The Healing Power of Plants
Common herbs oregano and thyme bring flavor and healing benefits.
BY ALLYN RIPPIN SOME PHOTOS COURTESY OF UGARDEN
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edicinal plants have been used for food and medicine since the Paleolithic Era, some 60,000 years ago. In the era of Hippocrates, people were advised to chew on willow bark to reduce fever and inflammation. (Later, in the 1800s, scientists synthesized its active ingredient, salicin, into aspirin.) In medieval times doctors used cinnamon to treat conditions such as coughing, arthritis and sore throats. Ancient healing systems, such as Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurvedic Medicine from India, have cultivated plant wisdom for centuries and are still used in modern practice. Today, natural, plant-based medicine is seeing a resurgence in popularity. Healing herbs can be found in everything from teas to household products to supplements like CBD oil, which has taken the wellness world by storm as a natural pain reliever and anxiety reducer.
Pick Your Potion Medicinal herbs are easy to incorporate into your life and lifestyle. Luckily, many of these healing plants can be enjoyed in multiple forms, whether as culinary herbs for cooking, dried herbs for teas, or essential oils added to bath and beauty products. For example, rosemary is known as a flavor enhancer for chicken and pork. It can also be added to soaps for aroma, infused into shampoo to 1 0 I CO N N E C T I ON S / W HAT ’S NEX T MAGAZINE I SUMMER 2019
Hippocrates, the “Father of Medicine,” once said, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” promote hair growth, and steeped into tea as a natural way to promote gut health. It offers a host of anti-microbial and anti-bacterial properties. Plus, it’s relatively easy to grow. If you’re just starting out, don’t let the unusual names deter you. These include names like Ashwaganda (an adaptogen that can boost energy), or Burdock Root (a member of the daisy family that contains healthpromoting antioxidants like quercetin and luteolin), or Valerian (the flavor added to root beer that may also aid in sleep). Incorporating herbs and their healing benefits into your diet doesn’t have to be intimidating or complicated. Eileen Schaeffer, a nutritional therapy practitioner, herbalist and whole foods educator with Herb Girls based in Athens recommends starting in the spice aisle of the grocery store. “We are allured by the exotic,” she says, “but common herbs are powerful.” Need to freshen your breath naturally? Chew on some fennel seeds. Wondering about that bay leaf you put in your sauce? It’s rich with antioxidants. (Bonus tip: mix the leaf’s essential oil into a salve and apply to the chest to alleviate respiratory conditions.) Another excellent resource in town to use while learning about herbs is UGArden, an organic, student teaching farm at UGA (www.UGArdenHerbs.com). They grow 40 different medicinal herbs with a mission to educate students and the community on how to grow and incorporate herbs into everyday life. Noelle Fuller has managed their herb program since 2017 and brings a
passion for the plants (she dedicated her entire masters’ thesis entirely to Holy Basil, also called Tulsi). “There is a wisdom we receive when we work with the plants, how powerful they are in our hands, not just internally,” she says. “I want to be in relation to that!” The program offers educational workshops and a line of soaps, teas and salves using herbs harvested from the garden. One favorite is Allergy Relief Tea. The blend contains holy basil, stinging nettle, goldenrod and red clover – each of which lends specific healing properties to help reduce inflammation, clear up itchy eyes and boost the body’s resistance to allergies. There is also a new line of naturally-scented and colored lip balms. Made with coconut oil, shea butter and castor oil, the balms come in Peppermint, Lemongrass and Holy Basil flavors. According to Fuller, “using herbs with bath and beauty products is a good way to get the medicine and benefit from the plant. You are getting the whole plant medicine, not just the essential oil, but the aromatherapy, the skin benefits, the healing properties imbued in the plant – all the good stuff.” Her favorite flavor is, of course, holy basil. “It transports me back to the field when I put it on.”
The Hidden Power of Plants Google “healing herbs” and you’re likely to find an impressive list of benefits addressing a range of ailments, from digestion and wound care to disease prevention, immune system boosting and more. That’s a tall order. So, what exactly makes these herbs so powerful? Medicinal herbs are “super resilient”, says Fuller. “Stress is good for the plant. It makes them more
Medicinal herbs growing at UGArden
potent because it produces compounds that help ensure its survival. These compounds help protect the plant from oxidation from the sun. Scent molecules deter pests and threats.” As it turns out, the healing properties that benefit humans benefit the plant first. When you consume the plant, you receive that wisdom.
How To Get Started There are over a hundred herbs and spices that can be consumed or used topically for healing. Not sure where to start? Fuller says start slow. “Build your
Herb Girls’ 5 Common Herbs and Spices, and their Benefits Cayenne: Capsaicin, the active ingredient in cayenne peppers, lends its spiciness and may contain painrelieving properties. In fresh, dried or powdered form it may also support digestion, increase circulation, and promote detoxification. Add to BBQ rubs, marinades and dressings. Cardamom: Made from the seed pods of plants in the ginger family. These are rich in phytonutrients and manganese. Chewing on one can fight bad breath and calm inflamed gums. Cardamom is often used in Indian cooking. Ginger: Ginger is the go-to herb for an upset stomach — and for good reason! This rhizome contains
over 100 chemical compounds that can reduce inflammation and support digestion. Try fresh, grated ginger in hot water with lemon and honey. Cinnamon: Cinnamon comes from the bark of the Cinnamomum tree and has ancient history dating back to 2000 BC. Evidence suggests that cinnamon oil may help treat fungal infections. Celyon cinnamon may help stabilize insulin levels. Fennel: Native to the Mediterranean and known for its licorice flavor, dried fennel seeds and its oil can relieve digestive issues like gas, bloating, heartburn and colic in infants. The bulb, stalk, leaves and seeds are all edible! SUMMER 2019 I CO N N E C T I O N S / W H AT ’S N E X T M AG A Z I N E I 11