Have you ever wanted to try an alternative form of medicine to heal your health issues? If the answer is yes, you might want to plan a visit to an alternative medicine practitioner, such as an acupunturist or a naturopath. These types of alternative health professionals are trained to work with more natural remedies, such as herbs.
Herbal medicine has been in use since the dawn of time. The use of herbs can be either be good or bad depending on how they are used. You should always consult a doctor or other health professional before trying any alternative medical treatment and also, you could educate yourself as well. Herbal treatments are beneficial to your health and well-being, but they do take a little longer to work in the system.
Wild herbs are gaining popularity because more and more people are considering alternative healthcare. Some people simply do not want synthetic medicine in their bodies. Some people want a more natural and holistic approach to the treatment of their health issues.
A relatively easy enough to find wild herb is shiso or perilla. Shiso can be found in Asian markets, especially in Japanese stores. Shiso or the leaves of the beefsteak plant are used to treat a myriad of health-related problems, such as asthma, nausea and indigestion. You’ll find the shiso leaves prominently used in Japanese cuisine. Shiso leaves taste like a combination of licorice and cinnamon. You might want to try eating shiso in small amounts until you get used to it. You can either use the leaves fresh or cooked.
You could include shiso in your diet by adding the finely chopped leaves in salads or making tempura out of them. You might want to check out cookbooks that specialize in cooking with herbs to locate recipes for specific herb use. Shiso could be used whenever you need a refreshing herbal flavor. Be adventurous and use your imagination!
Here is a very simple way to use shiso:
Shiso and Soy Salad Dressing
1-2 fresh shiso leaves, chopped finely
3-4 T. of soy sauce or tamari
1 t. agave nectar
3-4 T. of rice vinegar
3-4 T. of salad or olive oil
salt and pepper to taste.
In a small bowl, whisk the shiso leaves, the soy sauce, the rice vinegar and the oil together until well-blended. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve with mixed greens or even use this as a marinade. Enjoy!