HERBAL MEDICINES

Herbal medicines? These words remind me of Quiapo Church, where many people after saying prayers throng the many stalls in the area. You can find several vendors offering plants, probably most of them taken from their own backyards, saying this and that offers panacea for all body pains. One has to realize, however, that these are not just ordinary stems and leaves. From experiments inside the labs, herbs are proven to contain medicinal values.

anise

Broadly defined, products of plant origin used primarily for the seasoning of food to give it flavor and aroma. Herbs, such as parsley, bay leaf, or tarragon may be more precisely defined as fragrant leaves grown in the temperate zone. Anise, mustard, and sesame are examples of flavorful seeds, some of which grow in the tropics and some in temperate regions. In another group are the lustlly flavored vegetables—onion, garlic, chives, celery, or sweet peppers—which are used for seasoning, as well as for their food value.

“… are you going to Scarborough Fair,
parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme!...”

parsely

sage

rosemary

thyme

Herbs strong enough to add a distinctive flavor accent include sweet basil, dill, mint, sweet marjoram, tarragon, and thyme. Pungent herbs, such as rosemary, sage, oregano (also called wild marjoram), and winter savory should be used with discretion.