Used widely in European and Mediterranean Cooking, rosemary has needle-shaped leaves that have a lovely fragrance and a pungent flavour. The botanical names of the herb Rosmarinus Officinalis is derived from the Latin word for 'dew of the sea', on account of its pretty pale blue flowers as well as the fact that it grows along the coast.

Uses for herbs: Traditionally, rosemary has been used as a muscle relaxant. In fact, it is said to soothe the muscles of the uterus and digestive tract. It also has an antiseptic value. Due to the presence of rosmarinic acid, rosemary has antioxidant properties too.

Studies by the University of Illinois have found that rosemary greatly reduces the incidence of breast cancer in animals at high risk for developing the disease.

Ancient Greeks and Romans treasured sage for its many healing properties. Arab physicians in the 10 th century believed that it bestowed immortality. Its reputation for being blessed with ample medicinal properties is reflected in the fact that its botanical name, Salvia Officinalis is derived from the Latin word, slavere, which means to be saved.

Uses for herbs: Sage also contains rosmarinic acid, just as rosemary does. In addition to being an antioxidant, rosmarinic acid also has anti-inflammatory properties, which is why it is prescribed to people with rheumatoid arthritis and bronchial asthma.

Published research in the Pharmacological Biochemical Behaviour Journal (June 2003), also lists the attributes of sage a a memory enhancing agent.

Known for its strong fragrance, thyme has been used in folk medicine to treat chest and respiratory disorders. Ancient Egyptians have also used it during their mummification process.

Uses for herbs: The volatile oil components of thyme, such as carvacolo, borneol, geraniol and thymol, give the herb its powerful medicinal attributes. These components have been found to inhibit bacterial activity. Thyme contains a number of flavonoids including apigenin and narigenin, which give it powerful anti-oxidant properties.

Thyme is also very high in iron and manganese, calcium and dietary fibre.

Basil gets its name from the old Greek word basilikohn, which means 'royal'. True to its name, the herb has been the object of reverence in cultures such as India and Greece because of its medicinal and mythical qualities.

Uses for herbs: Basil is a good source of vitamin A, especially carotenoids such as beta-carotene. Therefore, it has potent anti-oxidant properties that can prove helpful in preventing free radical damage, which is known to trigger conditions such as arteriosclerosis, asthma, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. The herb is also rich in iron, calcium, potassium, vitamin C and magnesium. Basil also has anti-inflammatory properties due to the presence of eugenol which inhibits an enzyme called cyclooxygenase(COX), which many over-the-counter inflammatory medications also do.