Herbs - What are they good for? Absolutely Everything!

PSA: Herbal remedies should not be substituted for medical care. They should be considered as nutritional support to compliment your medical care and should be disclosed and discussed with your doctor. Herbs do have complications and side effects that need to be considered. Take the time to research and again, discuss with your doctor. If you are lucky like I was, you will get/have a doctor that appreciates, understands, and is knowledgeable about herbs that can help you on your healing journey.

About 35 years ago, my mom and I started an herbal store in Downtown Cartersville, GA. If you know the area, it was a small space right under the underpass. I learned so much back then that I've long forgotten. I was only 20 and I was just so excited about having my own business and being partners with my mom that I didn't really appreciate how herbs could play a huge role in a person's health even though I was peddling it. Oh, to be young and foolish! But, here I am relearning everything I was taught back then and trying to pull information from the dark crevices of my cobweb riddled mind.

We made 2 big mistakes back then and ended up having to work part-time to pay the bills to keep the business going for as long as we could before finally having to walk away, closing our doors in less than a year. It didn't change our beliefs regarding herbs, just our circumstances at the time.

The first mistake definitely was location. Cartersville is and was a great little town but, back then, it was very much an older, country feel that just wasn't ready to hear about the healing powers of herbal remedies.

The other problem with the location was Cartersville was the bible belt back then and may still be today, but it has evolved a great deal either way so who knows. Back then, we were labeled witches a few times over the time we were there. True story! Apparently, back then, it was witchcraft to use herbs for medicine. Who knew?

I find both of these completely weird thinking back on it now. When you think of the old days before modern medicine, many of our ancestors and elders relied on home remedies simply because they either didn't have access to a doctor or they couldn't afford one or, sometimes, they just didn't have the time to go because they were tending to their fields and farm life. It's like the people completely forgot their roots. Unexplainable!

Our second mistake was selling mass produced herb supplements from a large chain. Now, don't get me wrong here. I believe in herb supplements and take evening primrose oil everyday. But, the biggest problem is that some of the nutritional value is loss during the drying phase and it takes handfuls of encapsulated herbs to equate the nutritional value you need to help your body heal. There's a place for them but we should definitely do all we can to get herbs in our diet in the rawest, simplest form whenever possible, which is soooo hard to accomplish.

Before we dig into the different ways to get herbs into our diets, it's important to know that there is basically an herb for every ailment. You just have to do the research or talk to someone who already has. Some herbs treat symptoms and some go straight for the root of the issue. The trick is finding the right one and using it consistently long enough to get your body to respond. Not to harp, but it's about the nutrition of the herb that does the magick. In a world where everything we eat is mass produced, we have stripped our soil of the nutrients that feed the plants that feed us and our animals. Nowadays, the plants that used to feed us appropriately to ward off illnesses are so nutritionally deprived that we have to rely on supplements to just meet the recommended daily allowance (which is below our actual needs in most cases) to maintain our health. Growing and processing our own food, in our own way, including herbs is the best way to ensure we are getting the maximum nutrients the food should be giving to our bodies. You will also notice that the flavors are more potent when homegrown. Again, another indicator that something is loss in mass production.

Adding herbs into your salads is the easiest way to incorporate them into your diet. Cilantro, Basil, Thyme, Oregano, Dill, Chives...oh, the list goes on and on. But they are wonderful mixed in greens and give any salad a fresh, lively flavor. Another thing I'm doing is herb infused olive oils. You do lose some of the nutritional value but, wow, the flavors are endless and if you use a really good EVOO, you have a perfect finisher to many culinary delights including amazing salad dressings, adding a little more of that nutrition that I keep droning on.

You can cook with herbs as well. Adding herbs to soups and dishes will still harness many nutrients as long as you are eating the herb itself. Just laying it on top of your chicken, steak, fish, tofu, whatever isn't going to do the job even though you may have some great flavor. There are some that will have to be removed like bay leaves and different stems simply because they toughen when cooking and aren't pleasant to eat, but hopefully you understand where I'm going with this.

Tinctures are another great option. I've started a few tinctures recently and am (not so) patiently waiting to enjoy. Tinctures are great because they're basically a shot of good stuff (herbal medicine, not necessarily taste) taken 2 or 3 times a day. And, tinctures are typically made with vodka so, yeah, have a shot 2 or 3 times a day. You can also make tinctures with apple cider vinegar but sometimes the ACV flavor overtakes the herb. Not a fan, but hoping to force an acquired taste for it over time. Funny memory...my granny drank a shot of ACV with local honey in warm water every single night of her life and was never sick. She always claimed this concoction was the "apple a day" that we've always been told about. Bless her.

My next favorite way to enjoy herbs is through teas. There are so many wonderful blends that you can buy from the big box stores but there's nothing like making your own. Again, there will be some nutritional value lost in the drying process but there is nothing better than a wonderful cup of herbal chamomile tea with a little honey to wind down at the end of the day. And, if you are looking for a little energy boost, try some ashwagandha, ginseng, or green tea. All very yummy!

Herbs are simply wonderful and so easy to grow and can be beautiful in a garden as well. Many herbs are companion plants to many vegetables to help ward off pests or exchange soil nutrients. They're just easy to incorporate into a garden but be mindful that some are also invasive. I learned my lesson with mint about 10 years ago. Mint is the Bruce Willis of herbs (IMO, Die Hard reference). I had a small herb garden and I pruned and pulled mint what seemed like daily but for every inch I pulled from the top it grew four underground. At least, it felt that way and it took me digging up the entire (small) garden to finally irradicate it. It will always be a container herb for me going forward.

If you are planning a new garden for whatever reason or maybe you are planning to expand one that you already have, try incorporating herbs into it. I personally think you'll be surprised and delighted about the addition. Let me know your favorite herbs and how you like to enjoy them! I plan to dive into my favorites in the coming weeks and would love to share your thoughts and ideas!

PSA: Herbal remedies should not be substituted for medical care. They should be considered as nutritional support to compliment your medical care and should be disclosed and discussed with your doctor. Herbs do have complications and side effects that need to be considered. Take the time to research and again, discuss with your doctor. If you are lucky like I was, you will get/have a doctor that appreciates, understands, and is knowledgeable about herbs that can help you on your healing journey.