Culinary Herbs for Medicinal Purposes

 Many of us have a few herbs growing in our gardens or in pots that we may use in our cooking.  When we think of herbs for medicinal uses, often the culinary ones aren’t considered but several of the common ones are well worth reaching for when it comes to herbal remedies.  Consider using some of these for herbal teas instead of buying some from the supermarket.  Most of us have at least some of these growing in our gardens.

Thyme (thymus spp)

Thyme

Thyme has antiseptic, antimicrobial and antibiotic properties.  It is also an expectorant and soothes coughs.

A strong infusion can be used as an inhalation for chest infections or sinusitis or a gargle for sore throats.  I make a cough syrup with thyme and rosehips, my kids love it and you don’t need to worry about measurements as too much isn’t going to hurt them.

Thyme and Rosehip Syrup

1/4 C fresh thyme

1/4 C rosehips

4 level tbsp honey

200ml water

Boil up thyme and rosehips in the water for 10 mins.

Strain, squeezing as much liquid as possible out of the herb.

Measure 100ml of the herbal liquid and add honey.

Heat gently to dissolve honey.

Bottle, label and store in fridge.

Sage

Sage (salvia officinalis)

Sage has astringent, antiseptic and antibiotic properties.  It also reduces perspiration, salivation, blood sugar levels, promotes bile flow and relaxes peripheral blood vessels.

An infusion is good to improve digestion and circulation.  It is also good for hot flushes in menopause.  A compress soaked in sage tea can be applied to wounds that are slow to heal.  It can be gargled for sore throats, tonsillitis, mouth ulcers and gum disease or rinsed through the hair for dandruff.

Mint (mentha spp)

Mint

Mint has antispasmodic, analgesic and anti-nausea properties.  It also relaxes peripheral blood vessels, promotes bile flow and is a digestive tonic.

Mint is mostly used for the digestive system and is described as wonderful for irritable bowel syndrome.  An infusion not only tastes great but is good for travel sickness, nausea, indigestion, flatulence, colic and migraine.  As an inhalation it can be used for a blocked or runny nose.

Mint can reduce breast milk flow, so nursing mothers should probably avoid it.

Parsley (petroselinum crispum)

Parsley has diuretic, expectorant and emmenagogue properties.  It is also high in essential vitamins and minerals.

An infusion will help rid your body of excess fluid, calm the digestive system, ease flatulence and stimulate menstruation.

Rosemary (rosmarinus officinalis)

Rosemary has astringent, nervine, antiseptic, diuretic and antidepressant properties.  It is also a digestive remedy, circulatory stimulant, promotes sweating and bile flow and works as a restorative tonic for the nervous system.

A hot tea is good for colds and flu, rheumatic pain, indigestion, fatigue and headaches or rinsed through the hair to combat dandruff.  In an oil infusion or cream it can be massaged into aching joints and muscles.

Rosemary is too stimulating for children with ADHD and should be avoided in those cases.

But Wait There’s More

All of these herbs are good for your chooks.  Mint is an insecticide and rodent repellent. Parsley is high in vitamins, a laying stimulant and aids in blood vessel development.  Rosemary is also an insecticide and is good for pain relief and respiratory health.  Sage is anti-parasitic and antioxidant.  Thyme is antibacterial, anti-parasitic, antioxidant and good for respiratory health.

Restrict the amount of parsley your hens have access to though as it can cause skin blisters and internal blisters.

What about your bigger beasties?  Mint reduces worms and parsley is a diuretic and tonic for your stock.

My sister has mint growing wild in the paddock where she keeps her cattle.  They make jokes about pre-seasoned meat and a friend of theirs swears that he can taste it when they feed him their beef.

Sources:

Canterbury College of Natural Medicine - course notes 2001.

Lifestyle Block Magazine - December 2012 issue.