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     First off, sorry for the title. Now that I think of it, it might have also been the title of a 70’s porn film, but that is not what we are going to talk about today. We all know that herbs have many uses for health, spells, food, etc. Humans have been using herbs for thousands of years. Today, I am just going to mention a few herbs that you can use for your health just by using one or more in ingredient for your home cooking.

     I will admit, in my youth I was never really fond of home cooking due to the time and effort that it took. Of course at that time, I also felt that that time could have been spent doing something else and just to pick up something quick and easy. Of course with that kind of attitude, I never really did take the time to learn how to cook. That pretty much all changed when my wife had to start nursing school and trying to cook diner and study for school would be too much stress for her, so naturally I had to step up and learning something that I didn’t want to do. And yes I did step away from what most of us males think that qualifies as cooking, AKA microwave meals, to actually cooking a meal with herbs and spices and all the fixings. Before having to learn how to cook, I did know the properties and uses of herbs, but I would mostly infuse them in a liquid and down the liquid. Sometimes it wasn’t bad sometimes it was absolutely terrible; however it still did what I needed it to do. After learning how to really cook, I found a more settle way of incorporating those herbs into every day meals which always had tasted great and not as harsh as some of the liquid drinks were.

     Granted, I’m still not a big fan of cooking, but I would rather cook a meal than go out and eat a meal from a restaurant, especially fast food. Besides knowing what goes in it, you can also add a few herbs to help with or prevent certain ailments. Below is a list of common herbs that can be used in everyday cooking.

• Cloves – Inhibits oxidation of Low-density lipoprotein Cholesterol, and early step in atherosclerosis.
• Cinnamon – Helps protect against inflammation, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s. It has also been said that it can aid in diabetes control by increasing the insulin activity.
• Allspice – Has been said to help decrease proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells due to the Ellagic acid antioxidant it contains.
• Saffron – Loaded with carotenoids ( natural fat-soluble pigments ), which possess anticancer activity and aid immune function. Also protects blood fats against oxidation, a step in the development of cardiovascular disease.
• Fennel – Stimulates bile acid production in the liver, giving it a major role in fat digestion and absorption. It has also been said that it is used to reduce inflammation and retard cancer.
• Oregano – Contains Rosmarinic acid which can kill bacteria in the food, it can also be used as an herbal antiseptic.
• Cumin - Help reserves metabolic abnormalities in diabetes, can also stimulate bile acid production and its secretion into bile.
• Garlic – Contains pungent sulfur compounds that promote health by producing beneficial effects on lipid metabolism and reduction of cholesterol levels. May also reduce blood pressure and retard cancer growth. Can also keep people at a distance if taken in high quantities, that is a plus or minus depending on the person.  ;)
• Mustard – Aids in inhibiting growth of cancer cells, especially in the gastrointestinal tract.
• Rosemary – May shield the brain from free-radical damage, lowers the risk of stroke and neurodegenerative disease. It can also help improve memory.
• Mint – Stimulates bile acid production in the liver and its secretion into bile. Chewing the leaf alone can help with nausea.
• Curry – Curry contains turmeric which is said to help anti-aging effects on the brain, anti-inflammatory effects, slows the spread of breast cancer and my also prevent strokes.
• Basil – helps with blood clots.
• Ginger – helps reduced the viability of gastric cancer cells.
• Red Peppers – Stimulates bile acid and may aid in weight loss by boosting metabolism.
• Black Peppers – Increases absorption of selenium, vitamin B, beta-carotene, and other nutrients.

     A little bit of these herbs in your daily meals can go a long way. Granted I do advise that you cook a meal that is meant to have the ingredient in it. Putting something like cinnamon on a cheese burger will not be pleasant. So be smart about it and look up a recipe that has the ingredient in it if you do not already have one.

Remember life isn’t full of 1 answer fixes all, normal medical help plus anything else can go a long way. And I hope this might help or ease those that are struggling.

May the Winds be with you,
Chronos

Rosmarinic acid - C18H16O8, is a natural polyphenol antioxidant carboxylic acid found in many Lamiaceae herbs used commonly as culinary herbs such as rosemary, oregano, sage, thyme and peppermint.[1] Chemically, rosmarinic acid is a dimer of caffeic acid. It is a red-orange powder that is slightly soluble in water, but well soluble is most organic solvents

Selenium - Chemical symbol Se. In humans, selenium is a trace element nutrient which functions as cofactor for reduction of antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione peroxidases and certain forms of thioredoxin reductase found in animals and some plants (this enzyme occurs in all living organisms, but not all forms of it in plants require selenium).

Ellagic acid - is a polyphenol antioxidant found in numerous fruits and vegetables including raspberries, strawberries, cranberries, walnuts, pecans, pomegranates and other plant foods. The antiproliferative and antioxidant properties of ellagic acid have spurred preliminary research into the potential health benefits of ellagic acid consumption.

Sources:
Jeff Stone - Psychology Today
A. J. Drew - A Wiccan Formulary And Herbal
Marilyn F. Daniel - Kitchen Witchery: A Compendium of Oils, Unguents, Incense, Tinctures, and Comestibles
Scott Cunningham - Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs
Wikipedia