Herbs are considered very medicinal and effective in treating day to day illnesses and even long term health problems. There is no doubt that the use of herbs has been something that has been going on for a long time now. It is not something that has just started.
Our ancestors did not have the modern medicine we have today, but research said they lived longer and healthier compared to today’s people. Thanks to the use of herbs and healthy eating, that played a huge part in this. Spices, on the other hand, add life to the dishes.
They give the aromatic flavor needed to make one salivate just by smelling the scent of the meal a mile away. Not only do they bring great flavor to the meals, but they are also healthy and medicinal too, just like the herbs. We shall be looking at the different herbs and spices available to us that start with the letter M. Stay put as we proceed.
Herbs and spices
Marjoram
Marjoram is actually a herbaceous plant that reaches a height of about one to two feet in height. The plant has a blue flower and has varying colors of flowers, ranging from pink, purple, and white. The fruit is just like a capsule that contains little seeds. The herb is also popularly known as sweet marjoram. It is part of the mint family and its origins can be traced to Western Asia.
How to use Marjoram
Marjoram is mainly used as a culinary herb and spice. You can try out these recipes the next time you want to use marjoram. Recipes like; sprinkling them onto vegetable dishes, adding them to salad dressings, adding them to preserved meats, you can use them in tomato-based dishes too.
The health benefits of marjoram herb
The marjoram herb has been used for different health benefits and medicinal purposes for ages. The compounds in the marjoram herb are said to possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The herb can also be said to be beneficial to hormonal health, especially in women. According to some studies, marjoram can also be said to be effective in reducing anxiety. However, there’s no actual evidence to prove this, so more research needs to be done.
Where to get marjoram herb
The marjoram herb is quite familiar among the residents of the United States, so there’s a likely guarantee of getting it from produce vendors that deal most on herbs. It is unlikely that you can find fresh marjoram in grocery stores. However, what you’re likely to see is the processed version of it. If you’d like the processed version, you should check the grocery stores. However, if you want the fresh ones, produce vendors are the way to go.
Marshmallow
The marshmallow plant belongs to the malvaceae plant family, and its flowers are pollinated by bees. The origins of the marshmallow plant can be traced to northern Africa. They are found mostly in moist areas like marshes and riverbanks. The herb has some quality health benefits and it has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries to treat throat and skin infections and anxiety.
How to use marshmallows
Marshmallows are largely used for their culinary purposes. There are some marshmallow recipes you should consider trying, such as: Halloween poutine; easy s’mores; sweet potatoes and marshmallows; marshmallow sauce in desserts; rainbow crispy treats; grasshopper pie with marshmallows. There are so many marshmallow recipes out there that you should try checking them out online. They can give your food the taste it deserves.
The health benefits of marshmallows
Some clinical studies show that the compounds present in marshmallows are very effective in the treatment of cough. Some clinical studies show that the herb could reduce the duration of coughs. The compounds available in the plant can also be important in keeping and maintaining healthy skin. Compounds like polysaccharides and flavonoids are considered to have anti-inflammatory effects inside them, which can be helpful in treating stomach ulcers.
Where to get them
Marshmallows are quite popular in South America, especially Canada and America, so you’re likely to get them from produce vendors or in grocery and supermarket stores. If pushing a trolley down the aisle isn’t your thing or you are not in a country where the plant is popular, you can simply order them from online shopping platforms like Amazon.
Milk thistle
Milk thistle is actually a perennial plant that reaches a height of 2 to 6 feet tall. They normally have small flowers that are small, white and in clusters. The milk thistle fruits are in the form of capsules that open up in their ripe stages and reveal their seeds.
The herb grows mainly in disturbed areas or is cultivated in the garden as a weed. The herb possesses some vital health properties that are beneficial to humans. We shall be looking at them as we proceed.
How to use milk thistle
Milk thistle is widely known to be used for its medicinal purposes in treating liver problems. However, it also has its own culinary powers too. Next time you want to use your milk thistle, you can try some of these recipes: you can grind the herb and add it to your milk thistle; add it to a smoothie; sprinkle it on salads; prepare a trail mix. Use as an alternative to coffee. There are so many ways in which the milk thistle
The health benefits of milk thistle herb
Milk thistle has compounds that are effective in treating liver disease caused by alcoholic abuse or fatty liver disease. It also helps protect the liver against toxins like amatoxin. Studies also show that the herb may prevent age-related malfunctions as it can be used to treat problems like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Milk thistle is actually quite effective in bone protection and the treatment of cancer. Another study also found the herb to be able to treat acne.
