The Kitchen Pharmacy

The Hidden Powers of the Common Kitchen Herb

Aug 13, 2009 Andrea Seren Charrington-Greene

More people are turning to natural remedies to cure their ailments, but very few of us consider the potent powers of the common kitchen herb that lurks in our pantry.

When people think of herbs and spices, they often think of the herbs and spices they typically use for cooking. But when considering taking herbs for medicinal purposes, they often reach for the exotic herbs and supplements that they find at the health food store.

While finding herbs at the health food store is perfectly acceptable, they can be expensive. Using kitchen herbs for medicine is both highly accessible and affordable. Some of the best remedies come from our own kitchens and there is something immensely satisfying about making your own remedies from simple ingredients.

Making effective herbal remedies to cure common ailments is relatively simple and with the help of the recipes featured here you’ll be well on your way to creating your very own kitchen pharmacy. Here is a list of the top five kitchen herbs that you can use in your food. Keep in mind that this is an overview. Each herb that is found in your medicine cabinet has a rich and varied history of use. This is only meant to be an introduction.

You can either use these kitchen herbs in cooking as usual or make a tea by steeping one teaspoon of the dried herb and one tablespoon of the fresh herb in one cup of boiling water. Strain and either drink it or use it topically as indicated below.

Parsley

Parsley, both fresh and dried, is a great overall vitamin and mineral booster in the diet. It is particularly high in Vitamin C. It is also great for the urinary tract and is a fairly potent diuretic. Parsley is also a cure for bad breath. Bringing a pint of water and a handful of fresh parsley to the boil in a saucepan can make a refreshing summer drink. Once at boiling point do not simmer simply strain and cool. Just the thing to revitalise you on a hot day.

Rosemary

Rosemary is also a great addition to the diet. High in antioxidants it is beneficial in the fight against free radicals. Traditional medicine indicates that it is a good herb to help boost energy and memory, and is also indicated for low blood pressure. When applying the tea or oil externally, it is helpful for muscle soreness and stiffness.

Sage

This is a good herb for sore throats. To make a sore throat gargle, steep two teaspoons of the herb with one cup of boiling water for ten minutes. Strain the herb and gargle. Or, instead of gargling, you can add honey and sip for a nourishing, soothing sore throat remedy.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is a great antimicrobial meaning it can help kill harmful germs. It is also beneficial to help regulate blood sugar. Just sprinkle a total of ¼ tsp. a day on your food or in your coffee or tea to reap the blood sugar stabilising benefits.

Cayenne

Cayenne pepper is also beneficial in the fight against germs. You can also sprinkle the powdered herb in your shoes and gloves during cold weather to help keep your hands warm. Known as a styptic, you can sprinkle some cayenne on a bleeding cut to help stop the flow of blood.

So the next time you are browsing through your collection of culinary herbs and spices bear in mind that the humble kitchen herb can offer you so much more thana boost to the flavour of your roast lamb or the spicy kick in your Cajun sauce.

The copyright of the article The Kitchen Pharmacy in Natural Medicine is owned by Andrea Seren Charrington-Greene. Permission to republish The Kitchen Pharmacy in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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