Nutmeg
Nutmeg, better used grated.
An herb with a strong aroma, strong enough to soothe a headache. It stimulates digestion; relieves gas and nausea. One-half Nutmeg crushed and steeped in one cup of hot water, sweetened with honey, alleviates insomnia. Nutmeg makes great addition to baked foods, enhances the flavor of dairy foods and fruit. Try it grated over applesauce for a dessert treat, and over compotes and minced meats.
Oregano
Believe it or not, this is the best known culinary herb. I voted for Garlic myself! It is considered Marjoram’s rugged twin! Oregano aids digestion and is soothing to the stomach. It is good for nervousness, coughs, headaches, and to promote menstruation. As a tonic, and stimulant, a tea will promote perspiration. A historical toothache remedy (oil in cotton on tooth), its poultice also soothes painful swellings, and flower infusion calms seasickness. A constant in tomato sauces, pizza, soups, and poultry. It enhances cheese and egg combinations, as well as marinated vegetables and roasted bell pepper.
Parsley
Known as “the vitamin and mineral store”, Parsley boasts more vitamin C per volume than an orange. It helps
Fresh or dried, Parsley is tasty.
prevent illness; is a good diuretic; tea of the leaves or seeds is excellent for kidneys, gallstones, diabetes, jaundice, difficult urination, and painful menstruation. Has tendency to inflame kidneys, though. It is good to dry up breast milk. No Italian food for you pregnant folks! Fresh Parsley helps eliminate food odors. It is helpful for circulatory problems in combination with Capsicum and Garlic. It is excellent salads, salad dressings, sauces, cheese, dips, stuffing, spreads, fish and meat. Try Parsley capsules here.
Rosemary
Rosemary tea makes good dandruff rinse.
Rosemary is a gentle, but strong stimulant that is good for colds, colic, and high blood pressure. It is very effective to soothe nerves; in the treatment of depression, headaches, muscle spasms, and to promote menstruation. Small wonder why women are named after this herb! It is a strong stimulant on the circulatory system and the pelvic regions. It is revered by the Greeks as a brain stimulant and memory booster. Hence, its alias “Old Man”. Great for hair and skin, sores, eczema, bruises, insomnia, stings, dandruff, and baldness. The woman who uses Rosemary oil for her hair is not only smart, but has beautiful parasite free hair! Great gargle for sore throat; tea makes a nice hair rinse. A pleasing addition to rice and soups.
Sage
A mirror image to Rosemary, I consider it a male version of Rosemary! It is considered a memory strengthener and promoter of wisdom, thus indicated for longevity and restoring failing memories of the elderly. Thus, the saying “As wise as Sage”. Sage has the ability to inhibit body fluid secretions such as perspiration (tea, effective two hours after consumption), diarrhea, night sweats, menopausal hot flashes, bleeding, dysmenorrhea, and breast milk (one cup before meals). Also used to quiet nerves, relieve spasms, and expel worms from children and adults. A tea or infusion makes excellent dandruff rinse, and to restore hair color. Graying men, take note! Tea makes an excellent sore throat gargle. Great in small doses over an extended period. Which is where supplementation comes in. Use sparingly with potatoes, beans, or poultry.
Where "savory meals" begin.
Savory
A strong aromatic of the mint family, Savory tea can be used for occasional diarrhea, mild sore throats, and stomach disorders. It is used by diabetics to slake excessive thirst. Two to four tablespoons of the dried herb steeped in one cup of water makes a medicinal infusion. It is great with beans and other legumes, salads, potatoes, and sauces. It gives cuisines such a pleasant taste and smell that the phrase “a savory meal” came from this herb.
Tarragon
Tarragon, herb of mystic
A mysterious herb with similar characteristics to Anise. Often associated with fish and vinegar, it helps indigestion, catarrh, and insomnia. Chew a leaf of Tarragon and it may numb your tongue. An indication of its anesthetic property that makes it useful for toothaches. It possesses some antifungal properties, suiting for eczema and scurvy, and is used to stimulate appetite, relieve, flatulence, and colic, and also to treat rheumatism. It is used in condiments, liqueurs, perfumes, soaps, and cosmetics. A total hit with fish, beef, pork, poultry, and vegetables. Its flavor is enhanced when frozen fresh or stored in vinegar.
Thyme has a subtle, yet distinctive flavor.
Thyme
A very powerful herb for the respiratory system. Its oil (thymol) controls fungal infections in the likes of athlete’s foot as well as skin parasites such as scabies, lice, crabs, warts, and boils. Tea makes a good gargle for sore throats; the Greeks used it for nervous conditions because of its antispasmodic properties. It is good for asthma, whooping cough, hysteria, flatulence, colic, headache, bronchitis, and promotes menstruation. These benefits can be obtained from herbal combinations with Thyme in capsule form also. A cocktail of beer and thyme was considered an antidote for shyness. So much for medicating social anxiety disorders! A tasty addition to butters, sandwiches, salads, and soups.