Healthy Herbs – Healing Effects and Uses

Herbs have a long tradition in human history and were often used as medicinal plants. They often have a positive effect on health – this valuable knowledge has been accumulated by natural or folk medicine for many centuries. In the Middle Ages, healthy herbs played an important role for Hildegard of Bingen. The famous abbess mentioned dill and thyme, among others, in her teachings.

Today, science is studying the specific effects of the individual substances and their impact on health and well-being. The Federal Centre for Nutrition (BZfE) points to the following findings.

 

Individual herbs

• stimulate the appetite: This is due to the bitter substances contained in herbs
• calm the digestive tract: Some varieties have antispasmodic effects, relax, and prevent bloating.
• preserve: Certain ingredients in herbs combat oxygen radicals, fungi, or bacteria.
• help reduce salt intake: Herbs are healthier than salt. Using them for seasoning means using less salt, which is involved in the development of high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases.
• promote diuresis: Some herbs stimulate bladder activity and urine production.

 

Depending on the plant, healthy herbs contain different ingredients responsible for numerous beneficial effects. Therefore, no general statement can be made.

An overview of various ingredients that make herbs so healthy:

• essential oils: give herbs their characteristic scent
• bitter substances: provide the bitter taste and often have positive effects on health
• flavones: yellow pigments with various effects
• tannins: have an astringent effect, meaning they cause mucous membranes and tissues to contract
• glycosides: various sugar compounds
• saponins: substances with soap-like effects
• mucilages: collective term for various substances that swell in water and create a slimy feeling
• vitamins

 

Healthy herbs can be used in different ways. The most popular preparation methods are

fresh, dried, or powdered for seasoning: The German Nutrition Society (DGE) recommends avoiding salt for seasoning and instead using herbs and spices.

as an infusion: Pour hot water, not boiling, over the dried plant. Then let it steep for about 10 minutes.

as an extract: A particularly gentle preparation, recommended for herbs whose ingredients would be destroyed by heat. In this case, the dried plants are placed in cold water in a container. Cover the container so the essential oils of the healthy herbs do not escape. The cold extract is left to stand for several hours. Then strain.