Medicinal Benefits of Everyday Kitchen Spices

Let's dip our toes into the medicinal properties of herbs and spices in our kitchen pantries. Here's another endless topic. There's so many herbs and spices to write about and wonderful combinations that we can put together. As always, we have to start somewhere. Here's a basic list of herbs and spices that are commonly used in Ayurveda. There's way more than this, but let's "digest" these first.

This is simply a short summary of the benefits of each spice.

Let's experiment with these in our cooking, in salads, and in making teas.

Here's another helpful bit of information. East and West approach nutrition in similar ways, but Ayurveda looks at the properties of foods, herbs and spices. In other words, certain spices are heating and certain ones are cooling. Western nutrition doesn't factor this into the picture. The other thing we ALWAYS have to keep in mind is that Western thinking is all linear and Eastern thinking is more abstract. Both systems are, once again flowing into one another but without understanding of the other.

Here's an example...If a person's digestive system is inflamed, and they add hot sauce to everything, that will only increase the inflamed situation. That's an obvious one, but it gets tricky, and can be confusing to understand at first. This is where Ayurveda looks at the individual person, their natural constitution (dosha), and then looks at the imbalance state of the constitution, and works to bring the body back into a harmonious state, rather than soothe the symptom.

The same concept applies to spices and herbs.

Generally, these are great for everyone.

Moderation is always the way to go.

HERBS/SPICES:

Basil - Helps reduce inflammation and blood pressure. Supports digestion and helps alleviate bloating. It is an adaptogen and used to soothe the nervous system and help manage stress.

Black Pepper - Helps remove toxins from the body. Stimulates organs. It's one of the 3 ingredients of a very important Ayurvedic medicine called Trikatu. It's actually used in many Ayurvedic formulations because it helps transport the benefit of other herbs into the body, like Turmeric for example. It enhances digestion, stimulates appetite and helps with circulation.

Cinnamon - Helps improve digestive strength. It helps clear respiratory passages. It promotes healthy circulation and joints. It's useful in supporting diabetes and high cholesterol. It helps with wound healing, insect bites, and tooth strength. It helps with infertility.

Clove - Enhances circulation, digestion, and metabolism. Helps improve Agni (digestive fire.) Helps relieve nausea, bloating and gas. It's antifungal. It's great for helping with oral hygiene, toothaches, bad breath, arthritic pain and poor circulation.

Coriander - Also known as cilantro seed. Cleanses the blood, helps excrete heavy metals, improves digestion. It helps with gas, bloating and diarrhea.

The leaves are cooling. The seeds are warming.

Cumin - Very useful in treating digestive tract disorders. It strengthens Agni (digestive fire). It helps with malabsorption, indigestion and diarrhea. It also helps cleanse and detoxify the uterus.

Fennel - Helps improve agni (Digestive fire). It enhances digestion and can help boost metabolism. It can help reduce flatulence, nausea and cramps.

Garlic - Garlic is anti-aging. It helps fight diseases. It helps with digestion, removes parasites without depleting the intestinal flora. It helps decongest the lungs. Enhances immunity. It's useful in lowering cholesterol and clotting. It helps stimulate circulation.

Garlic is a tricky one because too much can disturb the digestive system, instead of supporting it. Raw garlic should be consumed in very small amounts.

Ginger - Helps improve agni (Digestive fire). It also helps reduce Ama (Toxicity in the body). It helps assimilation and transportation of nutrients to the tissues. It helps remove blockages from the blood vessels and offers joint support. It helps boost the immune system. It has an affinity for the lungs.

Green Cardamom - Helps improve agni (Digestive fire). Helps reduce bloating and gas. It's great for colds, coughs, respiratory issues, soar throats, and bad breath.

Mint - The mint leaf has a cooling property. It aids in digestion. Helps reduce bloating, gas and nausea. Mint clears stagnation in the stomach, blood, lymph and lungs. It even helps clear emotions. It is stimulating and relaxes the muscle tissue.

Mustard Seed - Helps improve digestion strength. Helps clear Ama (Toxicity in the body) and excess mucus. Helps kill worms. Helps to improve circulation. It's a great expectorant. It can be made into a paste and helps with wound healing.

Nutmeg - An aphrodisiac and digestive tonic. It has a dulling effect on the mind so it can be used to help with sleep, or calm an agitated mind. It helps concentration and relaxes muscles. It can be made into a paste and applied to forehead to relieve headaches and soothe painful joints.

Saffron - An aphrodisiac and an exotic spice. It encourages blood flow. Helps increase hemoglobin levels. Helps with calming nerves.

Salt - Stimulates digestion and calms vata. Helps dissolve masses, tumors and lumps. Helps to calm nerves and can act as a laxative. According to Ayurveda, there are 5 different types of salt. Rock salt, black salt, pink salt, sea salt, and earth salt. They all have slightly different properties.

Sesame Seeds - This is one of the most widely used spices in Ayurvedic medicine. It can be used in so many ways. Black sesame seeds have more medicinal properties. They help treat constipation and hemorrhoids. Help increase memory and fertility. Helps with osteoporosis. Promotes heart health, helps regulate blood sugar, strengthen bones, helps reduce inflammation.

Turmeric - A very well known Ayurvedic herb. It strengthens overall energy. Promotes healthy digestion. Boosts brain and nervous system function. It supports the joints. Helps with arthritis and with healing wounds. Helps regulate blood sugar.

~ Leelah Lakshmi ~

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