烹飪用草藥和香料為食物增添美味外，還有更多功能。這些調味劑含有重要的植物化合物，有助抵抗癌癥、舒緩糖尿及心臟疾病，並有助減輕因感冒和流感引起的疼痛和不適癥狀。許多草藥和香料如生薑、牛至、百里香等能消退食源性致病菌。其他如薑黃（含有薑黃素，即咖哩中的黃色），已被證明是預防酒精相關肝損害的有用草藥。
常見草藥和香料的藥用價值：
荳蔻
可用於消化不良。它含有案葉素，具有防腐、防口臭，舒緩充血及脹氣等癥狀。
辣椒
對抗食源性細菌，並有助預防心血管疾病和呼吸道感染。
肉桂
抗菌劑和抗氧化劑，也提高胰島素敏感性，同時降低膽固醇和甘油三酯。
丁香
高效抗氧化劑，天然防腐劑和抗痙攣草藥。丁香油是安全有效的天然抗牙痛成分。
芫荽
用於消化不良和腸胃脹氣。
尤加利樹
天然防腐劑和減充血劑，適用於芳香療法及蒸氣吸入，也有膠囊和茶等補充劑形式。
大蒜
高效抗菌，舒緩感冒和鼻塞，對抗動脈阻塞，降低血壓。也幫助對抗癌癥，治療糖尿病，雷諾氏病和真菌感染。(由於服用大蒜或會抵消益生菌作用，建議2者分開服用)。
薑
具有抗菌特性故常用於煮菜，有助改善口腔衛生，強力抗氧化劑，能顯著降低血脂，促進血液循環，並有助輕關節炎膝關節疼痛。對解酒和暈車均有功效。薑這種香料用於醫藥範疇已有數千年歷史。
甘草
甘草有助抵抗呼吸道感染;而去甘草酸的甘草素（DGL）則有助改善消化問題。甘草是被廣泛應用的草藥，在世界上應用量僅次於姜。
沒藥
沒藥屬於芳香類樹脂，具防腐作用，能針對口腔潰瘍、割傷及牙齦疾病。
牛至
有效抗菌，對食源性致病菌特別有效，並有效針對多種癌癥。牛至比普通草藥高20倍抗氧化活性，是一種強有力消炎草本成分。
薄荷
抗菌、解痙以及幫助溶解膽結石。
迷叠香
所含酚類物質具有抗癌特性、抗炎和強力抗氧化等好處。一些研究表明，迷叠香有助對抗白內障和老年癡呆癥。
鼠尾草
適用於胃部不適，可增強記憶力。
八角
有助支氣管祛痰，舒緩腸胃不適。
百里香
針對各種細菌和真菌感染非常有效，可用於咳嗽。
薑黃
含有薑黃素，有助降低炎癥反應和2型糖尿病的風險，有助對抗老年癡呆癥、克羅恩病、抑鬱癥、心臟衰竭、類風濕關節炎和抑制腫瘤生長。黑胡椒素能大大提高了薑黃在體內的吸收率。
Healing Spices: Protect Health Year-round
Cooking with herbs and spices provides far more than tasty food. Powerful plant compounds in these seasonings help fight cancer, diabetes, and heart disease, while working to relieve pain and the discomforts associated with seasonal bouts of colds and flu. Many herbs and spices—like ginger, oregano, and thyme—help fight foodborne pathogens to prevent those annoying digestive “bugs” that no one wants to deal with over the holidays. Others, like turmeric (containing curcumin, which gives curry its yellow color), have been shown to be protective against alcohol-related liver damage.
Healing Herbs & Spices
Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) can be used for indigestion. It contains cineole, an antiseptic that’s effective against bad breath, congestion, and flatulence.
Cayenne (Capsicum spp.) Antibacterial that fights food poisoning and helps prevent cardiovascular disease and respiratory infections.
Cinnamon (Cinnamomum spp.) Antimicrobial and antioxidant that also improves insulin sensitivity while lowering cholesterol and triglycerides.
Clove (Syzygium aromaticum) High in antioxidants; also antiseptic and antispasmodic. Oil is safe and effective for toothache.
Coriander (Coriandrum sativum) is used for indigestion and flatulence.
Eucalyptus (E. globulus) Antiseptic and decongestant useful in aromatherapy and steam inhalation; also available in capsules and teas.
Garlic (Allium sativum) Antimicrobial beneficial for colds and nasal congestion; fights clogged arteries and lowers blood pressure. May also help fight cancer, treat diabetes, Raynaud’s disease, and yeast infections. Can counteract probiotics, so take separately.
Ginger (Zingiber officinale) Antimicrobial useful in food preparation and oral health; antioxidant that significantly lowers lipids, aids circulation, and may help relieve arthritic knee pain. Effective for morning and motion sickness. This popular spice has been safely used medicinally for millennia.
Licorice (Glycyrrhiza spp.) Take standard licorice for respiratory infections; use deglycyrrhizinated (DGL) products for digestive problems. Most widely used herbal remedy in the world after ginger.
Myrrh (Commiphora myrrha) Aromatic resin; antiseptic tincture for canker sores, cuts, and gum disease.
Oregano (Origanum vulgare) Antimicrobial effective against foodborne pathogens, even antibiotic-resistant bacteria; may be useful against several cancers. Has 20 times the antioxidant activity of other herbs; a potent anti-inflammatory.
Peppermint (Mentha x piperita) Antibacterial and antispasmodic; helps dissolve gallstones.
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) Contains phenols with anticarcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant benefits. In some research, helps fight cataracts and possibly Alzheimer’s disease.
Sage (Salvia officinalis) is used for upset stomach; may enhance memory.
Star anise (Illicium verum) is used as a bronchial expectorant and to soothe gastrointestinal complaints.
Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) Antimicrobial effective against a variety of bacteria and fungi; useful for coughs.
Turmeric (Curcuma longa) Contains curcumin that reduces inflammation and risk for Type 2 diabetes; may help fight Alzheimer’s disease, Crohn’s disease, depression, heart failure, rheumatoid arthritis, and tumor growth. Black pepper greatly improves turmeric’s absorption in the body.
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