cinnamon is not only tastier than its pre-ground cousin, but it also is more medicinally potent. One of the reasons why cinnamon is so effective is because of the volatile oil present in the spice. If the cinnamon is old, the volatile oil begins to evaporate. If it is ground fresh, more of the oil is present. You can use a coffee grinder to grind a cinnamon stick down. If you plan on doing this a lot, make sure you have a separate grinder for coffee and a separate one for herbs. Otherwise, the coffee flavor will affect the flavor of the herbs.

• One way that I like to get extra cinnamon is to infuse it into honey. I simply take 2-3 whole cinnamon sticks and add it to a baby food jar. I fill the jar with honey, cover it, and store it in the refrigerator. After a few days, the cinnamon will flavor it with honey. This is one of my favorite cold remedies, but I also bake and cook with it whenever honey is needed.

Nutritional Value: It is a great source of manganese, fiber, iron, and calcium.

Cloves

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Flower bud found at the base of an evergreen tree.

Health Benefits: Soothes digestive tract muscles and is a potent antihistamine.

• Cloves have powerful medicinal properties. They are stimulating and have antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and antiseptic properties. They are also a natural anesthetic (due to the eugenol oil) which is why they were often used for dental procedures in centuries past and are still used in some cultures to remedy toothache. It is the oil that is derived from the cloves that is so powerful, and this is often used for medicines both topically and internally. This oil contains compound that helps with blood circulation and can stimulate the skin when applied directly to it.

• Cloves are a great spice to heal ailments of the digestive system. They are well known for relieving flatulence and can actually help promote good digestion as well as metabolism. They may also help relieve vomiting and diarrhea as well as a host of other digestive disorders.

• Cloves have been well known as an all around healing herb and it’s not just digestive problems that cloves are reputed to help with. In fact, they are used in tropical Asia to treat conditions such as scabies, cholera, malaria and tuberculosis. As an antispasmodic it can be applied topically to relieve muscle spasms or in a tea to ease coughing. It can also treat skin problems like styes and sores when applied as an ointment.

• Cloves are believed to have other health benefits that aren’t necessarily connected with an immediate illness. For instance, they can make a great mosquito repellant, as well as a moth repellent. Clove studded oranges are often used to repel many kinds of insects in tropical climates. Sucking on cloves may even reduce the craving for alcohol.

How to Use: Mix into your smoothie treat, or it can also be used in a mustard spread. Cloves are essential in recipes such as pumpkin pie. There are many ways cloves can be used.

Nutritional Value

Cloves consist of a significant amount of proteins, iron, carbohydrates, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and hydrochloric acid. They are also rich in vitamins like A and C, manganese, and dietary fiber.

Nutmeg

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Fruit of Myristica fragrans, an evergreen tree.

Health Benefits: Improves digestion; eases the symptoms of menstruation; induces calm and sleep.

One of the interesting health benefits of nutmeg oil is its ability to stimulate the brain - it relieves stress and stimulates mental activity. It is even reputed to stimulate dreams. The ancient Greeks and Romans used it as a brain tonic despite the fact that it was quite rare and costly.

Nutmeg is known to have anti-inflammatory properties and can be used to treat joint and muscle pain. The oil works particularly well for this when it is massaged into the affected area. It is an integral herb in Chinese medicine where it is used for stomach pain and inflammation as well as reducing joint swelling.

In holistic medicine it is considered an excellent liver tonic which can help remove toxins. Nutmeg oil is also a good herb for the kidney, helping it dissolve kidney stones as well as relieve infections.

Nutmeg can help increase blood circulation and stimulate the cardio-vascular system. It is also good for digestion, getting rid of both gas and stomach aches and relieving vomiting, diarrhea, and flatulence as well as encourage appetite.

Nutmeg can also help with respiratory problems such as a cough from the common cold. It is often found as an ingredient in cough syrups.

While there are many health benefits of nutmeg, be careful not to take it in high doses. It can be toxic and can cause serious problems. Never consume more than 30 grams (around 6 tablespoons) in a day, and even this amount would be considered excessive.

How to Use: Grate a small amount into applesauce or plain yogurt. (Note: It’s safe to grate the entire nut, which you can usually buy whole at the supermarket, but you never want to consume more than one nutmeg per day because too much of this potent spice can cause stomach pain, double vision and other uncomfortable reactions.)

It is great in desserts, but can also be used to flavor meats, vegetables, and sauces. Nutmeg is sprinkled on eggnog during the holidays. The English love it in egg custard and it is great for other custards and heavy dishes. It is found in a variety of pies, especially pumpkin, and sometimes apple.

