Herbs are wonderful plants that add just the right flavor to many dishes. Many herbs have medicinal properties, and some are purported to treat diseases like heart conditions and cancer. However, great caution needs to be taken when taking herbs. If you have any medical condition or are taking any prescription medications, you should definitely talk with your doctor before taking any herbal remedies, including teas.

Several herbs traditionally thought of as primarily culinary have healing properties, as well.

Anise

USES: Coughs, nausea, digestion, flatulence, in many cough syrups & lozenges

CAUTIONS: Can behave like estrogen – could interfere with a hormone-sensitive condition

Basil

USES: Stomach spasms, loss of appetite, flatulence, kidney conditions, fluid retention, head colds, warts, worm infections, to treat snake & insect bites. Women sometimes use before and after childbirth to promote blood circulation, and also to start the flow of breast milk. Good source of vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, potassium and iron.

Cayenne (Capsicum)

USES: Digestive aid, toothache, seasickness, alcoholism, malaria, fever, ward off chills, relieves joint & muscle pain, flatulence, diarrhea, cramps, heart & blood vessels, poor circulation, excessive blood clotting, high cholesterol, prevents heart disease.

CAUTIONS: Capsicum might increase bleeding during and after surgery. Stop using capsicum at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

Fennel

USES: Soothing properties for stomach and digestion.

CAUTIONS: May cause an allergic reaction to people with allergies to celery, carrot or mugwort. Fennel might act like an estrogen so do not use if you have a hormonesensitive condition.

Licorice

USES: Expectorant for coughs, chills, anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory, contains mucilage (a substance that coats and soothes inflamed membranes, which means it could be useful for treating ulcers and constipation). Subject of current research for treating chronic hepatitis, Addison’s disease (adrenal insufficiency), and to counter the effects of 2 tumor-producing agents; it may suppress the enzyme that leads to tooth decay from sugar.

CAUTIONS: Although it is generally safe, long-term or excessive ingestion can yield serious side effects. Symptoms include headache, lethargy, sodium & water retention, loss of potassium, high blood pressure and possible heart failure. These reactions are rare and licorice is still widely used in herbal teas and as a flavoring for foods and tobacco.

Peppermint

USES: Soothing properties for stomach, antispasmodic, indigestion, nausea, flatulence, heartburn, morning sickness, irritable bowel syndrome, upper GI cramps, bacterial growth of the small intestine, mild sedative, headaches, upper respiratory conditions, colds, cough, inflammation of the mouth and throat, muscle and nerve pain.

Rosemary

USES: Digestion, heartburn, flatulence, liver & gallbladder complaints, loss of appetite, gout, cough, headache and high blood pressure.

CAUTIONS: May make seizure disorders worse.

Sage

USES: Astringent, eases colds, loss of appetite, flatulence, stomach pains, diarrhea, bloating, heartburn, reduces overproduction of perspiration and saliva, depression, memory loss, Alzheimer’s disease, menstrual cramps, to correct excessive milk production when lactating, cold sores, gingivitis, sore mouth, throat & tongue, and asthma.

CAUTIONS: May induce miscarriage in pregnant women, may reduce milk supply when breastfeeding, may lower blood sugar levels in people with diabetes, can increase blood pressure in some people with high blood pressure, one species of sage can trigger seizures in people with seizure disorders.

Thyme

USES: Bronchitis, whooping cough, sore throat, tonsillitis, expectorant, cough suppressant, colic, arthritis, upset stomach, stomach pain, diarrhea, bedwetting, dysraxia, flatulence, parasitic worm infections, skin disorders, diuretic, disinfect urine, appetite stimulant, bad breath, disinfectant, antiseptic, bacterial & fungal infections of the ear, prevent tooth decay

CAUTIONS: People who are allergic to oregano may also be allergic to thyme. Thyme might slow blood clotting, so stop using thyme at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

Turmeric

USES: Heartburn, stomach pain, diarrhea, flatulence, stomach bloating, loss of appetite, jaundice, liver problems, gallbladder disorders, headaches, bronchitis, colds, lung infections, fibromyalgia, leprosy, fever, menstrual cramps, cancer, depression, Alzheimer’s disease, water retention, worms, kidney problems, skin pain, ringworm, bruising, leech bites, eye infections, inflammatory skin conditions, soreness inside the mouth, infected wounds and liver protection.

