Herbs and Spices

Question 1

Culinary Herbs

Answer 1

• Culinary herbs give flavour, aroma and colour to foods, but they are all traditional herbal medicines.
• They contain ‘volatile oils’ which are:
- Anti microbial : inhibiting or slowing the growth of bacteria, yeasts and moulds.
- Promoting the release of digestive secretions, which in turn boosts the assimilation of nutrients. Also stimulates appetite.
- Carminative herbs can regulate peristalsis, relax the smooth muscle and thus reduce digestive cramps, gas and bloating .
• Culinary herbs need to be central to menu design as well as taken as infusions (herbal teas), based on the clients’ health issues.

Question 2

Culinary Herbs: Energetics

Answer 2

• Energetically, most culinary herbs are warming , because warmth promotes strong digestive ‘fire’ (‘ agni ’ in Ayurveda). This is the reason why traditional cuisines are so richly spiced. Even small quantities improve digestive strength, nutrient uptake and general health. In Ayurveda, undigested foods are considered toxins (‘Ama’)

Question 3

Culinary Herbs: Interactions

Answer 3

• Key concerns are pregnancy, breast feeding, and herb drug interactions. In fact, most culinary herbs are contraindicated in pregnancy and lactation in higher doses ! Always check safety using text books or internet databases.
• Because aromatic culinary herbs relax the oesophageal sphincter and stimulate gastric juice secretion; larger amounts are contraindicated in acid reflux, gastritis and stomach ulcers

Question 4

Aniseed (Pimpinella anisum)

Answer 4

Part used: seeds. 1-2 teaspoons daily.
Uses: weak digestion, gas, bloating, IBS, cough, asthma. Warm, sweet.
Safety: pregnancy, lactation, acid reflux, ulcers.

Question 5

Basil (Ocimum basilicum)

Answer 5

Part used: leaves. 3-4 teaspoons daily.
Uses: weak digestion, gas, bloating, IBS, cough, colds, anxiety, low mood, fatigue.
Warm.
Safety: pregnancy, lactation, acid reflux, ulcers.

Question 6

Black pepper (Piper nigrum)

Answer 6

Part used: seeds. ½ 1 teaspoon daily.
Uses: weak digestion / assimilation, poor circulation, rhinitis, productive coughs, viruses.
Hot, dry.
Safety: pregnancy, lactation, acid reflux, ulcers, increases uptake of conventional drugs, but also other herbs (particularly turmeric).

Question 7

Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum)

Answer 7

Part used: seed pods. ½ 1 teaspoon daily.
Uses: weak digestion, indigestion, nausea, bloating, IBS, low mood, coughs, gum disease.
Warm, dry.
Safety: pregnancy, lactation, acid reflux, ulcers.

Question 8

Chilli (Capsicum spp.)

Answer 8

Part used: fruit, seeds. ½ 1 teaspoon daily.
Uses: poor circulation, fatigue, debility, ischaemic heart disease.
Very hot, dry (depending on variety)
Safety: pregnancy, lactation, acid reflux, ulcers, inflammatory disease, anti coagulant medications.

Question 9

Cinnamon (Cinnamomum Zeylanicum)

Answer 9

Part used: inner bark. 1-2 teaspoons daily.
Uses: weak digestion, nausea, poor circulation, insulin resistance, H. pylori , candida.
Hot, dry, sweet.
Safety: pregnancy, lactation, reflux, diabetic drugs

Question 10

Cloves (Syzygium aromaticum )

Answer 10

Part used: flower bud. ¼-½ teaspoon daily.
Uses: indigestion, gas, bloating, worms, parasites,
Clove oil contains eugenol, which is a natural anaesthetic (numbs and reduces pain to ease a toothache) and is anti inflammatory.
Hot, dry, spicy.
Safety: pregnancy, lactation, acid reflux, ulcers.

Question 11

Coriander (Coriandrum sativum)

Answer 11

Part used: leaves. 4-6 teaspoons leaves daily.
Uses: gas, bloating, IBS, fungal infections, chelation of heavy metals, anti parasitic.
Cool, moist fresh
Safety: pregnancy, lactation.

Question 12

Cumin (Cuminum cyminum)

Answer 12

Part used: seeds. 1- 2 teaspoons daily.
Uses: weak digestion, indigestion, gas, bloating, IBS, diarrhoea.
Warm, spicy.
Safety: pregnancy, lactation, acid reflux, ulcers.

