Cinnamon is one of the oldest spices known. It was mentioned in the Bible and was used in ancient Egypt not only as a beverage flavoring and medicine, but also as an embalming agent. It was so highly treasured that it was considered more precious than gold. Around this time, cinnamon also received much attention in China, which is reflected in its mention in one of the earliest books on Chinese botanical medicine, dated around 2,700 B.C.

Cinnamon's popularity continued throughout history. It became one of the most relied upon spices in Medieval Europe. Due to its demand, cinnamon became one of the first commodities traded regularly between the Near East and Europe.

Although available throughout the year, the fragrant, sweet and warm taste of cinnamon is a perfect spice to use during the winter months.

Cinnamon has a long history both as a spice and as a medicine. It is the brown bark of the cinnamon tree, which is available in its dried tubular form known as a quill or as ground powder. The two varieties of cinnamon, Chinese and Ceylon, have similar flavor, however the cinnamon from Ceylon is slightly sweeter, more refined and more difficult to find in local markets.
Cinnamon's unique healing abilities come from three basic types of components in the essential oils found in its bark.

 Cinnamon has extremely high anti-oxidant activity, and the oil of cinnamon has strong anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. Cinnamon is also a great source of manganese, fiber, iron, and calcium. As a result, it has been used as an effective home remedy for:

- Reducing blood sugar levels and treating Type 2 Diabetes.
- Lowering cholesterol.
- Aiding digestion.
- Treating diarrhea.
- Curing the common cold.
- Reducing arthritis pain.
- Boosting memory and cognitive function.
- Treating toothaches.
- Eliminating bad breath.
- Curing headaches and migraine pain

Cinnamon has also been valued in energy-based medical systems, such as Traditional Chinese Medicine, for its warming qualities. In these traditions, cinnamon has been used to provide relief when faced with the onset of a cold or flu, especially when mixed in a tea with some fresh ginger.
 Chinese medicine has long used cinnamon as a natural remedy for coughs and the common cold. A simple herbal remedy for treating a sore throat is the following:
- Add a cinnamon stick to boiling water.
- Let boil for 2 minutes.
- Remove the cinnamon stick.
- Use the cinnamon water for any herbal tea, such as green tea.
- Drink this tea two times per day.

Many people appreciate lavender for its fragrance, used in soaps, shampoos, and sachets for scenting clothes. The name lavender comes from the Latin root lavare, which means "to wash." Lavender may have earned this name because it was frequently used in baths to help purify the body and spirit. However, this herb has also been used as a remedy for a range of ailments from insomnia and anxiety to depression and fatigue. Research has confirmed that lavender produces slight calming, soothing, and sedative effects when its scent is inhaled.

Lavender is native to the mountainous zones of the Mediterranean where it grows in sunny, stony habitats. Today, it flourishes throughout southern Europe, Australia, and the United States.

The oil in lavender's small, blue-violet flowers gives the herb its fragrant scent. Essential oil is extracted from the fresh flowers of the lavender plant and used for medicinal purposes.
A number of studies have reported that lavender essential oil may be beneficial in a variety of conditions, including insomnia, alopecia (hair loss), anxiety, stress, and postoperative pain.

Lavender is also being studied for antibacterial and antiviral properties. Lavender oil is often used in other forms of integrative medicine, such as massage, acupuncture, and chiropractic manipulation.

In folklore, pillows were filled with lavender flowers to help restless people fall sleep. Scientific evidence suggests that aromatherapy with lavender may slow the activity of the nervous system, improve sleep quality, promote relaxation, and lift mood in people suffering from sleep disorders. Studies also suggest that massage with essential oils, particularly lavender, may result in improved sleep quality, more stable mood, better concentration, and reduced anxiety.

In one study of 86 people with alopecia areata (an autoimmune disease that causes hair to fall out, often in patches), those who massaged their scalps with lavender and other essential oils daily for 7 months experienced significant hair re-growth compared to those who massaged their scalps without the essential oils.

Aromatherapists also use lavender in inhalation therapy to treat headaches, nervous disorders, and exhaustion. Herbalists treat skin ailments, such as fungal infections (like candidiasis), wounds, eczema, and acne, with lavender oil. It is also used in a healing bath for joint and muscle pain.

