Helpful Herbs Do Double-Duty

All winter you’ve been enjoying the tasty leaves and flowers from your garden-grown herbs in your cooking. But did you know that those same plants that spice up your cooking do double-duty as health-care workers? Here’s a small sampling of the cream of the crop:

Basil fights cold and flu infections, eases migraines, relieves stress, helps cure depression, and removes warts.

Bay helps prevent tooth decay and eases the pain of headaches and stomachaches.

Dill soothes upset stomachs, relieves muscle spasms, and freshens breath.

Garlic kills bacteria, clears lung congestion, lowers blood sugar and cholesterol levels, boosts circulation, and acts as an antihistamine.

Peppermint energizes mind and body and relieves nausea and upset stomachs.

Rosemary stimulates memory, boosts energy, and helps chase the blues away.

To my Grandma Putt’s way of thinking, there was almost nothing that a cup of herbal tea couldn’t cure. Here’s her super-simple tea recipe:

Put 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried or fresh herbs into a ceramic teapot or mug that you’ve preheated by pouring boiling water into it, then dumping it out. In a pan or teakettle, bring 1 cup of water to a boil, and pour it over the herbs. Let the mixture steep for three to five minutes, and strain it into a fresh cup or mug. Add honey to taste, if you’d like, and drink to good health and a long life!