Growing and using one’s own herbs is a fun and economical way to live a healthier life. By growing one’s own herbs, you can also ensure that they are organic and safe, and you benefit the environment in the process.
Fresh Herbs Can Add Spice to Your Life
Fresh herbs add intense, amazing flavor to any dish. Whether you are cooking from scratch, or simply spicing up a pre-made dish, freshly picked herbs add nutrients, color and taste, far beyond what dried herbs are capable of. Because the flavor of fresh herbs is so intense, far less fresh herbs are required, usually just a third of the dry herbs that would be required. This means that you need only grow a small amount of fresh herbs to maintain a year round supply of flavor for your meals!
The Historical Uses of Herbs: Herbs and Healing
Although no written documentation is available, herbs have probably been used medicinally as far back as the time of cave men who probably gained some knowledge of their effects through trial and error. In fact, some yarrow and hyacinth have actually been found buried with some of these prehistoric people. Clear evidence of herbal use for medicinal purposes is also available in the tombs of the pharaohs of Ancient Egypt, and an ancient papyrus text lists at least seven hundred herbs in use for healing purposes at that time. Some of the most common herbs used were garlic, poppy, caraway seeds, and aloe. History also indicates that herbs were first used for healing only in connection with some accompanying magic.