Herbs for Your Health

​We may or may not realize it, but most of us eat herbs all the time. That’s because they make our foods taste so yummy! Have you ever eaten spaghetti or pizza? Herbs give it that special flavor. Plus, they add great nutritive content, and that’s important both to maintaining and building health.
 
Most of us are so unselfish, that we are more concerned about our kids and other loved ones. But we must also be concerned with ourselves! If we let our own health slip, what good are we to others?!
 
Many people want to grow their own herbs. I would personally be in favor of that. In fact, they’re easily grown on a patio, in small pots, or in the ground directly.
 
I love their color, their scent, and well, they’re just beautiful to look at. They look just as good as outside plants as they do inside our homes. Try mint and lavender and basil – they smell so good, and they look so good.
 
Think about this – growing your own herbs has the added benefit of being able to add it to your cooking, and at a very low cost since you grew it yourself. They add flavor, but also have so many medicinal properties, for your body and mind.
 
You can drink herbs as teas, or you can take them as a tincture. (You can even make your own tinctures if you want.) Do you like peppermint or spearmint? These are herbs! I even grew chocolate mint one year – it grew prolifically and really tasted like chocolate. Plus, you can dry your own herbs and store them for a good long while, like in winter.
 
Growing herbs indoors has been shown to help your moods, clean the air (improve air quality in your home), and can lighten your stress load. If you feel a spiritual connection to nature, think of growing herbs as part of that connection … because it certainly is!
 
Herbs have such great healing power, too. Ginseng helps to boost energy plus it can stimulate brain function. Sage is known to enhance cognition in adults. (That’s thinking better, and who couldn’t use a boost there now and again?!) Bacopa has been shown to treat anxiety, insomnia, and memory issues. And green tea has been around for centuries. One of its main components is an antioxidant, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which has been shown scientifically to be able to help protect the heart.
 
Other herbs are good for colds and perhaps other viruses, and some even for sexual dysfunction. Elderberry has been used for a very long time to treat headaches, nerve pain, colds, and other viral infections.
 
While I could go on and on, it’s clear that herbs have a very useful purpose in life and in my opinion, we should make good use of what nature has to offer, most especially when it’s so tasteful and beautiful. Remember to surf the web for the many, many recipes to be found using herbs – all at no cost to you.

For a delicious recipe using chicken and herbs, try this one or create your own:
Chicken and Herbs Recipe
Ingredients

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, about 4 ounces each, preferably natural or organic
• 3 Tablespoons Olive Oil (or less if you are watching it), preferably extra virgin, cold-pressed
• 1 Tablespoon fresh squeezed lemon juice, preferably organic, or orange or lime juice
• Herb mixture – try basil, marjoram, thyme, rosemary, and a bit of lavender – your choice as to amounts and use fresh organic if available or create your very own mixture
• Salt/pepper to taste if desired.

Cooking Directions

• In a small bowl, stir together finely diced herbs, juice, and olive oil.
• Coat the herb mixture onto the chicken. If you like, lightly salt/pepper them.
• Let chicken breasts marinate in the herbal mixture for at least 20 minutes. 
• Either bake in a 350 °F oven for 25 to 30 minutes (or until done) or pan-fry in more olive oil, using low to medium heat.
• Serve with salad and/or other lightly steamed veggies. Enjoy!

    
And as always, I wish you a happy, holistically healthy day.

Dr. P

Professionals needing CE's: Check out my new Herbs for your Health course for 4 CE Credit Hours
Holistic Guide for the Parents and People: Herbs for your Health Guide