Where to get them
If you live in the United States, you can find milk thistle extracts and the different versions of milk thistle in grocery stores and supermarkets. However, this might not be the case if you’re looking for a fresh milk thistle herb. Your best bet to get fresh herbs would be to locate produce vendors and gardeners who specialize in herbs. Another valid option is ordering from online platforms like Amazon.
Common motherwort
Common motherworts are plants that are mostly found in temperate climates in most parts of the world. The herb is part of the mint plant family and reaches up to two to four feet in growth. The flowers of this plant are generally small and purple in color. The small seeds produced by this plant are widely used for medicinal purposes. The plant possesses health benefits that have been used for centuries as a medicinal herb.
The uses of the common motherwort herb
The herb is widely used for its medicinal prowess to treat health-related problems like nerve pain, anxiety, insomnia, and depression. There are also quite a few studies that indicate that the drug is also effective in treating Alzheimer’s disease and menstrual cramps. The herb can be used for treating heart conditions, irregular heartbeats caused by anxiety, heart failure, etc.
The health benefits of the common motherwort herb
The motherwort contains some vital compounds that have anti-oxidative properties. These antioxidants help in fighting free radicals and preventing the development of cancerous cells in the body. The plant also has the potential to lower the heart rate, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels. Although more studies need to be done, other potential areas where the herb can be effective are anxiety and depression.
Where to get them
The herb can actually be gotten from produce vendors and gardeners that plant more herbs, especially if you are in the United States, as the herb is not so uncommon. However, other processed versions of this herb can be found in grocery stores and supermarkets. If you do not live in the States, you can order the herb on online shopping platforms like Iherb or Amazon and it’ll be shipped to you.
Mugwort
This herb is known to grow in various kinds of soil. It is popularly known for its medicinal purposes and has been used for centuries. The plant grows up to two meters in height, and its origins can be said to be traced to North America and Europe. You are also likely to see this herb grow in gardens where it is basically taken as an ornamental plant. The plant has some good health benefits, which we’ll be looking at as we progress.
The use of mugwort herb
The mugwort herb has been used as a medicinal herb for centuries. It can be used to treat digestive problems, irregular menstruation, and high blood pressure issues. The drug is used for other health measures as a laxative and liver tonic. The plant is also used to inhibit menopause pains and stimulate menstrual blood flow for an effective menstrual cycle.
The health benefits of mugwort herb
Mugwort contains strong compounds and properties that make it able to treat digestive problems, irregular menstruation, or poor menstrual flow. The herb may also be effective in treating depression, weight loss, indigestion, and may improve eye health and the density of the bones.
Where to get them?
Mugworts are not your typical common herbs that you see day to day. These herbs are hardly cultivated except for medicinal purposes, so they are more or less scarce. However, to begin the journey of finding this herb, your number one target would be to find vendors and gardeners that make it a point to focus mainly on the cultivation of herbs. There are also high chances of finding a different variety of products pertaining to this herb in the grocery stores. If all hope is lost, be sure to check online and order them.
Mullein
also known as great mullein, is an herb that has been in use for its medicinal benefits for centuries. It is an annual herb whose height reaches up to eight feet. The flowers of this plant are purple in color, and their stalks are somewhat hollow, hence giving it a cane-like appearance. The botanical name of this plant is Verbascum thapsus, and it is part of the Scophulariaceae plant family. The pants’ origin can be traced to Europe and different parts of Asia.
The use of the mullein herb
The mullein herb is used mainly for its medicinal prowess, as it’s used to cure coughs, bronchitis, and asthma. The plant is also used to treat different urinary tract infections. So many parts of Asia are said to also use this plant to cure sleeping problems such as insomnia and apnea. It is also used to reduce mucus development in the lungs and decrease water retention. The parts of the plant that are used for medicinal purposes are the dried flower petals.
The health benefits of the mullein herb
The mullein herb is known for its rich compounds that help to ease several health challenges. The herb can be used as a supplement to ease the symptoms, and it’s used in the form of a tea too. The herb’s compounds can ease difficulties in breathing, cure coughs, asthma, common colds, and bronchitis. The plant is an expectorant that helps the body remove mucus from the throat and chest by coughing out the mucus.
Where to get them
The plants can be gotten from local produce vendors who emphasize herbs more. However, it might not be an easy walk in the park to get this plant as it is cultivated mostly for medicinal purposes. There are other different processed varieties of the plant that have similar effects that you might consider getting in grocery stores if you can’t find the organic plant. Ordering them Buying the plant online might also increase your chances of getting the fresh plant from international produce vendors.
Mustard
The mustard plant, also known as black mustard, normally reaches three feet in height and has small flowers. The spice’s botanical name is Brassica alba, and it is part of the cruciferae plant family. The plant is widely known for its traditional medicinal contributions, which we’ll be looking at as we proceed.
