Posted by Sheila Gazlay on Mar.14, 2009

©iStockphoto.com - Robert Ahrens

Spices have been used for centuries as cures. When the three wise men brought the baby Jesus frankincense any myrrh they were bringing him remedies for common maladies of the day. Myrrh was used for stomach ailments. Today, the active ingredient in many remedies for a stuffy nose is just eucalyptus from the tree of the same name.

Lately there has been press about spices like cinnamon and cayenne pepper for heart health but there are many other commonly found spices that are good for you.

Peppermint is a cross between water mint and spearmint and grows throughout Europe and North America. It and has been used for centuries to treat a variety of health concerns. Peppermint is a hairy little plant having its roots in ancient Rome, Egypt, and Greece. Peppermint oil has been used for a variety of health conditions, including nausea, indigestion, and cold symptoms. Peppermint oil is also used as a cure for headaches, muscle and nerve pain, and stomach and bowel conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome and asthma. Oil of peppermint is safe for most adults when used in small doses but side effects may include allergic reaction and heartburn. In a study from Wheeling Jesuit University in West Virginia, smelling of it has been seen to curb the appetite. It has also been used to treat the effects of Alzheimer’s.

Because of the way the liver may react to peppermint, it may interfere with the good benefits of some herbs and supplements.

Though there are many sites on the web that talk about drug interaction the only one I could find that gave you the chance to see how peppermint reacts with many prescriptions is The Drug Digest athttp://www.drugdigest.org

Peppermint can be grown by planting seeds in March or April outdoors for a crop late in the summer.

Another food cure that can be found there is cayenne pepper. It is native to South America and is also known as chili pepper.

Cayenne (in various forms) has been used successfully for medical purposes. For example, when applied topically cayenne (capsicum) containing products are effective for the treatment of diabetic neuropathy, psoriasis, and pain from shingles, and fibromyalgia. Cayenne assists with pain relief by acting as a counter-irritant (by opposing existing pain signals and blocking their transmission along the spine). Evidence also suggests that cayenne (taken in capsule form) provides relief from colic, gas, indigestion, poor appetite, colds, fever, headaches and general pain.

Cayenne pepper is a great herb for taking care of the circulatory system therefore has great heart health benefits. It is totally harmless so may actually be preferable to other herbs. It promotes circulation to all organs and has even been seen to stop the main symptoms of a heart attack, which are a crushing pain in the chest accompanied by pain in the left arm. This is because it has antispasmodic properties and it also circulates oxygen among the tissues.

Cayenne pepper is often thought of as a substance that will give the consumer indigestion but has actually been shown to stop heartburn. Though it can be found in capsule form, you can also brew it into a tea.

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Posted under Food Facts, Food, Nutrition & Recipes.