They taste good and have a beneficial effect on health: the benefits of aromatic herbs

Olivia Leimpeters-Leth

23.10.2023

Translation: machine translated

Picking and adding a handful of aromatic herbs to your meals from time to time can save you a lot of money at the chemist. At least that's what doctor, author and presenter Franziska Rubin says in an interview. She also explains how herbal home remedies work and why it's often not necessary to take medication in the first place.

Aromatic herbs grow in the garden, on the balcony or windowsill. Thyme, parsley and co. not only beautify the kitchen and diversify dishes, they are also medicinal plants with miraculous effects on your health and well-being.

The mysteries of nature or a thousand years of knowledge

From Hippocrates to traditional Chinese medicinethe use of medicinal plants is as old as humanity itself.

Salutogenesis or how the body heals itself

Modern Western medicine as we know it today developed much later, around the 19th century. While pathogenesis, the study of the origin of illnesses, became the norm, it was salutogenesis that was advocated in naturopathy, i.e. the study of all the processes that promote and maintain our health.

"The body is always trying to heal itself," says Franziska Rubin. "With home remedies, I stimulate it to take action. "But self-healing always requires an effort from your body. So if the body lacks strength, you have to resort to traditional medicine: "If my condition doesn't improve with compresses and herbal teas over a period of three days, my body needs something else, for example an antibiotic," Franziska Rubin points out.

Herbs that relieve everyday aches and pains

In many cases, however, you can spare yourself medication by dipping into your herb patch and look after your health in a sustainable and natural way. Dr Rubin recommends growing herbs in your own garden or on your balcony and, above all, cooking with them: "Aromatic herbs enrich not only the vegetable garden, but also your meals."

She also advises buying herbs from garden centres, where the choice is more varied and you can find other types of plant than in the supermarket. If the effect of the moderate dosage of aromatic herbs is not enough to relieve your symptoms, there are more highly dosed herbal preparations available from pharmacies.

1. Sage relieves sore throat

For many people, autumn is synonymous with colds. Instead of consuming painkillers for months on end, you can try sage.

Recipe for sage gargle solution:

• one heaped teaspoon of dried sage or
• two heaped teaspoons of fresh sage;
• pour in 150 millilitres of hot water;
• leave to infuse for ten minutes;
• use as a gargle as hot as possible, as required.

2. Thyme and its many benefits: good for bronchial tubes and mood

Already popular in Hildegard von Bingen's day, thyme is one of Franziska Rubin's favourites during the cold season: "Thyme is my favourite remedy for coughs, because it relaxes the bronchial muscles. Thyme can be used as an inhalation, an infusion or applied externally in the form of an oil."

In addition, its active substance, thymol, reduces oxidative stress and thus functions as a natural anti-ageing active ingredient: "The older we get, the more cellular damage due to oxidative stress increases," explains Dr Rubin. "Thyme has great antioxidant power, slowing down cellular ageing and preserving the regenerative capacity of cells."

In addition, thymol has an antispasmodic and analgesic effect, for example in cases of menstrual disorders, similar to the analgesic ibuprofen. That's according to a study published in the Caspian Journal of Internal Medicine.

You can use thyme both internally and externally. As an infusion, in the form of oil or incorporated into your next meal, it's not only healthy, but tasty too. For menstrual pain, you can make a natural muscle relaxant with thyme:

• pour 500 millilitres of boiling water over fresh or dried thyme;
• leave to infuse for ten minutes and then soak a towel in the mixture;
• dry the towel and place it as hot as possible on the lower abdomen.

In the case of coughs and bronchial disorders, the poultice also acts as a compress on the chest.

3. Lavender for restful sleep

Valerian, lemon balm, yarrow or hops also relieve restlessness and ensure a good night's sleep. Herbal tea blends or high-dose valerian and lavender capsules sold in pharmacies are recommended. In addition, you can spray lavender on your pillow or apply a lavender compress to your chest to soothe yourself before going to bed.

Lavender not only relieves sleep disorders, but also headaches. This is shown by an Iranian study: a few drops on the chest, or under the nose, are enough to relieve headaches. You can easily make this oil yourself:

• pour 1 litre of almond oil into a jar;
• add 40 grams of dried lavender flowers;
• marinate the oil mixture for one to two hours (do not boil);
• remove the oil from the heat and allow to cool.

4. Parsley for a healthy bladder and digestion

Cystitis can happen to anyone and is never pleasant. As long as it isn't chronic, a parsley-based soup can help: its diuretic effect helps to eliminate the Escherichia coli bacteria responsible for the infection from the bladder.

For a fit bladder, you can easily make a homemade parsley tea:

• pour 150 millilitres of boiling water over two teaspoons of dried parsley;
• let the mixture stand with a lid on for 10 to 15 minutes;
• drink three cups of parsley tea a day and drink enough water to cleanse the bladder.

5 Garlic and nasturtiums, natural antibiotics

Nasturtium shows similar effects: "It's the mustard oils that have an antimicrobial effect here. They act not only against bacteria, but also in a non-specific way, i.e. against resistant germs."So nasturtium also works when resistant germs have developed and the traditional antibiotic has failed.

And on the subject of mustard oil: horseradish also contains it. In the event of an infection, the expert recommends a tablespoon of freshly grated horseradish with honey for a particularly high amount of mustard glycosides.

And what about mustard oil: horseradish also contains mustard glycosides.

As for garlic, it lends itself particularly well to use in cooking, but for a slightly more potent blend, Dr Rubin recommends the Lemon Garlic Drink:

• mix a whole head of garlic with the juice of a whole lemon and a little tap water;
• pass the mixture through a sieve;
• then heat everything in a saucepan, without boiling;
• pour the mixture into a bottle.

"The brew lasts for several weeks. It has an antiseptic effect, reduces cholesterol and even acts as a probiotic for the intestinal flora. "In the event of an infection, you can drink a small shot every morning.

Got a taste for it and want to find out more about alternative medicine and medicinal plants? Then listen to the expert's new podcast: "Dr. Franziska Rubin - gibt's da nicht auch was Natürliches?"

Olivia Leimpeters-Leth

Autorin von customize mediahouse

oliver.fischer@digitecgalaxus.ch

I'm a sucker for flowery turns of phrase and allegorical language. Clever metaphors are my Kryptonite – even if, sometimes, it's better to just get to the point. Everything I write is edited by my cat, which I reckon is more «pet humanisation» than metaphor. When I'm not at my desk, I enjoy going hiking, taking part in fireside jamming sessions, dragging my exhausted body out to do some sport and hitting the occasional party. more

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