Ever wonder what the difference is between a spice and an herb? I mean, they’re both plants, right? Apparently, to confuse things a plant can be considered to be both, but what makes the final determination is how the plant is ultimately used.
According to Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, a spice is “any of various aromatic vegetable products (as pepper or nutmeg) used to season or flavor foods.” An herb is “a plant or plant part valued for its medicinal, savory or aromatic qualities.”
But as I mentioned, there’s a lot of plants that fit into both categories. For example, my alternative med doctors have me adding ginger and turmeric to all of my recipes because of their anti-inflammatory properties. And did you know that cinnamon powder is used to treat nausea and diarrhea. I also use peppermint tea for calming an upset stomach. Plus, caraway, fennel, dill and coriander can help improve digestion and relieve gas after meals.
Before there were big pharmaceutical companies, people relied on medicine men, apothecaries, midwives, and similar. These sorts learned the healing secrets that nature had to offer. Remember, sometimes the simplest solutions are the best for us. Look how long mankind survived without chemicals to enslave us. Someone once told me that she thought it was all of my doctors who were making me sick and sometimes I’m inclined to agree.
What herbal remedies have you tried and found success with?
Source: Herbs for Health, October 2007
Recommended Reading: Complementary & Alternative Medicine, Functional Foods
Comments on this entry are closed.