The uses of mustard seed
The mustard spice is widely known to be used for its medicinal purpose. The plant’s rubefacient process helps irritate the part of the skin applied and causes blood circulation in the area, massaging and straightening the bones, relieving muscular and skeletal issues in the process.
The health benefits of mustard spice
The compounds contained in the mustard seed are rich in several minerals and vitamins, such as vitamin C and K, folic acid, and riboflavin. The plant is also rich in active compounds like antioxidants etc. The compounds available in the plant also help to prevent aging and cancer, aid healthy skin, help digestion, and promote heart health.
Where to get them
To get mustard seeds, nurseries are a good place to go. Another preferable option is visiting local produce vendors who are known for cultivating herbs. You are also likely to get the processed versions of these herbs from grocery stores and supermarkets.
Myrrh
Myrrh is an aromatic, bushy shrub that has a somewhat yellow-reddish flower. Its fruits are pointed, while its yielding bushes grow up to nine inches in height. The leaves of the plant are somehow scattered, circular, and unequal. The plant’s botanical name is Commiphora myrrha, and it’s from the burseraceae plant family. The shrub is also known as Mo yao.
The uses of the myrrh herb
The Myrrh herb has been used for centuries as a medicinal herb to cure stomach and chest problems, bronchial infections, and menstrual issues. It has been used by the Chinese people as an ayurvedic medicine till this day. It is widely used for the treatment of infected wounds, skin inflammations, and inflammations of the mouth.
The health benefits of the myrrh herb
Myrrh contains strong compounds that have properties that are vital in the treatment of coughs, colds, lung congestion, and arthritis pain. It is also applied inside the mouth to cure bad breath, soreness, and swelling. It is also used in embalming to reduce swelling and inflammation and also kill bacteria.
Where to get them
Myrrh herbs are not common in the United States, and you’ll be lucky to get them from produce vendors or gardeners. The best option for purchasing the herb is to order and get it shipped from online shopping platforms like Iherb and Amazon. There’s a high chance of you not finding this herb in the grocery stores, so it’s best advised you save yourself the stress.
Mistletoe
Mistletoe is a somewhat parasitic shrub. It normally has a branchy woody stem that has swollen nodes. The plant bears berries in December and its whitish flowers come out during July and May. The origin of the mistletoe herb can be traced to Portugal and Iran. It is from the plant family of loranthaceae and its botanical name is P. flavescence.
The uses of the mistletoe herb
The mistletoe herb is said to have been used for centuries for its medicinal purposes. It is used for the treatment of ailments like arthritis and hypertension. It is also used as a heart strengthener for weakened hearts. It is also widely used for the treatment of dizziness attacks, epilepsy, and cancer.
The health benefits of mistletoe
The mistletoe herb is rich in compounds that are highly effective in the treatment of different physical ailments. In a few studies, mistletoe has been shown to be effective in the reduction of stress and anxiety. It is also effective in aiding sleep. The herb might aid in the treatment of cancer, might improve heart health, may boost the immune system, may prevent inflammation, and may reduce the risk of diabetes. However, there is not much evidence to back up these claims, so much study needs to be done on this.
Where to get them
The plants can be gotten from local produce vendors who emphasize herbs more. However, it might not be an easy walk in the park to get this plant as it is cultivated mostly for medicinal purposes. There are other different processed varieties of the plant that have similar effects that you might consider getting in grocery stores if you can’t find the organic plant. Ordering them online might also increase your chances of getting the fresh plants from international produce vendors.
Mace
Mace, also known as nutmeg spice, is an herb and fruit that is gotten from the mace tree. Mace trees reach a height of forty to fifty feet. The flowers of the plant are pale and yellow in color. The origins of the maze fruit can be traced to Africa and Asia. The mace spice is known generally for its health benefits.
The use of mace spice
Mace spice is used for both culinary and medicinal purposes. For centuries, the spice has been used as a traditional herb to treat different ailments. However, you can try your mace spice in different dishes for its aromatic flavor, such as stewed rice, or add it to a vegetable mash up. There are different recipes online that you can try out when you next want to use your mace spice.
The health benefits of mace spice
The compounds in the mace spice have minerals and nutrients that help the digestive system stay active. It also helps to relieve the pain of people suffering from constipation. The spice also boosts appetite and helps with healthy eating. It also helps with blood circulation and flow. It is also good for dental health and helps erase bad breath odor.
Where to get them
Mace spice is quite popular and rampant in the United States, so you’re likely to get it from local produce vendors and gardeners. However, if you’re not a resident of the United States, this might not be the case for you. If, after checking your local grocery stores and produce vendors, you still can’t find them, the best option is to order and import them online via Amazon, Iherb, or Alibaba.