Parsley
Whether found in its flat leaf or curly leaf varieties, Parsley has been considered a mainstay in traditional herb gardens all over the world for centuries. Most people know this sturdy green herb as a garnish, but it is also used as an ingredient in cooking. Because of it’s wide popularity, it is easy to find Parsley, either tied in fresh bundles or dried, in grocery stores. You can easily store bundles of fresh Parsley in the refrigerator, wrapped in a damp paper towel and placed inside a plastic bag. Parsley is included as an ingredient in many different sauces and salads. Parsley lends its fresh green color to pesto recipes and is also found gracing the plates and bowls of many dishes as a colorful garnish.
Historically, Parsley has many documented uses in cooking from all around the world. It was also used for medicinal purposes but there is a lot more to this humble plant. Parsley was made into crowns in Greece and placed on the heads of winning Olympians. Parsley is used as a symbol representing Spring and rebirth in Hebrew tradition, as part of the Passover meal. Hippocrates writes about his use of Parsley as an ingredient for medicines, as a panacea for a number of different illnesses and in antidotes for various poisons.
Parsley was also used in the treatment of kidney and bladder stones. Modern medical science support this use as Parsley has been found to be a good source of Vitamins A and C, and has potential for use against inflammation and as an agent to clear toxins from the body. Ounce for ounce, Parsley contains nearly triple the amount of Vitamin C found in oranges!
Historically, diseases that were caused by a lack of Vitamin C, such as gum problems and loose teeth were successfully treated with Parsley which was also reputed to be useful to help brighten failing eyesight. Because Parsley was associated with Archemorus by the ancient Greeks, this little plant was highly revered and respected. Legend has it that Archemorus was eaten by a serpent after his nurse placed his infant body on a sprig of parsley. This may seem silly to us looking back on it today, but Parsley inspired fear in the hearts of many ancient Greeks for a long time!
Parsley contains a compound called “apiol”, which is chemically similar to the female hormone, estrogen. For this reason, Parsley was often used to regulate a woman’s menstrual cycles. Parsley aids in eliminating excess water from the body and is a part of successful treatments for diseases like Malaria in countries where that disease is common. Many of the uses of Parsley that have been traditionally thought of as “old wives tales” have been documented as true by modern science.
Many of these old uses for Parsley survive today as treatments for kidney stones, rheumatoid arthritis, menstrual irregularity, poor appetite and excess fluid retention. Parsley leaf is considered a diuretic and eating Parsley can also calm an upset stomach. Parsley juice is widely available at herbal and health food stores. Somewhat bitter tasting on its own, Parsley juice can be mixed with other juices for flavor and consumed as a healthy drink. Like many herbs, Parsley loses a lot of its vitamin content when the herb is dried.
Happy Herb Gardening!
Rosemary
Rosemary is a very obvious and common herb, especially noticeable while eating Mediterranean fare, due to its bitter taste, and it is related to the mint family, in Latin, known as “dew of the sea”. If you are eating a food that has a high oil content, it makes it taste even better. Many people cook with rosemary by creating an herbal infusion out of its leaves, which is very popular.
You can use it with many different foods, as it is burned first and then grilled. This herb is healthier for you if you consume the dried variety, rather than fresh, and it is filled with many minerals and vitamins like B-6 and iron, making it completely different from other types of herbs. You should not pick your rosemary before you are ready to cook with it because the flavor will not be as strong if you wait. Many gardeners believe that you can keep pests away from your garden, like beetles or moths, by planting rosemary around the perimeter, as rosemary acts as a natural repellent.
A long time ago, in Europe, rosemary was thrown into a grave at burial as a way of symbolically saying, “we won’t forget you,” as the herb was believed to help improve a person’s memory. There is another belief that says a rosemary plant will reach the exact height of Jesus’s crucifixion if you let it grow on its own for thirty three years. Others believe that you can keep bad dreams and evil away if you place rosemary beneath your pillow. Some musical instruments are made from the wood from the rosemary plant’s stems. Back in the day, people believed in wasting nothing, which is why tiny scraps of wood were utilized. Another symbol of remembrance are wreaths that are made out of rosemary.
Rosemary isn’t just used to cook with these days, as you will often find it in makeup, home fragrances, and shampoos. You can stimulate your memory by using rosemary, according to lab word done by many scientists. Animals have been used to test rosemary’s use as a cancer preventative with optimal results. You can soothe your menstrual cramps or a stomachache by using rosemary, and it will also help to relax your muscles. Remember, you can create a counter effect if you use rosemary too often which is not what you want to achieve when using this.
If you are prone to being anxious, you can drink a cup of rosemary tea to help calm yourself. So many people truly enjoy drinking rosemary tea. It isn’t hard to make rosemary tea, as all that you have to do is steep the leaves under boiling water for about fifteen minutes. Don’t add cream but definitely add a touch of sugar to your beverage. You can also increase the flavor of your cooking by adding rosemary sprigs to your own oils or vinegars.
You can strengthen your hair or lighten its color if you use rosemary in your shampoo on a regular basis. If you are in the mood for a warm bath, add some rosemary and soak away. Most people use rosemary solely for cooking but it has other uses that may be quite beneficial.
Happy Herb Gardening!
