Medicine in your Cupboard: 3 immune boosting herbs to add to your dinner
Your kitchen is filled with natural medicine. Some of the most widely used cooking herbs can be used to fight viral infections. While there are many herbs that can boost your immunity, in this post I will be focusing on Rosemary, Thyme, and Garlic. Each of these herbs are flavorful and powerful protectors.
Rosemary, Rosmarinus officinalis Rosemary is a hearty evergreen shrub. It has been around for centuries and is grown world-wide. Rosemary’s everlasting qualities are tied to romantic devotion and ancestral memories. This often-overlooked herb is a prized fighter. Research shows that Rosemary can knock out viruses like SARS-CoV-1 (Yes, the predecessor to CoVID-19).1 My favorite Rosemary recipe is my wife’s gluten-free, rosemary Dutch oven bread, and it’s the only herb I use to season my holiday turkey.
Thyme, Thymus vulgaris One of your garden’s most noble herbs and a favorite of the furry honeybee, Thyme bravely stands by your side and protects you. Thyme is a powerful, natural, medicinal herb. In fact, Thymos is the Greek word for “strength.” This herb wards off the germy enemies and self-defeating thoughts. Thyme is antiviral, and it has a chemical affinity for your respiratory tract, where CoVid-19 causes the most damage. I like to add this herb to roasted veggies. You can also add it to a simple syrup to flavor your beverages.
Garlic, Allium satIvum Garlic is an ancient protector and wards off more than vampires. For centuries it has been used to relieve and cure a myriad of ailments including cardiovascular disease and digestive issues. In terms of our current pandemic, Garlic has shown to be a relieve the symptoms of viruses such as the cold and influenza—headaches, respiratory issues, and digestive issues. More significantly, garlic is antimicrobial. I add garlic to almost all my savory dishes. It’s a favorite in my household There are so many ways in which you can add these herbs to your meals. Arm yourself and your loved ones with these three herbs. Natural medicine is a powerful tool you can use and readily available. Comment below and let me know which of your favorite recipes uses these herbs! References
Grieve, M. (1982). A modern herbal: the medicinal, culinary, cosmetic and economic properties, cultivation and folk-lore of herbs, grasses, fungi, shrubs, & trees with all their modern scientific uses (Vol. 1). New York: Dover Publications.
Grieve, M. (1982). A modern herbal: the medicinal, culinary, cosmetic and economic properties, cultivation and folk-lore of herbs, grasses, fungi, shrubs, & trees with all their modern scientific uses (Vol. 2). New York: Dover Publications.
Wood, M. (2008). The earthwise herbal: a complete guide to Old World medicinal plants. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books.
Wood, M. (2009). The earthwise herbal: a complete guide to New World medicinal plants. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books.
Tilgner, S. (2009). Herbal medicine: from the heart of the earth. Creswell, OR: Wise Acres.
Toll, M. (2018). The illustrated herbiary: guidance and rituals from 36 bewitching botanicals. North Adams, MA: Storey Publishing.