You probably use herbs as a tasty food flavoring for your favorite dishes. Yet many herbs also have medicinal purposes that come in handy for curing common ailments. Natural medicines are gaining broader recognition as effective treatments to try before grabbing over-the-counter solutions. Why not add the following top 10 herbs to your medicine cabinet as well as your kitchen?
1. Basil
Not only is basil a popular herb used in Italian cooking, but it can also help calm an upset stomach and relieve pressure from gas. Fresh basil leaves are a source of antibacterial essential oil, which gives this herb its distinctive aroma. Rubbing fresh basil leaves on insect bites and rashes helps take away the itch.
2. Chamomile
Many people enjoy a cup of chamomile tea before going to bed because its relaxing properties provide a remedy for insomnia. This same tea can also calm an upset stomach and is safe to give to children. Chamomile is perhaps the most common of all natural medicines.
3. Echinacea
Brew this herb into an immune-strengthening tea. If you begin drinking several cups a day at the first sign of a cold, some people claim that their symptoms disappear faster.
4. Fenugreek
The seeds of this plant aid in the treatment of diabetes, help lower blood sugar and have also been found effective in lowering levels of bad cholesterol. Using fenugreek seeds and leaves can help maintain a healthy metabolism, prevent constipation and purify your blood by flushing out toxins.
5. Ginkgo biloba
The leaves of a ginkgo biloba tree are said to offer numerous medicinal uses. They help improve age-related memory loss and aid in blood circulation. Other indications for the use of ginkgo biloba include a diagnosis of macular degeneration.
6. Ginseng
Ginseng makes the list of the top 10 herbs for your medicine cabinet because it has been used effectively for thousands of years. Few natural medicines offer as many benefits. Its use can aid mental stress and anxiety by helping the brain to produce more endorphins. It improves mental clarity, strengthens the immune system, reduces fatigue, lowers cholesterol and aids digestion.
7. Oregano
Because it contains 19 chemical compounds with antibacterial actions, oregano is a powerful natural antiseptic. Using it as a natural medicine can also soothe coughs, work as a digestive aid and lower blood pressure levels.
8. St. John's wort
German researchers have shown it to be an effective antidepressant when used correctly. However, care must be taken because St. John's wort should not be used simultaneously with prescription antidepressants and certain other drugs.
9. Turmeric
It is believed to be an effective anti-cancer herb because it contains curcumin. Clinically proven to have anti-inflammatory properties and benefits to aid rheumatoid arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome, turmeric is packed with antioxidants like vitamins A, C and E.
10. Valerian root
It might be a smelly herb, but this natural medicine taken before bedtime has sedative and antidepressant compounds that will help you get a good night's sleep.
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