The Wonderful World of Herbs

A taste for it, you should never curb

Added effectively in your daily meal

Flavour and health get a BIG deal."

Come join the great herb hunt as it is never too old to become younger. Awaken to the wonderful world of natural herbs. As we open our eyes and look around -Mother Nature is smiling and bestowing its bounties upon us in the form of fresh herbs which have helped us humans to wage a war against health hazards from time immemorial. We are born healthy and grow up into hale and hearty individuals, then with the passing years our physical well being takes a beating and results in wear and tear. This fierce battle fought on the physical front shows up on us in ugly sags, unhealthy bags and untimely tags. This is the time holy herbs come handy and helpful. They are the high priests of holistic healing and everlasting youth.

Seasons come and seasons go, pimples and wrinkles play havoc, here again, herbs shield us, so save it, stock it and savour it on a daily basis. Correctly used, herbs have colon cleansing properties; they effectively detoxify, aid weight reduction, tone up muscles, relax spasms, cure constipation, banish cold and allergies, control fever, decongest arteries, improve blood circulation, maintain blood pressure, help in oxygen absorption, refresh and rejuvenate skin.

People all over the globe and realized these potentials and have started to incorporate herbs in their day to day diet. Commonly used herbs are--

Mint-"Take the hint and gulp up a pint!"

It is a miracle herb with mind blowing properties. This aromatic perennial herb is used for flavouring soups, salads, sauces, meats, fish, poultry, vinegar, stews, chocolate dishes, cordials and lemony desserts to tingle your taste buds. Peppermint is most often used for teas and sweets. Spearmint is the mint of choice for meat sauces and jellies, and is especially good with vegetables and is also used in tea, and is the mint featured in the mint julep. Red stemmed apple mint; with its hybrid spearmint/peppermint taste is an excellent choice for recipes simply calling for mint. It can also be used as an appeasing appetizer and can be concocted in a cheerful cocktail. Pepper Mint, Bergamot Mint and Spear Mint are variants of mint. It has great medicinal value and gives quick relief from heartburns and stomach churns.

Lemongrass-"Don't eat crass, grab the lemongrass!"

The grass is definitely greener on the other side that is on the kitchen shelf. Lemongrass is a herb, is an oil and is a grass. There are two types of lemon grass--East Indian lemongrass aka cochin or Malabar lemongrass, native to India and West Indian lemongrass, native to south India and Ceylon. In Chinese folk medicine, lemon grass is known to cure everything from rheumatic attacks to headaches to stomach aches. It is a curative herb that has antibacterial and antifungal properties. Use fresh lemongrass leaves with water and sugar to make energizing herb tea and lemon grass syrup

made with fresh coarsely chopped lemongrass, water and jaggery can be tried in other non alcoholic beverages. This syrup is the perfect counterpart to ice-cold vanilla vodkas as lemongrass works extremely well with floral or spicy toned drinks.

Aloe Vera---"Say hello to Aloe and lo you glow!"

It is the medicinal member of the lily plant. This herb has abundance of moisture in it and properties which are good for cell regeneration, oxygen absorption, sun protection and skin eruptions. Common names of alluring Aloe are Chinese Aloe, Indian Aloe, True Aloe, Barbados Aloe, Burn Aloe, First Aid Plant, Wand of Heaven and Miracle Plant.It can be used as a vegetable preparation,sauce and pickle ,yoghurt and food preservative.It is best taken on an empty stomach in the form of juice prepared with rock sugar as a health drink for diabetics ,for the obese and people with skin eruptions and allergies.It loses its medicinal and curative properties if cooked,steamed or boiled,hence raw aloe vera in the form of juice is the best to be consumed.

Basil---" Basil, this herb has to excel."

Basil is a healing herb, originally native to India, Iran and tropical regions of Asia. There are many varieties of Basil-Thai basil, Holy basil, Sweet basil. The Greek meaning of Basil is "King" and Basil is also considered the "King of Herbs" by chefs and cooks due to its culinary competency. While cooking, Basil leaves have to be added at the last moment for it to retain its flavour, fragrance and freshness. Fresh or dried basil can add taste and aroma to soups and salads, stews and sauces, jams and juices, pasta and pizza, fresh fruits and desserts. Basil works well in combination with tomatoes; finely chopped basil stirred into mayonnaise makes a good sauce for fish. Basil seeds soaked in water known as Sabza or falooda is added to puddings and ice creams to give them a distinct and delicious essence. As a medicinal herb, Basil is a sleep-inducing sedative and combined with ginger and black pepper, it is a miraculous cure for cold and cough. It has also proved to be the best remedy for spasms and stomach disorders, stimulant and insect repellant.

Fenugreek---"The herb you search and seek."

Fenugreek is a popular plant which is used both as a herb in form of leaves and as a spice in its dried form. Small fresh leaves and green sprouts of fenugreek are cooked as a vegetable and also for fillings in chapattis or Indian bread. Due to the high water content of the fresh leaves, cooking it generally does not require adding water unless needed. Dried fenugreek leaves and seeds, slightly bitter and aromatic, are used to garnish curries and chutneys and is the most important ingredient for the Indian pastes and pickles. It is frequently used in flavouring syrups and soups. It is a widely used herb in India-in the South ,it is a major part of the preparation of Idli-dosa, in the north, its filled in puris and kachoris, in the western region of India, it is used to make khakhras and theplas, in eastern India, it is added to fish curries and seafood. In the country of Egypt, Fenugreek is used to prepare tea and syrups, cakes and confectionary. Fenugreek seeds are mainly used as a digestive aid and act as a galactagogue.

In short, Herbs are happening! Happy hours can be spent having this holy, healthy and heavenly option.