The Simple Herbs and Spices We Sometimes Overlook

 

Have you ever stopped to think about how many things we use every day that were originally given to us by nature?

 

I was thinking about this recently while looking through some herbs and spices in the kitchen. We sprinkle cinnamon into our coffee, add garlic to dinner, drink peppermint tea when our stomach doesn’t feel quite right and use ginger when we’re feeling under the weather. Most of the time we don’t give any of it much thought. They’re simply ingredients we’ve used for years.

 

But when you really stop and think about it, I find it fascinating.

 

Long before we had a pharmacy on every corner, people looked to the plants, roots, flowers and herbs growing around them. Different cultures around the world developed their own traditions for using plants to support the body, and many of those traditions have been passed from one generation to the next.

 

Now, I’m certainly not telling anyone to throw away their medications or replace medical care with something growing in the backyard. That’s not what this is about. I simply believe we sometimes become so accustomed to modern conveniences that we forget how many wonderful things God and Mother Nature have already provided for us.

 

And some of them may already be sitting in your kitchen.

Cinnamon Is More Than Something We Put on Toast

Let’s start with cinnamon because this is probably one almost everyone has in their cabinet.

 

Most of us associate cinnamon with something sweet. We put it on oatmeal, apples, toast or maybe in our coffee. There’s something about the smell of cinnamon that feels warm and comforting, especially as we begin moving toward the cooler months.

 

But cinnamon has also been studied for its antioxidant compounds and its potential role in supporting healthy blood sugar and metabolic health. That doesn’t mean adding cinnamon to your morning coffee is suddenly going to cure a health condition, but it does remind us that some of the foods and spices we enjoy can offer the body more than flavor.

 

I think that’s pretty amazing.

 

There is also something about scent that can immediately change how we feel. Think about walking into a home where someone is baking with cinnamon. Before you’ve eaten a single bite, your senses have already responded. Maybe it reminds you of your grandmother’s kitchen, Christmas morning or something your mother used to make.

 

Healing isn’t always about one thing.

 

Sometimes food nourishes the body while the smell, memory and experience nourish something completely different inside us.

Ginger Has Been Used for Generations

Ginger is another one I find interesting because it has such a long history of traditional use.

 

If you’ve ever had an upset stomach, someone may have suggested ginger tea or ginger ale. There is actually a reason ginger has maintained that reputation. Ginger has been studied extensively for nausea, including certain types of pregnancy-related nausea, and it contains naturally occurring compounds that researchers continue to study for their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

 

I love fresh ginger in hot water, especially when combined with lemon. There is something so simple about preparing a warm cup of tea and actually sitting down long enough to enjoy it.

 

And maybe that’s part of the benefit too.

 

We live in a world where we’re always rushing. We eat while we’re working. We drink coffee while we’re driving. We answer emails while we’re eating lunch. Sometimes preparing something as simple as a cup of herbal tea becomes an opportunity to stop for ten minutes and allow the body to settle.

That matters.

 

Our bodies need nourishment, but they also need moments when we’re not asking them to constantly perform.

Turmeric and the Beautiful Colors Nature Gives Us

You can’t really talk about healing spices without mentioning turmeric.

 

Turmeric has that beautiful golden-yellow color that is almost impossible to miss, and its best-known natural compound is curcumin. Researchers have been interested in curcumin because of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, although how well it is absorbed by the body and how much benefit it provides can depend on how it is consumed.

 

Again, I don’t think we need to turn every herb or spice into a miracle cure.

 

Sometimes we become so focused on finding the newest supplement or wellness trend that we forget about simply eating a varied diet filled with real foods, herbs, spices and plants.

 

Nature gives us so many different colors.

 

Deep green herbs.

 

Bright red berries.

 

Purple vegetables.

 

Golden turmeric.

 

Orange carrots.

 

I don’t think we’re meant to eat the same three foods every day. Variety gives our bodies different nutrients and plant compounds, and it makes eating a whole lot more interesting too.