Question 13

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)

Answer 13

Part used: seeds. 1-2 teaspoons daily.
Uses: indigestion, gas, bloating, GIT spasm, IBS, cough, low breast milk production.
Warm, sweet.
Safety: pregnancy, acid reflux.

Question 14

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum)

Answer 14

Part used: seeds. 1-2 teaspoons daily.
Uses: gastritis, constipation, insulin resistance, low
milk production (galactagogue). 
Warm, moist, bitter.
Safety: lactation, diabetic medications.

Question 15

Garlic (Allium sativum)

Answer 15

Part used: 1-2 fresh cloves daily.
Uses: high cholesterol, hypertension, atherosclerosis, fungal & bacterial infections, parasites.
Hot, pungent.
Safety: pregnancy, lactation, anticoagulant & blood pressure drugs, before surgery, acid reflux, ulcers.

Question 16

Ginger (Zingiber officinale)

Answer 16

Part used: rhizome. 1 tsp. dry, 3 tsp. fresh daily.
Uses: weak digestion (pro-kinetic), nausea, poor
circulation, inflammation (i.e. arthritis), amenorrhea.
Warm (dry Ginger: Hot and dry)
Safety: pregnancy, lactation, acid reflux, ulcers.

Question 17

Horseradish (Armoracia rusticana)

Answer 17

Part used: root. 1-2 teaspoons daily.
Uses: poor circulation, weak digestion, sinus congestion, catarrh, intestinal worms. Hot, spicy.
Safety: pregnancy, lactation, acid reflux, ulcers.

Question 18

Mustard seed (Brassica nigrum)

Answer 18

Part used: seeds. ¼-½ teaspoon daily.
Uses: poor circulation, weak digestion, sinus congestion, cough, catarrh.
Hot, dry.
Safety: pregnancy, lactation, acid reflux, ulcers.

Question 19

Oregano (Oreganum vulgare)

Answer 19

Part used: leaves. 2-3 teaspoons daily.
Uses: indigestion, gas bloating, IBS, parasites, bacterial and fungal GIT infections (use oil).
Warm.
Safety: pregnancy, lactation, acid reflux.

Question 20

Parsley (Petrolselenium crispum)

Answer 20

Part used: leaves. 4-6 teaspoons daily.
Uses: gas, bloating, IBS, fluid retention, hypertension, arthritis, amenorrhea.
Neutral / warm.
Safety: pregnancy, lactation. Safe as a culinary herb but be cautious using high amounts (e.g. tincture) with blood pressure medications

Question 21

Peppermint (Mentha x Piperita)

Answer 21

Part used: leaves. 4-6 teaspoons daily.
Uses: nausea, vomiting, colic, indigestion, flatulence, IBS, diarrhoea, asthma.
Neutral / warm.
Safety: pregnancy, lactation, acid reflux.

Question 22

Rosemary (Rosemarinus offininalis)

Answer 22

Part used: 2-3 teaspoons daily.
Uses: weak digestion, liver support, poor memory,
concentration, circulation, depression. Warm, dry.
Safety: pregnancy, lactation, acid

Question 23

Sage (Salvia officianalis)

Answer 23

Part used: leaves 3-4 teaspoons daily.
Uses: tonsillitis / pharyngitis, indigestion, bloating, gastritis, colds, Alzheimer’s, menopausal sweats and hot flushes.
Warm, dry.
Safety: pregnancy, lactation. Do not use sage in
high doses or using the essential oil in epilepsy.

Question 24

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)

Answer 24

Part used: leaves, flowers. 2-3 teaspoons daily.
Uses: sore throat, cough, asthma, weak digestion, gas, bloating, fungal & bacterial GIT infections (SIBO, dysbiosis), parasites, viruses.
Warm, pungent.
Safety: pregnancy, lactation, acid reflux.

Question 25

Turmeric (Curcuma longa)

Answer 25

Part used: rhizome. ½-1 teaspoon daily.
Uses: liver support, high cholesterol, inflammation ( e.g . arthritis), low immunity, cancer prevention, Alzheimer’s. Bitter, warm.
Safety: pregnancy, lactation, anti coagulant medications.