A relative of ginger, Turmeric is a perennial plant that grows in many tropical locations, but the majority of it is grown in India. It is fragrant and has a bitter, somewhat sharp taste. 

Turmeric has been used for 4,000 years to treat a variety of ailments.
It is widely used as a food coloring and gives Indian curry its distinctive flavor and yellow color. It is also used in mustard and to color butter and cheese.

Turmeric has been used in both Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine as an anti-inflammatory, to treat digestive and liver problems, skin diseases, and wounds. Curcumin is also a powerful antioxidant; antioxidants scavenge particles in the body known as free radicals, which damage cell membranes, tamper with DNA, and even cause cell death. Antioxidants can neutralize free radicals and may reduce and  prevent some of the damage they cause. In addition, curcumin reduces inflammation by lowering levels of two inflammatory enzymes in the body and stops platelets from clumping together to form blood clots.

Because of its ability to reduce inflammation, turmeric may help relieve the symptoms of osteoarthritis. A study of people using an Ayurvedic formula of herbs and minerals containing turmeric, as well as Withinia somnifera (winter cherry), Boswellia serrata (Boswellia), and zinc, significantly reduced pain and disability.

Curcumin may help prevent, control, or kill several types of cancers, including prostate, breast, skin, and colon. It's effects may be due to its ability to stop the blood vessels that supply cancerous tumors from growing, and its preventive effects may come from its strength as an antioxidant, protecting cells from damage.

Marshmallow  -- the herb, not the white puffy confection roasted over a campfire -- has been used for more than 2,000 years as both a food and a medicine. The Romans, Chinese, Egyptians, and Syrians used marshmallow as a source of food, while the Arabs made poultices from its leaves and applied them to the skin to reduce inflammation. Both the root and leaves contain a gummy substance called mucilage. When mixed with water, it forms a slick gel that is used to coat the throat and stomach to reduce irritation. It is also applied topically to soothe chapped skin.

Most of its suggested uses come from a long history of use in traditional healing systems.

- Asthma
- Bronchitis
- Common cold/sore throat
- Cough
- Inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis
- Indigestion
- Stomach ulcers
- Skin inflammation

Anise is a flowering plant native to the east Mediterannean region and southwest Asia.
It is sweet and very aromatic, distinguished by its licorice-like flavor.
The therapeutic virtues of the anise have been known since the ancient times. Pythagoras claimed that the anise enhanced man's strength, cured insomnia, stimulated appetite, made men more fertile and facilitated digestion.
Anise is from parsley family and, like parsley it is used as a mouth freshener from a long time back.

Anise seeds can be steeped in boiled water at home to produce home made mouth wash. Many mouthwashes and tooth paste available in market contain anise. It is a sweet, warming and stimulating herb with estrogenic and expectorant effect, traditionally regarded to have aphrodisiac properties. 

It is helpful in removing excess mucous from the lungs and digestive track. It has been used for colic in children, as an antispasmodic, and an antifungal. It can help prevent fermentation and gas in the stomach and bowels, thus relieving bloating and belching after meals. Anis is a mild diuretic and can stimulate added production of milk in nursing mothers. It has been mostly used for digestion issues including indigestion, nausea and gallbladder cleansing. It can also help asthma and bronchitis.
The anethole contained in anise has excellent expectorant qualities, as well as antimicrobial activities.

Anise is used to flavor Middle Eastern Arak, Colombian Aguardiente, French spirits Absinthe, Anisette and Pastis, Greek Ouzo, Bulgarian Mastika, German Jagermaister,Italian Sambuca, Peruvian and Spanish Anis, Mexican Xtabentun and Turkish Raki. It is believed to be one of the secret ingredients in the French liqueur Chartreuse.


The tea from anise seeds:      
The infusion is made from one tea-spoon of anise seeds boiled in 250 ml of water for 30 seconds. One cup of tea is to be drunk after the main meals. This tea treats bronchial asthma, cough, a slow digestion.

