Herbs and spices adds flavors and colors in culinary preparations. But use of herbs not limited in making food and confectionery. These herbs and spices are useful in cosmetics, perfumes, beverages, coloring and in medicine preparations.
Alfalfa | A highly nutritive herb, good for the pituitary gland, it alkalizes the body rapidly and detoxifies the liver. Essential in rebuilding decayed teeth and helps with arthritic and rheumatic pain. |
Aloe Vera | Aloevera is all-around medication. Aloe is a tropical African plant that has been used medicinally since ancient times. |
Ashwagandha / Indian Ginseng | Ashwagandha is a revered herb in Ayurvedic medicine and is used as a tonic for people with chronic disease for over 4,000 years. It is used as a brain tonic and a tonic for fatigue and anxiety in Ayurvedic system. |
Asparagus | Asparagus is a liver tonic, and promotes elimination through the urine. Asparagus is rich source of silicon (beauty mineral). |
Basil | Indian holy basil is the sacred plant of Krishna, this herb is said to open the heart and mind, best owing the energy of love and devotion. Basil has a strengthening effect on the kidneys. |
Betel Leaf | Throughout India, it is customary to offer a paan leaf quid (beeda) at the end of the meal as a breath freshener and an aid to digestion. |
Black Cohosh | Recent interest in black cohosh as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has led to a dramatic increase in its popularity, especially as a treatment for menopausal symptoms. |
Coffee | Different types of coffee are preferred in various parts of the world. Arabica coffee is produced mostly in South and Central America, particularly Brazil, Colombia, Mexico and Guatemala, while robusta coffee is produced mainly by African countries such as the Ivory Coast, Uganda, Angola and so forth. |
Dill | Dill is aromatic, somewhat like caraway is, but much milder and sweeter. The taste of dill resembles fennel in some ways, but is slightly more pungent and aggressive in flavor. |
Dong Quai | Dong Quai has been used in Chinese, Korean, and Japanese traditional medicine as well as in cooking for millennia. Dong quai is one of the most widely prescribed herbs in Chinese medicine and is used typically in combination with other herbs, primarily to treat health problems in women. Also known as Female Ginseng or Chinese Angelica. |
Echinacea | Echinacea works by increasing macrophage T-cell activity, thereby increasing the body’s first line of defense against colds, flues, and many other illnesses. |
Garlic | Garlic is one of mankind’s oldest medicinal herbs. Garlic has been used since ancient times as a remedy for colds, chest infections, and digestive upsets, including amoebic dysentery; today we know it is strongly antibacterial and anti-fungal, thus active against a wide spectrum of infections. |
Ginger Root | Ginger originated in tropical Asia and spread to Europe in ancient times; it is mentioned by the Romans, listed in some of the earliest Chinese herbals, regarded in Ayurvedic medicine as a universal medicine. |
Goldenseal | A potent herbal medicine, goldenseal merits its reputation as a remedy that shifts chronic infection and heals weakened and congested mucous membranes. Its key use lies in the treatment of chronic bacterial, fungal, or viral infection affecting mucous membranes anywhere in the body. |
Green Tea | Most of the tea drunk in the world is black tea made by fermenting the leaves, while green tea is made from leaves that have been pan-fried and then dried. Oolong tea is a partly fermented variation. |
Hops | Hops are mostly cultivated in the United States, West Germany and Yugoslavia for brewing beer. The bitter taste of beer is derived mostly from the humulone present in hops. |
Lemongrass | Lemongrass is a tall, aromatic grass. It is used as a flavoring in Thai cuisine and has been used in traditional Indian medicine for centuries. It is commonly used in teas, soups, and curries. |
Licorice Root / Liquorice / Mulethi | Licorice is one of most widely researched and respected medicinal herbs. In traditional Chinese herbalism it is called the “great detoxifier” or “great harmonizer” and is believed to drive toxins and poisons from the system and eliminate the harmful side effects of other herbs. |
Marjoram | Marjoram is effective for the treatment of nervous disorders. Also good for the digestion. There are 2 verities are marjoram – wild and sweet. |
Mint Leaves | There are thought to be around 30 different species of mint, but peppermint is the variety most widely used in herbal medicine. Peppermint is the aromatic plant and ranks near the top of the world’s favorite flavorings. |
Oregano | It is a powerful anti fungal herb. Oregano, used extensively in Italian cooking, is also right for remedying ailments of the upper respiratory system. |
Sage | Delightfully fragrant, sage can fight bacteria, reduce perspiration and helpful remedy for body odor. Sage tea makes an excellent gargle for ulcerated throat or mouth. |
Sarpagandha / Indian snakeroot | Sarpagandhaa of Ayurvedic texts was not the Sarpagandhaa of modern medicine. In classical Ayurvedic texts, Nakuli and Gandha-naakuli were included in compound formulations for mental diseases. |
St. Johns Wort | St. John’s wort has a rich and colorful history. The sunny yellow flowers of St. John’s wort harbor a strange secret. Bruise the delicate petals and they seem to bleed. |
Stevia | A small shrub whose green leaves are exceedingly sweet – 50 times sweeter than sugar. Stevia is diabetic-safe and more healthful natural sweetener that has zero calories and is multiple times sweeter than table sugar. |
Tea | Tea is cultivated mainly in India, Sri Lanka, and China. Tea leaves are picked throughout the year. When tea was first introduced into Europe in the 17th century it was regarded not as an everyday drink, but as a medicinal herb. |
Thyme | This is the best herb we have for stimulating the thymus, a major gland of the immune system. Thyme works on just about any respiratory infection, viral or bacterial. |
Valerian / Jatamansi | Jatamansi is a nerve tonic. It is used for epileptic fits and St. Vitus dance, nervous derangement or irritations. Excellent for children with measles and scarlet fever. |
Wheatgrass | Wheat-grass has a very strong taste, and some people feel nauseated the first time they try it. You might want to start with just an ounce of wheatgrass juice in six ounces of water, then increase the proportion of juice in subsequent tastings. |
Witch Hazel | In the market you will find this herb in forms such as Witch Hazel astringent, extract oil, cream, toner, pads, disinfectant wash, tincture and liniment. But witch hazel benefits are not limited to this. |