Beginning with Sea Salt, a favorite staple in the diet, spices have been used for centuries.  Wars were fought over spices and the right to produce and sell them!

Spices like cinnamon and cloves were used only by the aristocracy due to their cost and difficulty in transporting from the orient or islands in the Indian and Pacific oceans.  Ships and caravans of spice traders were often attacked by pirates or ambushed due to their precious cargo.

Into the kitchen & how commonly used spices & herbs help you:

• Allspice; chills, diarrhea & as a digestive aid & natural antioxidant
• Basil; headaches, colds, aids digestion and is calming
• Cayenne; helps circulation,arthritis and respiratory congestion
• Cloves; for indigestion & gas, freshens breath, is a topical anesthetic
• Garlic; helps high blood pressure, sinus congestion, coughs,anti-parasitic
• Ginger; nausea, chills, poor circulation, gas, stomach distress, lungs
• Oregano; diuretic, headaches, nausea, asthma, colic, rheumatism
• Parsley; freshens breath, benefits eyes, kidney, liver, decreases breast milk
• Spearmint; benefits colic, gas, indigestion, nausea, colds and fresh breath
• Thyme; antifungal, antibacterial, good for respiratory & digestive problems
• Turmeric; natural antioxidant, improves liver function, reduces inflammation

Amazing how food, spices and herbs help you take charge of your health!!  And you can grow your own for convenient use in pots -  And there’s no gluten or dairy in any of them to effect a gluten intolerant person.  Also adds to the seductive look of your patio dining.

Suggested Reading:    Empty Harvest, Mark Anderson

Omnivore’s Delight & In Defense  of Food, Michel Pollan