Nuts have been shown to be good for you, but did you know that the humble almond is one of the most nutritious of all the nuts?

Almonds have been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease by reducing the levels of bad cholesterol in the blood. 

They are high in protein and low in carbohydrates, so are an excellent snack choice for diabetics. Almonds are great vitamin E foods, and also beneficial in the fight against heart disease and cancer, as it is a well known antioxidant. The fiber and calcium help to fight cancer, especially colon and rectal cancer.

Small but mighty, they deliver a nutritional wallop and eating just 1 ounce a day (about 20-25 almonds) can alter your risk of heart disease substantially. Some of the important almond nutrition facts are that 3 ounces of almonds gives you 105% of the daily recommended allowance for vitamin E and 60% of the recommendation for magnesium. Deficiency in magnesium has been associated with illnesses such as asthma, diabetes, osteoporosis and depression and in some cases magnesium is being used to treat the depression.

Almonds are a great source of iron, zinc, fiber, magnesium, and potassium as well several other healthy and beneficial minerals and vitamins. 

Almonds also help you to feel fuller faster.  This may also be attributed to the fiber content of almonds.  Studies have shown that eating one or two servings of almonds a day did not lead to a gain in weight or body fat levels, but rather caused people to decrease the amount of calories that they gained from other food sources.  In this way, the amount of calories that people consumed stayed the same.

Chamomile is a daisy-like plant, widely known in the Old World for its multitude of health benefits. A common herb in the European home medicine cabinet, chamomile has been used since ancient times to treat a wide range of symptoms. 
It is known to boost the immune system, maintain blood pressure within the normal range,and eliminate bad bacteria found in the body. It is also a natural pain reliever.

The active constituents found in chamomile have anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. It can be used on wounds to promote healing, on swollen gums, and even to soothe diaper rash in babies. Chamomile also contains coumarin, a compound that has blood-thinning effect.

For women, it may be used to alleviate breast tenderness, menstrual cramps, and other common symptoms of PMS.

Chamomile has nerve-soothing properties, which help relieve anxiety and stress. It not only soothes the nerves, it has also been used since ancient times to treat digestion and stomach complaints. Combined with ginger, it is an excellent tonic for the entire digestive system and the immune system.

The beets belong to the same family as chard and spinach.  Beet leaves have a bitter taste like chard, but is rich in chlorophyll.  Although bitter, the greens have a higher nutritional value than its roots.

Both beet root and beet greens are very powerful cleansers and builders of the blood.  Betacyanin is the phytochemical in beet that gives it its rich 'amethyst' color that significantly reduces homocysteine levels.

Beets are loaded with vitamins A, B1, B2, B6 and C.  The greens have a higher content of iron compared to spinach.  They are also an excellent source of calcium, magnesium, copper, phosphorus, sodium and iron.

While the sweet beet root has some of the minerals in its greens to a lesser degree, it is also a remarkable source of choline, folic acid, iodine, manganese, organic sodium, potassium, fiber and carbohydrates in the form of natural digestible sugars.

Its iron content, though not high, is of the highest and finest quality that makes excellent food that is blood building.  This renders it highly effective in treating many ailments caused by our toxic environment and surrounding.


Health Benefits

Beets have long been known for its amazing health benefits for almost every part of the body.  And yet, it is something that very few people take, much less its juice.

Start adding beets to your juicing diet to enjoy all its heavenly goodness:

Acidosis: Its alkalinity is essential and effective in combating acidosis.

Anemia: The high content of iron in beets regenerates and reactivates the red blood cells and supplies fresh oxygen to the body. The copper content in beets help make the iron more available to the body. A great blood builder.

Atherosclerosis: This wonderful crimson juice is a powerful solvent for inorganic calcium deposits that cause the arteries to harden.

Blood pressure: All its healing and medicinal values effectively normalizes blood pressure, lowering high blood pressure or elevating low blood pressure.

Cancer:  Betaine, an amino acid in beet root, has significant anti-cancer properties. Studies show that beets juice inhibits formation of cancer-causing compounds and is protective against colon or stomach cancer.

Constipation: The cellulose content helps to ease bowel movements. Drinking beets juice regularly will help relieve chronic constipation.

