Medicinal Use of Some Spices with Their Names

Herbs and spices have been used as medicine for centuries, and are still the primary medicine in most of the world today. The World Health Organization recently estimated that 80 percent of people around the world still use herbal medicine regularly. Modern medical researchers have looked into many historical medicinal uses of plants, with mixed results.

Medicinal Uses of Common Spices

• The United States National Institutes of Health has a National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, at the website nccam.nih.gov/health/herbsataglance.htm, which researches and maintains databases on the efficacy of various medicinal herbs and spices. It contains links to published studies, and summarizes their findings.

  As reported by NCCAM, several studies of peppermint oil have shown it to improve the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.

  Ginger has been shown to relieve nausea and vomiting related to pregnancy. It is possible that it will relieve other kinds of nausea as well.

  According to healthy.net, cayenne pepper is used to stimulate blood flow in patients, both internally and externally. In either case, it needs to be used in moderation. Traditional medical systems use cayenne to improve digestion. Capsaicin, the oily primary ingredient in cayenne peppers, is the active ingredient in OC defense spray--commonly called Mace.

  Allspice is used to ease digestive problems, according to spicesmedicinalherbs.com. It can also, when applied externally, bring blood to the surface, warming the skin, which makes it popular as a topical arthritis treatment.

  Cinnamon is a spice which has been commonly used as a seasoning and a medicine for thousands of years. It is used to soothe stomach ailments, especially nausea and vomiting. Recent research suggests that cinnamon may help stabilize blood sugar in patients with type II diabetes.

  Cloves are used to treat digestive disorders, and they are used as an antibacterial agent. Clove oil is used to treat toothaches and as a topical anti-fungal. It is also used to help ease nasal congestion.

  Fenugreek has been used traditionally to treat lung problems, TB, gout, and to promote the production of milk in nursing mothers. It is a primary ingredient in curry dishes.

  Parsley is a source of vitamin C, and has traditionally been used to ease stomach pain and flatulence.

  Rosemary can be taken internally as a tonic for nerves and digestion, or externally as a hair tonic. The oil can also be used as a rub for sore muscles.

  Thyme has been used as an antiseptic, externally to treat infected wounds, and internally to treat chest colds. It can be used as an expectorant and to soothe coughing. Its antiseptic properties also make it a useful gargle for sore throats and laryngitis.

Cooking With Spices

• Most of the spices listed above are used in or as food. Different cultures use these spices differently. For example, in the United States, cinnamon is used primarily in fruit-based desserts, like apple pie. In Mexico, cinnamon is frequently mixed into coffee or chocolate. Some medicinal spices are simply brewed as tea.

  If you are looking to incorporate certain spices into your diet, but you don't know how to add them to what you commonly eat, there are recipe sites that allow you to sort recipes by ingredient.

Commercial Uses

• Although we sometimes think of herbal medicine as old-fashioned, a walk through your local supermarket will show that these traditions continue, with commercial applications. Many shampoos advertise rosemary as the first ingredient, for example. You'll find clove oil the active ingredient in a few commercial toothache remedies. Ginger is now promoted as the best nausea medicine for pregnant women. Garlic is commonly sold to reduce cholesterol.

Delivery Methods

• As mentioned above, most of these spices are eaten as part of a meal. Some of the healing properties are obtained through application to the outside of the body, though.

  Janet Zand, L.Ac., O.M.D., in her book Smart Medicine for a Healthier Child, describes several different ways that herbs are used for healing. Some herbs are taken as teas (or infusions), while others are used externally as tonics or tinctures. Herbal treatments can also be administered as baths, poultices (pulped), oils, compresses and tinctures. The procedures for preparing each method vary, depending on the herb and the desired use. Tinctures, for example, rely on soaking herbs in alcohol for up to two weeks to infuse the active parts of the herb into the solution. They are then administered a few drops at a time, often in warm liquid, which evaporates the alcohol.

  There are many books and resources available on the proper preparation of herbs for medicinal use.

Considerations

• There are many uses for herbs and spices, both in medicine and as food. Some of them have side effects, especially when combined with modern pharmaceuticals. If you are looking for an herb to treat a specific disease or disorder, please contact a certified herbalist. In the United States, you can contact the American Herbalists Guild at www.americanherbalistsguild.com to find an herbalist or an herbal school near you.