When cooking with nutmeg, just like any other spice, get it as fresh as possible. Ground or powdered nutmeg can lose its flavor over time. To get the full effects, consider buying a whole nutmeg and grating it yourself. Use the smallest holes in any style of grater and be sure to grate up only the amount you need at the time. Store the rest of the nut in an airtight container in a cool dry place.

Celery Seed

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Seed of the Apium graveolens plant in the parsley family.

Health Benefits: Flushes the liver of toxins; lowers blood pressure; combats water retention.

Since ancient times, many health care providers and individuals have been utilizing one of the lesser-known herbs as a way to treat many different problems of the body. Today, individuals most commonly use celery seed as a diuretic.

Additionally, it is useful as a treatment for Urinary Tract Infections. This is because there are also anti-bacterial ingredients within celery seed, which make it ideal for this purpose.

However, celery seed has been used for many different things over time, including treatments for colds and the Flu, for water retention, and for Arthritis relief, as well as for particular problems involving the spleen or liver.

There have also been studies on animals, which seem to suggest to scientists that celery seed may have a few more advantages, as well. For example, it may lower Blood pressure and cholesterol. Some reports even claim that celery seed can help in protecting the liver from harmful elements such as acetaminophen, an over-the-counter medicine for pain relief. If acetaminophen is taken in too large of a quantity, it can damage the liver. The studies suggest that celery seed may be able to balance this problem; however, these studies are not scientifically proven effective in humans.

How to Use: Think salads—tuna, potato and egg all work—which can be tossed onto a bed of lettuce, eaten alone or spread onto bread.

• Create a fragrant bouquet garni that includes celery seed. A bouquet garni is a bundle of herbs and spices enclosed in a small, cheesecloth sack and immersed in simmering stews, broths and soups for added flavor. Remove the bouquet garni before serving.

• Make classic bread and butter pickles using celery seed for flavoring.

• Add celery seed to any potato salad recipe for a fresh, summery taste.

• Season hearty, New England clam chowder with celery seed.

Coriander

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Also known as cilantro; the leaves and seeds of the Coriandrum plant in the aromatic Apiaceae family.

Health Benefits: Acts as a diuretic; eases seasonal allergies. Helps cure ulcer, inflammation, spasm and acts as an expectorant, protects and soothes liver. It is anti-carcinogenic, anti-convulsant, anti-histaminic

•Swellings: Cineole, one of the 11 components of the essential oils, and linoleic acid, present in coriander, possess anti rheumatic and anti arthritic properties, which are very beneficial for swelling caused due to these two reasons.

•High Cholesterol Levels: Some of the acids present in coriander viz. linoleic acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid and ascorbic acid (vitamin-C) are very effective in reducing the cholesterol level in the blood. They also reduce the cholesterol deposition along the inner walls of the arteries and veins.

•Diarrhea: Some of the components of essential oils in coriander such as Borneol and Linalool, aid digestion, proper functioning of liver and bonding of bowels, helping cure diarrhea. It is also helpful in diarrhea caused by microbial and fungal action, since components like Cineole, Borneol, Limonene, Alpha-pinene & beta-phelandrene have anti bacterial effects. In addition, the fresh coriander leaves are excellent appetizers.

•Mouth Ulcers: Citronelol, a component of essential oils in coriander, is an excellent antiseptic. In addition, other components have anti microbial and healing effects which do not let wounds and ulcers in the mouth go worse. They aid healing up of ulcers and freshen up the breath.

•Anemia: Coriander is good in iron content which directly helps curing anemia.

•Digestion: Coriander, due to its rich aroma because of its essential oils, apart from being an excellent appetizer, helps in proper secretion of enzymes and digestive juices in the stomach, stimulates digestion and peristaltic motion.

•Menstrual Disorders: Being stimulating in nature and helping proper secretion from the endocrine glands, it also helps proper secretion of the hormones and thereby inducing proper menstrual cycles and reducing pains etc. during periods.

•Eye Care: Coriander has lots of anti oxidants, vitamin-A, vitamin-C and minerals like phosphorus in the essential oils in it which prevents aging of eye, macular degeneration and soothes eyes against stress.

Coriander is a very good disinfectant and has anti microbial properties which protect the eyes from contagious diseases like conjunctivitis.

•Skin Disorders: The disinfectant, detoxifying, anti-septic, anti-fungal and anti-oxidant properties of cumin are ideal for curing skin disorders such as eczema, dryness and fungal infections.

How to Use: There are numerous dishes and or salads that you can use the coriander leaf of seeds to flavor your dishes. Many Mexican recipes use coriander including salsa dishes.

