From fever to Alzheimers, and from heart diseases to cancer, herbs are known to heal, and have made our lives so much easier. They have existed even before the coming of modern medicine, and have always been regarded as an effective healing catalyst. The health benefits of herbs are far beyond what we already know about them. It doesn’t come out as a surprise when we learn that the herbs and spices that we use today are the same as the ones used during ancient times.
So, without further introduction, let’s move on to the top 10 herbs and their health benefits:
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Turmeric
Turmeric is one of the most popular, and powerful, herbs, and is widely used for cooking as well as for health remedies. It contains Circumin which has powerful antioxidant and antibacterial benefits. It also possesses anti-inflammatory ability which is known to reduce stress in people diagnosed with arthritis.
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Ginger
Ginger is one of the oldest herbs we have. It was also one of the main herbs that paved the way for herbs and spices trade all over the world. For us, ginger is a part of our day-to-day lives, and is used as an effective alternative medicine. Ginger has a long list of health benefits, and some of them are listed below:
- Reduces muscle pain
- Treats a variety of digestive issues
- Contains antioxidants that builds immunity and helps fight infections
- Known to reduce the effects of diabetes and may guard the body from certain types of cancer
- Lowers blood sugar level and prevents the risk of heart diseases
- May lower cholesterol levels
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Cumin
Cumin is a cooking spice mainly used for its aroma. But, recent studies reveal that it has a myriad of health benefits. A well-known benefit of cumin is that it assists in digestion. Along with this:
- It has high antioxidant properties and improves the general immunity of our body
- Widely used in the treatment of respiratory disorder, skin diseases, bronchitis, asthma, and insomnia
- Regulates postprandial blood sugar levels
- Helps in weight loss, reducing stress, and lowering cholesterol levels
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Peppermint
Peppermint is an aromatic plant that is used for flavoring purposes. It is popular for its cooling effects and antibacterial properties. Some of its benefits are:
- Works well against indigestion
- Known to alleviate skin diseases
- Functions as a bronchodilator thus increasing airflow to the lungs
- Effectively fights nausea and vomiting during pregnancy periods
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Echinacea
Echinacea (coneflowers) is a powerful herb that is best applied for boosting the immune system. Its leaf, flowers, and seeds are widely used as medicines, and are considered as an effective cure in fighting viral diseases. Though it has managed to bring down cold and viral infections among the users, it still requires further research to prove its relevance as a powerful herb supplement.
They are known to fight some viruses such as:
- Upper respiratory problems/infections
- Common cold
- Influenza
- Bronchitis
- Ear infections
- Yeast infections
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Cinnamon
You might know Cinnamon as a tasty spice used for baking purposes, and in many other recipes. But did you know that it had medicinal values, too? This herb contains cinnamaldehyde that is antioxidant and anti-inflammatory in nature. Some of its health benefits are:
- Lowers blood sugar level
- May lower the risk of heart diseases
- Fights bacterial and fungal infections
- May improve gut health
- Is effectively anti-diabetic
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Sage
Sage has been a popular herb since the middle ages, and was an active healer during the age of Plague. It was traditionally used as a great remedy for ulcers and sores, snakebites, bleeding wounds, and boosting female fertility. Studies today have found more medicinal aspects of this herb, and some of them are listed below:
- Used to cure memory less
- Fight cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer and Dementia
- Builds up the immune system
- Favors digestion
- Cures skin diseases
- Improves cognitive function and may reduce agitation
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Fenugreek
This ayurvedic herb is commonly used for cooking and is popularly considered as a masculinity and libido enhancer. Though there is not enough evidence to prove its medicinal aspects, Fenugreek has been used to cure various health conditions. Some of its benefits are:
- Reduces blood pressure
- Alleviate the risks of diabetes
- Fends off digestion issues and increases appetite
- Stimulates breast milk production
- Reduces menstrual cramps
- Boosts sperm count
- Can help with heartburn
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Garlic
This one here needs no introduction as it’s used in almost all the cuisines around the world. It is known to increase production and strength, and is low in calories. It is antifungal, antibacterial, and antiviral in nature, and improves the overall immunity of our body. Some of the popular health benefits of garlic are:
- It is an effective detoxifier
- Actively fights off infections
- Takes care of skin infections caused by bacteria, virus, fungus, and yeast
- Cures cough and cold
- May prevent the risks of cancer
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Rosemary
Rosemary is a fragrant herb which provides natural taste, and adds aroma to many foods. It belongs to the mint family, and apart from its culinary aspects, it is packed with iron, calcium, and vitamins. It is also known to increase immunity, improve memory, and promote hair growth. Some of the other health benefits of Rosemary are:
- Rich in antioxidants and contains anti-inflammatory properties.
- Supplies neurological protection
- Promotes brain health
- Improves gut health
- Prevents skin cell damage
- Elates the overall mood and clears the mind
