4 Common Medicinal Herbs and Plants for Healing and Cooking

See the top 4 herbs and plants for healing and cooking. These healing herbs for your health have anti-inflammatory properties, relief from digestive ailments and immunity boosting properties. Healing herbs existed long before modern medicine and were easily found in fields and on mountain tops.

Culinary herbs have also been widely used across numerous cultures to help preserve foods, enhance their flavor and infuse them for fragrances.

Herbs such as rosemary, sage, basil and thyme, among others, offer a range of health benefits Have a look at the top 4 cooking and healing herbs for your health below and the uses for each herb.

Medicinal Herbs and Plants: Rosemary

This healing herb and culinary herb is used widely in European and Mediterranean Cooking. Rosemary has needle-shaped leaves that have a lovely fragrance and a pungent flavor. 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.

Medicinal Uses for Rosemary: 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.

Medicinal Herbs and Plants: Sage

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.

Medicinal Uses for Sage: 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 Behavior Journal (June 2003), also lists the attributes of sage a a memory enhancing agent.

Medicinal Herbs and Plants: Thyme

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.

Medicinal Uses for Thyme: 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 antioxidant properties.

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

Medicinal Herbs and Plants: Basil

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.

Medicinal Uses for Basil: Basil is a good source of vitamin A, especially carotenoids such as beta-carotene. Therefore, it has potent antioxidant properties that can prove helpful in preventing free radical damage, which is known to trigger conditions such as arteriosclerosis, asthma, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Basil is a medicinal herb that 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.

More Herbal Resources for You:

Benefits of Dandelion

Stinging Nettles

How to Grow Herbs

Growing Herbs Indoor

Growing Herbs as Companion Plants

Herbal Tea Recipes

Catmint

And if you are looking to plant your own herbs and would like some growing kits, visit our Online Country Store for more details. You will also find health products and herbs to buy through our Naturally Organic section.

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