Fennel

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Seed of the Foeniculum plant in the aromatic Apiaceae family.

Health benefits of fennel include: Anemia, indigestion, flatulence, constipation, colic, diarrhea, respiratory disorders, menstrual disorders, eye care, calms bowel distress; supports milk production in nursing mothers; combats water retention. Fennel is widely used around the world in mouth fresheners, toothpastes, desserts, antacids and in culinary.

Apart from these uses of fennel, there are numerous medicinal uses and health benefits, mainly due to the components of its essential oils, which can be summarized as:

• Anemia: Iron, and Histidine, an amino acid found in fennel, are helpful in treatment of anemia.

• Indigestion: Some of the components of the essential oils in fennel are stimulants and stimulate secretion of digestive and gastric juices, reduce inflammation of stomach and intestines and facilitates proper absorption of nutrients from the food. It also has anti acidic (basic) properties and is extensively used in antacid preparations. It is an appetizer too.

• Flatulence: Fennel is most popular as an anti flatulent, due to the carminative properties of Aspartic acid found in fennel. Its extract can be used in right from the infants to the old, to cure flatulence and to expel gases from the stomach.

• Constipation: Fennel seeds, particularly in powdered form, act as laxative. The roughage helps clearance of bowels whereas the stimulating effect helps maintain the proper peristaltic motion of the intestines, thereby helping proper excretion.

• Diarrhea: Fennel is helpful in curing diarrhea if caused by bacterial action, as some components of essential oils in fennel such as Anetol, Cineole etc. have disinfectant and anti bacterial properties. Some amino acids such as Histidine aid digestion and proper functioning of digestive system, thus helping cure diarrhea due to indigestion.

• Colic: Polymeric and heavy molecules are useful in the treatment of Renal Colic.

• Respiratory Disorders: Fennel is useful in respiratory disorders such congestion, bronchitis, cough etc.

• Menstrual Disorders: Fennel is also an Emenagogue, i.e. it eases and regulates menstruation by regulating hormonal action properly in the body.

• Eye Care: While using fennel in food helps protect eyes from inflammation, disorders related to aging, macular degeneration etc. due to presence of anti oxidants (vitamin-C, amino acid like Arginine which very beneficial for rejuvenation of tissues and prevention of aging), detoxifiers and stimulants it.

• Other Benefits: Fennel is diuretic, i.e. increases amount and frequency of urination, thereby helping removal of toxic substances from the body and helping in rheumatism and swelling. It also increases production and secretion of milk in lactating mothers and since this milk contains some properties of fennel, it is anti flatulent for the baby too. It strengthens hair, prevents hair fall, relaxes body, sharpens memory and has a marvelous cooling effect in summer if the pale greenish-yellow water, in which it is soaked, is taken with a bit of sugar and black-salt.

Few Words of Caution: You must remember that everything has two aspects and too much of anything is harmful. It is true for fennel too. Certain components of essential oils such as Anethol, and few chemicals present in fennel, besides being beneficial, can be dangerous if ingested in over-dose, because you must remember that the compounds which can kill bacteria and microbes in low doses can be harmful for you too. It can induce trouble in breathing, increase palpitations and make heart beats irregular and also neurotic problems.

How to Use: Add to canned minestrones and vegetable soups. There are numerous ways to cook with fennel or fennel seeds that enhance the flavor or your food.

Oregano

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Leaf of the Oregano plant in the mint family.

Health Benefits: Loosens mucus; helps treat respiratory illnesses; and calms indigestion.

Health Benefits of Oregano Oil:

• It strong antiviral and antibacterial properties can help destroy organisms that contribute to skin infections.

• It also has antiparisitic properties which is helpful in digestive problems

• It can strengthen the immune system

• It helps increase the joint and muscles flexibility

• Improves respiratory health.

• Oil of Oregano when applied topically can help treat skin infections, itchy skin and irritated gums, (but make sure it has been diluted because oregano oil is concentrated and can cause burning sensation to tongue or skin).

• The high content of thymol and carvacrol in oregano can help calm upset stomachs and aid digestion. Mix 2 to 3 drops of oil to a glass of juice, milk or water for a quick remedy for mild indigestion.

• Oil of Oregano can help in the treatment of sinus or lung congestion. Just mix 2 or 3 drops of oil with juice, and drink this daily, you can notice the improvement within 3-5days.

• Oregano has antioxidant properties. Studies have shown that the anti-oxidant properties of oregano may even exceed that of apples and blueberries. Antioxidant vitamins are thought to play a vital role in the prevention of many forms of cancer, as well as perhaps slowing down the aging process.

