H is for Herbs

I thought you would be interested in the benefits of including more herbs in your diet and the herbal remedy I use and recommend regularly.

First a few of the culinary herbs which are readily available and are not only healthful but add great flavour to our foods:

Basil is often used in tomato dishes, especially in Italian recipes. Roasted tomatoes with garlic and basil are a delicious way to add more basil to your diet. It is believed that Basil is a tonic and has a calming effect on the nervous system. It may also aid digestion.

Coriander used often in Indian cooking has pungent leaves and is useful in salads and sauces. In herbal medicine, Coriander is used as a stomach and heart tonic. Helpful in strengthening and fighting infection of the urinary tract.

Mint is easy to grow and adds a lovely flavour to all lamb dishes. I also add a few sprigs of mint when boiling potatoes. Mint is known to aid digestion and reduce stomach cramping. Mint tea is one of my favourites and you can easily make your own by just adding water to a good bunch of mint leaves.

Parsley always looks good on the windowsill and is the most widely used herb in the UK. It is also a nutritious garnish with a useful amount of Vitamin C and iron. Parsley sauce is a lovely accompaniment to steamed fish. My Mother made the best I have ever tasted!

The Chinese have used herbs for centuries and herbs are the precursor to many of today’s medicinal drugs.

The herbal remedy I always have at home is Arnica. The ointment is very soothing to muscles and reduces pain and swelling while encouraging healing. Do not use it on broken skin. Homeopathic arnica tablets Arnica Montana are good for trauma and acute muscle pain. Follow the instructions carefully.

Live with joy and health

Elizabeth Beetham