 

Don’t Forget About the Herbs

 

Then there are the herbs we often think of only as garnishes.

 

Rosemary, basil, thyme, sage, oregano and parsley can easily become afterthoughts when we’re cooking, but herbs contain their own assortment of naturally occurring plant compounds. They add flavor without requiring us to depend entirely on salt, sugar or heavy sauces, and many have long histories in traditional wellness practices.

 

Peppermint is another wonderful example. Peppermint has traditionally been associated with digestion, and peppermint preparations have been studied for certain digestive symptoms. Even something as simple as the aroma of fresh mint can feel refreshing.

 

Then there is chamomile, which many people associate with relaxation and bedtime. For generations, people have made chamomile tea as part of an evening routine. Whether it’s the plant itself, the warmth of the tea, the ritual of slowing down or a combination of all three, I think there is something beautiful about creating those little moments of care for ourselves.

 

We don’t always need an elaborate wellness routine.

 

Sometimes caring for yourself can begin in the kitchen.

Healing Is About Paying Attention

I think one of the biggest things I’ve learned through healing work is that the body is constantly communicating with us.

 

We tend to notice it when something hurts, but our bodies communicate in much quieter ways too. They tell us when we’re hungry. They tell us when we’re tired. They tell us when we need movement, water, rest or nourishment.

 

The problem is that we’ve become very good at overriding those messages.

 

We’re tired, so we drink more caffeine.

 

We’re hungry, but we’re too busy to eat.

 

We’re stressed, but instead of resting, we add another thing to the schedule.

 

Then eventually we wonder why we don’t feel like ourselves.

 

What if part of healing is simply becoming more attentive to what our bodies have been asking for?

 

That doesn’t mean obsessing over every symptom or trying to live perfectly. I don’t believe healing requires perfection. I think it requires awareness.

There is a big difference.

There Is Wisdom in the Old Ways

One thing I really appreciate about herbs is how they connect us with generations that came before us.

 

Think about your own family for a moment. Was there something your mother or grandmother always gave you when you weren’t feeling well? Maybe it was chicken soup, peppermint tea, honey and lemon, ginger or some little home remedy that everyone in the family knew about.

 

Some of those remedies were simply traditions. Others eventually became subjects of scientific research. And, of course, some turned out not to work the way people once believed.

 

That’s why I think balance is important.

 

We can appreciate traditional wisdom without assuming everything labeled “natural” is automatically safe. Herbs and supplements can interact with medications, and some aren’t appropriate for certain health conditions, pregnancy or surgery. More is not always better simply because something came from a plant.

 

Spirit gave us intuition, but we were also given common sense.

 

If you’re considering using concentrated herbs or supplements for a health concern, talk with a qualified healthcare professional who understands your medications and health history.

Maybe Healing Doesn’t Always Have to Be Complicated

I think we’re sometimes convinced that improving our well-being requires completely changing our lives.

 

It doesn’t always.

 

Maybe this week you cook with fresh herbs instead of automatically reaching for a packaged seasoning mix. Maybe you add a little cinnamon to your oatmeal. Maybe you make ginger tea one evening and actually sit down while you drink it. Maybe you grow a pot of basil or mint near a sunny window and experience the simple joy of using something you grew yourself.

 

None of those things are dramatic.

 

But healing isn’t always dramatic either.

 

Sometimes healing is simply becoming more connected to what nourishes you.

 

It’s paying attention to your body.

 

It’s spending time outside.

 

It’s choosing foods that make you feel good.

 

It’s resting when you need rest.

 

It’s remembering that your physical body isn’t separate from your emotional and spiritual life. It’s the beautiful vessel carrying you through all of it.

 

As you go through this week, take another look at the herbs and spices around you. Smell them. Taste them. Learn about them. Maybe even research one you’ve never used before.

 

There is an incredible world growing all around us that many of us rarely stop long enough to notice.

 

Perhaps Spirit has been providing reminders of healing through creation all along.

 

We simply have to remember to look.

 

Have a beautiful and blessed week.

 

 

 

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