Peppermint:
• Helps to soothe the digestive system, if you have an upset tummy brew up a cup of fresh mint tea.
• Topically it has a numbing and cooling effect of the skin, so cold peppermint teabags are a great sunburn remedy.
• Circulatory stimulant, so great for promoting blood flow throughout the body.
• Immune system: causes sweating, so if you’re feeling feverish it will promote sweating.
• FYI: When we think mint, we thing fresh breath, well back in the day, Roman women would mix it with honey to sweeten their breath after they’d drank wine, which was considered a crime and punishment was death!!!
Basil:
It’s one of the most commonly used herbs in cooking today
• It has an anti-inflammatory on the body. So if you have inflammatory gut condition or arthritis basil is a great one to include into your eating plan.
• Contains cinnamanic acid (also found in cinnamon) which enhances circulation, stabilises our blood sugar levels and even improves respiration.
• Mega source of antioxidants: this means it helps to combat free radical damage in the body. Free radical damage causes cell aging and is a precursor to cancer.
• Anti-bacterial: the leaves can be used topically on wounds to prevent any nasty bacteria growing.
Rosemary:
• Rosemary is the symbol of remembrance, in fact interestingly it’s said to help memory because it stimulates blood flow to the brain and can heighten concentration.
• We have 98% olfactory recall which means we can remember things 98% better when there’s a smell associated with it. Study for exams: have a smell for each subject then smell that same herb or oil throughout the exam. Works a treat!
• Rub rosemary oil onto sore joints
• Use as a mouthwash for bleeding gums
• In a tea, it’s said to boost our moods, combat anxiety and even help treat insomnia!
• It’s a ripper herb when it comes to PMT symptoms, great for mood but also relieves period pain.
Thyme:
• Powerful antiseptic!
• It contains this stuff called “thymol” which helps to boost our immune systems and is even used in creams and used topically for muscle pain.
• Said to be a great herb for treating coughs and any trouble with the lungs. It relaxes the bronchial tubes.
• Make a great antiseptic mouthwash from thyme, water and salt. The thyme has antiseptic properties, the water is so you can gargle and salt is antibacterial!
• You’ll even find toothpastes with thyme in them!
Lavender:
• It has a powerful effect on the nervous system, it’s been used to treat depression, anxiety, nervousness, headaches, palpitations and insomnia.
• It has a calming effect!
• Calms our digestive tract, great for soothing bloated tummies
• Can drink as a tea, and it promotes sweating so a great one to treat a fever.
• When used in massage it’s said to balance our emotions.
