My Guide will assist you in the Fine Art of Natures Healing Properties

Herbs and Spices

Learn to eat well and live healthfully with a collection of natures remedies.

Basil - is recommended as an antispasmodic.  It is often used to treat intestinal problems, motion sickness, nausea. It is also helpful in treating carious respiratory illnesses. Use fresh seeds from a basil plant, let the seeds soak in water for a few minutes before drinking.

Borage - Stimulates the production of adrenaline, which prepares the body to deal with stress, brighten your mood.  Rich in a polyunsaturated fatty acid, borage-seed oil is used to address metabolic problems from obesity to premenstrual complaints.  Borage also promotes lactation, helps break a fever by inducing a sweat and breaks up phlegm while easing sore throats and coughs.  Mix equal parts of fresh borage leaves and echinacea root.  Brew in hot water, steep for 10 minutes and sweeten with honey. 

Caraway - Every part of caraway from its roots to its feathery leaves are edible.  The seeds and oil are often prescribed for medicinal purposes.  Caraway seeds help promote digestion, relieve intestinal cramps and pain.  When the seeds are steam distilled, they produce a volatile oil that possess notable anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antifungal properties. This is mildly spicy and fragrant.

Cardamom - makes food more digestible.  It is great for treating gastrointestinal problems, lack of appetite and indigestion.  Cardamom serves to boost the metabolism, which can help in dealing with obesity.  Cardamom also helps to combat respiratory inflammations and urinary tract and yeast infections.

Chervil - Chervil tea stimulates the appetite, acts as a mild diuretic and is warming,It is a grat herb for reawakening the senses wan weakness that often come with old age, memory loss, fatigue, womens troubles.

Chives - Chives and chive flowers are high in Vitamin C, folic acid and potassium.  therefore when added to recipes it helps to restore vital nutrients that are lost in cooking.  Chives protect against heart disease and stroke and ease stomach distress. Chives aid the body's ability to digest fat.

Cinnamon - is widely used and recommended for many ailments from enhancing digestion to relieving nausea, bloating, appetite loss, gas and colic. Cinnamon helps to stimulate the kidney's natural system of getting rid of body toxins, which in turn is also beneficial to your skin.

Clove - Clove tea is used for nausea, indigestion, intestinal distress. The clove oil is also an antiseptic that can help destroy viruses and fungal infections.  Clove oil also acts as an anesthetic.

Dill - Is widely used intestinal problems, mild insomnia, nervous ailments, heartburn.  Is is prescribed often for diseases of the liver and gallbladder.  It is used regularly with children who have gastric problems, due to it being such a mild herb.  A tea made with Dill is also a remedy for Hiccups.

Garlic - Garlic has veen valued for its healing properties and its ability to increase the body's strength and energy. Garlic is thought to prevent heart disease, stroke, and hypertension, in addition its essential oils and other components have strong antibiotic, antifungal and antiviral properties.  Fresh Garlic mixed with Honey is an effective home remedy for colds, hoarseness and inflammation of the throat.

Ginger - is used to stimulate appetite and aid digestion, support the immune system and help reduce inflammatory disorders, such as arthritis.  Ginger works as a circulatory stimulant both internally and externally.  Ginger is known to suppress nausea, which makes it quite effective for motion sickness.

Licorice - "Great Detoxifier" it is a valued tonic for common stomach ailments, it soothes gastric mucous membranes.  It stimulates the cortex to produce cortisone and regulate salt and water balance. it helps to regulate blood-sugar levels, lowers blood cholesterol and helps to balance the female reproductive system.  The anti-inflammatory action of the root helps relieve arthritis and allergic response.  The dried root may be chewed like candy to ease spastic coughs.  Licorice root also has a mild laxative and diuretic effects.

Mustard - There are a number of mustard species, but black mustard has the greatest medicinal value.  The spice is a member of the cruciferous family which includes, broccoli, cabbage and horseradish.  Black mustard taken internally aides as a digestive stimulant, diuretic and mild laxative.  Applied externally, mustard improves circulation and relieves sprains, joint pain, congestion and coughs. Mustard oils, released when the seeds are chewed, spur the flow of digestive juices and boost fat metabolism.

Nutmeg - Helps to lower blood pressure and soothes digestive upset.  Mixed with a neutral oil and used in massage, it eases joint pain and inflammation. Nutmeg oil strengthens the heart and circulation.

Onion - Research shows that onions raise the HDL cholesterol, which helps clear the arteries of fatty deposits, protect blood vessels and reduces risk of heart attacks.  Red and yellow onions are the richest source of quercetin, a potent antioxidant, which is linked to reducing the risk of stomach cancer. Onions also contain a plant hormone similar to insulin, which helps to reduce high blood-sugar levels.  Fresh onions when applied externally treat insect bites, warts, abscesses and burns.

Oregano - As a tea it is a remedy for coughs and asthma.  Recent research confirms oregano's use as an antibacterial and antifungal treatment for all manner of respiratory ailments. Oregano is also effective in promoting menstruation, stimulating the appetite and alleviating tooth pain.

Parsley - today parsley is still used primarily as a diuretic, in addition it strengthens the digestive system and helps alleviate stomach and liver problems.  Parsley leaves are a great source of vitamins and iron, which is important for the proper formation of red blood cells, potassium and vitamin C.

Peppermint Syrup - the oil in peppermint is a stomach soother and gas reducer, making it very useful in cases of indigestion. As a Tea in it useful in treating nausea and menstrual cramps.  It can be used as an antiseptic, antifungal and anesthetic.  As a compress it can relieve minor skin rashes.It is truly a wonderful medicinal plant. However, extreme caution should be used when around children.  The menthol can be highly toxic even fatal to infants.

Sage - Today, Sage remains a valuable remedy for many ailments: diarrhea, canker sores, sore throats, inflamed gums, coughs, gas, and cramps.  Sage also ranks as a natural antiperspirant.

Saffron - Medical study suggests that it reduces the rate of heart disease.  Rubbing a salve made from saffron into achy joints is an old folk remedy for gout.

Sweet Woodruff - It is beneficial to both the heart and liver.  Safe for consumption in small amounts.

Tarragon - Long ago it was used as an antidote for poisonous snakebite.  It has a numbing effect, which is great for toothaches. It fights fatigue and clams the nerves.  Used as a substitute for salt, it can help people with high blood pressure.

Thyme - Thyme is known as an antispasmodic.  Beneficial for bronchitis and whooping cough.  Thymol is a powerful germicide.  Apply as a compress  for bee stings, insect bites, joint pain and athlete's foot.

Turmeric - Chinese Medicine for centuries have used Turmeric as a treatment for liver, kidney, gallbladder ailments.  Other valuable medicinal uses for the spice have also been established: It has anti-inflammatory effects, increases efficient insulin use, fights fungal infections, soothes digestive upsets.  It has shown to lower cholesterol and inhibit blood clotting, which indicates that turmeric may help prevent heart attacks and strokes.

Watercress - It is the multivitamin, iron and iodine content that makes watercress such an effective remedy for viral infections, indigestion, high blood sugar and coughs.