Care Tips And Health Benefits With Herbs(part-2)

Take Cuttings Of Basil 

Cut just above a pair of leaves, a bit down the stem. The cutting should be about five centimeters long. Remove the lower leaves so they don't end up in the water before you put them in small vases.

After barely two weeks in water, they start to get thin, white roots and it's time to put them in soil. Feel free to put several cuttings in the same pot to get a dense and nice basil. When the plants then start to grow, they must be regularly pinched off so that they branch out.

Lemon Balm

Lemon balm is an easy-to-grow, perennial spice that likes to spread. Its decorative, light green leaves are beautiful together with flowers in flower beds and pots. As a medicinal plant, it is valued for its calming properties, but it is also said to be able to help lower blood pressure and reduce blood sugar fluctuations.

The active substances in lemon balm are mainly essential oil, tannins, bitter substances, flavonoids and phenols and it has also been used to calm stressed stomachs and against tension headaches. By rubbing with a leaf or bathing with herbal decoction, it can also relieve ailments such as mouth ulcers and other sores.

Dragon

Dragon is perennial but only a bit up in the country. The Russian tarragon is hardier than the French but has less flavor. Scientific studies have shown that tarragon has positive effects on glucose control and how the body uses insulin. According to research published in the scientific journal Phytomedicine, tarragon extract can help reduce blood sugar levels by up to 20 percent.

Mint

Mint is perennial and spreads properly, usually more than you want. A tip is to plant in a pot or a bottomless bucket to stop their advance somewhat. Fresh mint is rich in vitamin C, folic acid, iron and magnesium. Mint is good for digestion, reduces gas and nausea, and helps settle the stomach, as it helps the muscles in the gastrointestinal tract to relax. Menthol is the active ingredient in mint and dissolves mucus and can help with nasal congestion. Massage some peppermint oil into your temples if you have a headache, the muscle relaxing properties can ease the problem. The oil can also soothe the itching of insect bites. Mint is also antibacterial. You can prevent problems with dental hygiene by chewing on the leaves or rinsing your mouth with a spearmint-based mouthwash. Also helps if you have bad breath.

Oregano

Parsley is available as both rough-leaved and smooth-leaved, with the latter having slightly more flavor. Fresh parsley is rich in vitamin A, B vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6 and B9, folic acid and vitamin K. It also gives you a lot of potassium, calcium, zinc, phosphorus, iron and magnesium. Parsley is also rich in myricetin, a special flavonoid that helps regulate blood sugar levels. It also has anti-inflammatory properties and reduces insulin resistance. The fact that parsley is diuretic and stimulates the kidney functions helps the kidneys to clean and detoxify the body more easily. The high content of potassium helps regulate high blood pressure. But if you have a tendency to get kidney stones, it is recommended that you do not eat parsley every day, as it contains a lot of oxalic acid.

Rosemary

Rosemary is a perennial herb, but it needs to be kept in a bright and frost-free place during the winter in most of the country. Rosemary is good as a massage oil or in the bath if you have exercise pain or cold hands and feet.

It is good for digestion in colic and problems with bile and increases blood circulation in muscle and joint pain. Rosemary is rich in antioxidants and can prevent infections and colds. You should avoid rosemary if you have high blood pressure, as the herb is activating.

Thyme

Thyme is a perennial spice, which is strongly anti-bacterial and anti-viral, has antispasmodic and expectorant properties and has been used for centuries as a cough medicine. Its essential oil contains phenols, such as thymol and carvacrol, flavonoids and terpenoids, which give thyme its antibacterial, antihypertensive and anti-inflammatory properties.

You can treat sore throats, bronchitis, coughs and voice problems with thyme. The herb is high in iron, helps you sleep and can be used to treat hyperhidrosis excessive sweating of the hands and feet. It can help heal wounds, relieve muscle pain and tired feet. If you have problems with digestion, thyme can help you clear the intestinal tract. There are several different types of thyme with growth habits and colors that distinguish them.

This Is How You Harvest Your Spices 

To get the most out of the aromas of the spices, you should harvest them in dry weather, preferably in the morning when the dew has dried up but the sun has not yet become hot. This is when the essential oils are at their strongest in the plants. The essential oils are what give the scent and taste, and strong sunlight causes the concentration to decrease.

Different spices must then be taken care of in different ways so that their flavors and aromas are preserved in the best possible way. Some spices work best frozen, while the flavor of other spices is enhanced when they are dried.Frozen spices can be advantageously made in ice cubes together with a little water or oil, in this way it is easier to get the amount of spices that you need at the moment.

You can dry spices either by placing them on a tray or baking sheet and letting them lie like that for about two weeks in a dark place, or by making small bouquets of them and hanging them upside down. When the spices have dried, they are scraped off the stem and stored in airtight jars. Store the spices separately or mix your own exciting spice mixtures.