Author: Carl Olsen
Source: ezinearticles.com

Although an Italian Herb garden contains many great varieties of herbs, there are five herbs that seem to be used more than others. This article will highlight five of the best Italian Herbs that are used in both cooking and healing.

Since early times in European history, the Italians have grown herbs for cooking. They noticed that certain herbs not only added spice to the food but that some of the herbs had healing aspects as well.

Thyme is one of the most popular herbs used in cooking. It is a perennial herb that has many different varieties. Some varieties stand strait up and others crawl, or spread. It has aromatic foliage. It is used more on salads, meat dishes, gravies, and dressing. People and chefs all over the world do not even know that it even has healing abilities. Its common names are culinary thyme, and wild thyme. When gathering thyme, you want to use the leaves and flowers for cooking. Thyme strengthens a person’s immune system. The oil has been used as an antiseptic for mouthwash, and it was added to acne lotions. During the 1st World War, thyme oil was a popular antiseptic and germicide.

Garlic is one of the most widely used herbs of all. It has a large smelly bulb, which is composed of several smaller bulbs, which are all covered with a thin papery skin. The leaves of the garlic plant can also be eaten. It originated from Asia many centuries ago. As for the healing aspects of garlic, it is considered to one of the greatest all-time antibiotics. It been used for treating high and low blood pressure, and to relieve cold symptoms, earaches, lung trouble, tooth aches, skin infections, and burns. Researchers have found that garlic helps shrink tumors, as well as for diabetes patients.

Chives are herbs with long, slender, hollow green leaves like an onion; they even smell like an onion. However, besides being a great garnish for foods, they aid the digestive system and act like a mild laxative. There are many bugs that do not like the smell of onions, so a good idea when you plant your herb garden is to place the chives in the center of it so the smell will drive bugs away from the other plants.

Basil is a bushy tender annual herb that grows as to different heights depending on what variety is, and it comes in many varieties. The plant has a spicy odor and taste as well. Its colors can sometimes be purple or shades of purple. The leaves are especially good in salads. Basil goes great with any egg dish and poultry stuffing. No one knows exactly where this herb began because its earliest known records state that it grows wild in India, Africa, Persia, and Malaysia. It adds a different flavor to all types of food, as well as having healing abilities. It has been used for relieving the after eating gas that usually accompanies a large meal. However, it is also good for reducing nausea, stomach cramps, and migraine headaches. It also acts as a nerve tonic, soothes tired muscles, and it is good for aiding in eye trouble.

Oregano has over forty different varieties. It is a hardy perennial that has dark green leaves, which can grow as high as two feet. It is a very delicious food spice and is a great cough remedy. It also helps the digestive system.

There are many other Italian herbs but Thyme, Garlic, Chives, Basil, and Oregano top the list in popularity. If you looking to grow a herb garden then you’ll want to be sure and include some if not all of these delightful plants.

Carl Olsen is a teacher and herb enthusiast. For information on growing your own italian herb garden, visit http://www.theherbgardenguide.com.

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.