by Francis Jock

Created on: January 19, 2009   Last Updated: May 03, 2012

Herbs and spices are widely considered as Nature's gifts for improving our health. Obtained from plants in their countless forms, herbs and spices alike have been used since the earliest of times for their health benefits and as health supplements. Herbs and spices have been used for curing countless illnesses, healing wounds, and fending off disease. That these natural wonder-drugs are beneficial health and healing benefits is unquestionable. In fact, herbs have a significant advantage and health benefit for treating some illnesses when other, more chemical remedies have failed.

There are far too many herbs and spices used for their health benefits today that can be detailed here. They come in many forms, but mostly from plants. Some are exotic and rare, while others are commonplace and can found almost anywhere in the world. While one herb may be successful for treating a particular malaise in a particular part of the world, the same malaise may be successfully treated with another, entirely different herb in a distant land. The herbs and spices of Africa, North America, and the Amazon Rain Forest have been relied upon for healing indigenous people for countless generations; different locations and different herbs frequently yield the same curative effect.

Healing herbal concoctions are frequently prepared in form of teas, infusions, poultices, oils, tonics and tinctures, although some may be chewed or eaten. Some herbs, such as basil, rosemary, parsley and marjoram, are so familiar to us that we take them for granted as seasonings intended for preparing savory dinners. Aleovera, a common houseplant is useful for treating burns and rashes. Many of these natural healers can be grown in small herb gardens or even on the kitchen counter. Freshly prepared herbs are regarded as being more potent than dried herbs and are preferred when preparing a dose of healing tea. Besides being used for the occasional illness, these herbs are rich in antioxidants and always good for boosting ones immune system and alleviating gastronomical disturbances, such as excessive gas.

Some uses for herbs include fighting high blood pressure, reducing cholesterol in the arteries, flushing out the digestive tract, inducing a mild state of relaxation, flushing out the sinuses, relieving headache, relieving menstrual cramps, fighting infection and many more other reasons. Others are used for fighting migraine headaches, fighting off the common cold and reducing a fever. Prior to the discovery

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