• Oregano is rich in fiber

• Fresh oregano like other leafy vegetables is loaded with vitamins and nutrients. It is a good source of iron and manganese as well as calcium, vitamin C, and vitamin A. It also has omega-3 fatty acids.

• Oregano is good in maintaining the respiratory health

• Oregano oil, also acts as a stimulant, carminative, and it helps to increase perspiration when a person has fever.

• Oregano can help increase menstrual flow.

• When given in the form of a warm infusion, oregano relieves muscle spasms and cramps, colic, or spasmodic pains in the abdomen.

• The dried leaves can also be applied in bags as a warm application to painful arthritic swellings and other conditions, including rheumatism.

How to Use: Use in any tomato-based foods, like marinara sauces, pizza, soups, broccoli, cauliflower, etc.

Another important benefit of oregano in cooking is the facts that the volatile oils in oregano used during food processing may have an important role in preventing the spoilage of food and in reducing the risk of ingesting harmful bacteria, fungi, and parasites.

Thyme

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Leaf of the Thymus plant in the mint family.

Health Benefits of Eating Thyme

• Thyme is a natural medicine that is used for treating chest and respiratory problems. It serves as an effective cure for bronchitis, coughs and chest congestion as well.

• The herb is highly effective on mucous membranes present in the lungs and stomach.

• It helps in proper digestion, mainly of the fats.

• Thyme acts as a digestive tonic and increases the appetite, which helps in staying healthy.

• The herb helps reduce symptoms of irritable bowel and colic. It helps in preventing chronic gastritis as well.

• Thyme oil is extremely useful for the body and is used in toothpaste, mouthwashes and ointments.

• The herb makes an excellent solution for gargle and mouthwash, used for dental decay. Also, it is very effective against laryngitis, plaque formation, sore throat, mouth sores, tonsillitis and bad breath.

• Thyme contains thymol, which has antiseptic properties. It can be used as a poultice for insect bites, stings, mastitis and wounds.

• The herb is used to cure hookworm, threadworm and roundworm. It can also destroy skin parasites like the scabies and lice.

• It effectively fights against bacterial, fungal and viral infections. Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Staphalococcus aureus and Shingella sonnei are some of the bacteria against which thyme is very effective.

• Thyme consists of thymol and carvacol, which help relax the smooth vessels of the gastrointestinal tract.

• The herb can be used as eyewash to cure sore eyes and also as a hair rinse, to prevent dandruff.

• It has antispasmodic qualities, which provide relief to women during menstruation.

• Thyme works as a tonic and stimulates the nervous system. It alleviates nervous disorders like nightmares, depression, nervous exhaustion, insomnia and melancholy.

• It eases epilepsy, convulsions, menstrual cramps, spasm-induced coughing and diarrhea.

• The thymol present in thyme is found to protect and increase the quantity of healthy fats found in the cell membranes and other structures of the cell.

Caution: Thyme is not found to have any allergic effect. It does not contain any significant amount of purines or oxalates which have negative effects on body.

How to Use: Cooking Tips - Thyme should be added to the dish towards the end of the cooking process. This is so because it tends to lose its delicate flavor when heated excessively. Thyme gives a special aroma and taste to the dishes of beans like kidney beans, black beans and pinto beans. Thyme also renders wonderful fragrance to the non-vegetarian dishes.

Turmeric

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Root of the Circuma plant in the ginger family.

Health Benefits: Reduces inflammation (joints, airways); detoxifies the liver.

• It is a natural antiseptic and antibacterial agent, useful in disinfecting cuts and burns.

• When combined with cauliflower, it has shown to prevent prostate cancer and stop the growth of existing prostate cancer.

• Prevented breast cancer from spreading to the lungs in mice.

• Is a natural liver detoxifier.

• It is a potent natural anti-inflammatory that works as well as many anti-inflammatory drugs but without the side effects.

• Is a natural painkiller and cox-2 inhibitor.

• Has long been used in Chinese medicine as a treatment for depression.

• Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, it is a natural treatment for arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

• Has been shown to stop the growth of new blood vessels in tumors.

• Speeds up wound healing and assists in remodeling of damaged skin.

Turmeric can be taken in powder or pill form. It is available in pill form in most health food stores, usually in 250-500mg capsules.

How to Use: Cooking Tips - Once you start using turmeric on a regular basis, it's fun to find new ways to use it in recipes. One of the favorite way to use it is to add a pinch of it to egg salad. It adds a nice flavor and gives the egg salad a rich yellow hue.

Contraindications: Turmeric should not be used by people with gallstones or bile obstruction. Though turmeric is often used by pregnant women, it is important to consult with a doctor before doing so as turmeric can be a uterine stimulant.

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