Herbs: They’re Not Just for Cooking
By Kymisha Montgomery, CGC Urban Agriculture Coordinator
Photo credit: Meghan Henshaw
There are many recipes out there that call for herbs. These beloved plants can be used to enhance flavor and aroma or to add depth and complexity to dishes. Different herbs offer distinct flavor profiles, allowing cooks to create a variety of tastes and subtle to robust flavors in their dishes. Herbs can be used to add flavor without salt and sugar, which can make the dish healthier. Being rich in antioxidants and other beneficial plant compounds, they also are linked to reduced inflammation and digestive issues.
But what else can you do with herbs?
Besides cooking, there are a few other popular ways to use the summer abundance of herbs you might have on your hands. Many people who prefer natural products use herbs in their everyday skincare routine. Lavender, chamomile and turmeric, for instance, are used in skincare products to treat acne, tone the skin and reduce inflammation.
You can also add herbs to your haircare to treat scalp conditions and promote hair growth. Many self-care companies are dedicated to using more kinds of herbs in their products than ever. You might find essential oils of rosemary, hibiscus, peppermint and even basil in your shampoo!
Herbs like lavender and chamomile are known to improve sleep, while other, more strongly scented herbs like rosemary and peppermint are often used as air fresheners.
Herbs have been used for thousands of years by indigenous people worldwide for a practice we often hear referred to as smudging, which involves creating a sacred smoke by burning medicinal or sacred plants. The smoke is used to cleanse, purify and bless objects, spaces and even ourselves. There are many ceremonies and protocols for smudging that typically involve four sacred plants: cedar, sage, sweetgrass and tobacco.
Want to learn more about this ancient use of herbs? Join us for our Herbal Bundle Workshop held in local herbalist Meghan Henshaw’s’s Melrose Medicinal Garden. You'll see different types of aromatic plants growing in the garden, watch a demonstration of how to craft a bioregionally appropriate herbal bundle, then craft your own herbal bundle to take home!