CAUTIONS: Taking turmeric by the mouth may be unsafe during pregnancy by promoting menstrual period or stimulate the uterus, putting the pregnancy at risk. Do not use medicinally if you have gallstones or a bile duct obstruction. Might slow blood clotting, stop using turmeric at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

DRUG INTERACTIONS

ACE inhibitors (medicines for high blood pressure) - captopril (Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril) and ramipril (Altace) - CAYENNE

Acetaminophen (Tylenol and others) – CINNAMON

Antacids - PEPPERMINT

Anticoagulant/antiplatelet (increases the chances of bruising and bleeding) - aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam and others) – CAYENNE, THYME, TURMERIC

Anticonvulsants - phenobarbital, primidone (Mysoline), valproic acid (Depakene), gabapentin (Neurontin), carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenytoin (Dilantin), and others - SAGE

Birth control pills with estrogen, estrogen, tamoxifen (Nolvadex) – ANISE, FENNEL

Ciprofloxacin (an antibiotic) – FENNEL (use fennel at least one hour before taking)

Cocaine – CAYENNE

Cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune) – PEPPERMINT

Dalteparin (Fragmin) - CAYENNE 

Diabetes medications – glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide (DiaBeta Blynsase PreTab, Micronase), insulin, pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), chlorpropamide (Daibinese), glipizide (Glucotrol), tolbutamide (Orinase) and others – CINNAMON, SAGE

Enoxaparin (Lovenox) – CAYENNE

Glipizide (Glucotrol) – CINNAMON, PEPPERMINT, SAGE

Heparin – CAYENNE

Hepatotoxic drugs (large amounts of cinnamon may harm the livers of those with existing liver disease) – acetaminophen (Tylenol and others), amiodarone (Cordarone), carbamaaepine (Tegretol), isoniazid (INH), methotrexate (Rheumatrex), methyldopa (Aldomet), fluconazole (Diflucan), itraconazole (Sporanox), erythromycin (Erythrocin, Ilosone, and others), phenytoin (Dilantin), lovastatin (Mevacor), pravastatin (Pravochol), simvastatin (Zocor) and many others – CINNAMON

Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, and others) – CAYENNE, PEPPERMINT

Naproxen (Anaprox, Naprosyn, and others) - CAYENNE

Sedatives - clonazepam (Klonopin), lorazepam (Ativan), phenobarbital (Donnatal), zolpidem (Ambien), and others - SAGE
Theophylline - CAYENNE

Warfarin (Coumadin and others) – CAYENNE

Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450s) -amitriptyline (Elavil),  carisoprodol (Soma), celecoxib (Celebrex), diazepam (Valium), diclofenac (Cataflam, Voltaren), fexofenadine (Allegra), glipizide (Glucotrol), haloperidol (Haldol), ibuprofen (Motrin), itraconazole (Sporanox), ketoconazole (Nizoral), lansoprazole (Prevacid), losartan (Cozaar), lovastatin (Mevacor), meloxicam (Mobic), nelfinavir (Viracept), omeprazole (Prilosec), ondansetron (Zofran), propranolol (Inderal), pantoprazole (Protonix), piroxicam (Feldene), theophylline (Theo-Dur, others), triazolam (Halcion), verapamil (Calan, Isoptin,),  warfarin (Coumadin), and others - PEPPERMINT

**Cautions and Drug Interactions are based on levels of herbs that exceed normal use in cooking.**

By Angela S. Hoover, Editor/Staff Writer