Dandruff: Mix a little vinegar to a small cup of beets juice. Massage it into the scalp with your fingertips and leave on for about an hour, then rinse. Do this daily till dandruff clears up. Warning: you will smell awful during this hour!

Detoxification: The choline from this wonderful juice detoxifies not only the liver, but also the entire system of excessive alcohol abuse, provided consumption is ceased.

Gastric ulcer: Mix honey with your beets juice and drink two or three times a week on an empty stomach (more frequently if your body is familiar with beets juice). It helps speed up the healing process.

Gall bladder and kidney ailments: Coupled with carrot juice, the superb cleansing virtues are exceptional for curing ailments relating to these two organs.

Gout: Another ailment that can be greatly helped by the cleansing that beets have to offer.

Liver or bile: The cleansing virtues in beets juice is very healing for liver toxicity or bile ailments, like jaundice, hepatitis, food poisoning, diarrhea or vomiting. A squeeze of lime with beets juice heightens the efficacy in treating these ailments.

Varicose veins: In similar ways that it helps to keep the elasticity of arteries, regular consumption of beets juice also helps prevent varicose veins.

Derived from the Greek word meaning "rock celery" (it's a relative to celery), parsley has been cultivated for 2,000 years, and was used medicinally long before that.

Parsley has many health benefits and has been used as a cure for many ailments.

It contains more vitamin C than any other standard culinary vegetable, approximately three times as much as oranges and about the same as blackcurrants. The iron content is exceptional (twice as much as spinach) and the plant is a good source of manganese, calcium and potassium. It also contains flavonoids that act as antioxidants.

Parsley is also rich in vitamin A, well-known for its effects on vision, plus can mitigate risks of atherosclerosis and diabetes.

Raw parsley cleanses the blood, dissolves sticky deposits in veins, maintains elasticity of blood vessels, facilitates removal of moderately sized kidney and gallstones, treats deafness and ear infections, and benefits the sexual system. Chewing parsley prevents bad breath.

Parsley is one of the most important herbs for providing vitamins to the body. It's like an immune-enhancing multi-vitamin and mineral complex in green plant form. It grows in most climates and is readily available throughout the year.

Cloves are the dried aromatic flower buds of the evergreen trees belonging to the plant family Myrtaceae and the order Myrtales. 
They are renowned for their diverse medicinal benefits and high nutritional content. Also, they have a strong and hot flavor, which adds a delightful sweet and savory taste to soups, stews and even spiced teas.

This spice is native to the Moluccas region of Indonesia, which was formerly renowned as the ‘Spice Island of Indonesia’. For over 2000 years, clove was consumed in different parts of Asia and was later transported to parts of Europe and Africa. Today, the prime cultivators of this variety of aromatic spice are India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Madagascar, West Indies, Pemba and Brazil.

Though the exterior of the spice is hard and tough, its fleshy interiors feature an oily compound that contributes a lot to its flavor and nutritional profile. To know all about the diverse health benefits of cloves, read the pointers given in this article.  

• One of the major components of the volatile oils present in cloves is eugenol, which acts as an anti-inflammatory substance. Eugenol also acts as a potent platelet inhibitor and thus, helps in the prevention of blood clots.
• The compound eugenol is also known to be effective against a number of fungal diseases, especially the T. mentagrophytes and M. canis dermatophytes. Studies have also shown the effective anti-fungal action of cloves against Candida albicans.
• Apart from the effects mentioned above, eugenol is known for its analgesic effect and is often used by dentists as a local anesthetic. In fact, it is often said that placing a single clove over a tooth can help relieve toothache.
• To add to the anti-inflammatory properties of cloves, certain flavonoids like kaempferol and rhamnetin present in the spice work together in achieving this effect. These substances are also known for their antioxidant properties.
• An excellent source of the mineral manganese, cloves help in preventing a number of ailments and diseases.
• Recent studies have also indicated that intake of cloves is very beneficial for preventing as well as reducing the risk of lung and skin cancer.
• Cloves are also used as a traditional form of medicine for treating conditions like indigestion, cold, flu and even aches.