Besides being fragrant, colorful, exotic, and delicious, herbs and spices have properties and attributes that impact our health and wellness. We can use herbs to warm us up, to cool us off, to calm us down, and to bolster our immune system. Herbs and spices are more than just multi-colored powders in glass bottles!

Herb Temperature Actions Beneficial For Note
Black Pepper
(fruit)		 heating stimulant, expectorant, carminative

chronic indigestion, toxins in colon, degenerated metabolism, obesity, sinus congestion, fever, intermittent fever, cold extremities

Black Pepper is one of the most powerful digestive stimulants.
Cardamom
(seed pod)		 warming

stimulant, carminative, expectorant

colds, cough, bronchitis, asthma, hoarse voice, loss of taste, poor absorption, indigestion

Cardamom neutralizes the mucus-forming properties of milk, and it detoxifies the caffeine in coffee.
Cinnamon
(bark)		 heating

stimulant, diaphoretic, alterative, demulcent

colds, sinus congestion, bronchitis, dyspepsia

Cinnamon helps regulate blood sugar.
Cloves
(flower bud)		 heating

stimulant, carminative, aphrodisiac, expectorant

colds, cough, asthma, indigestion, toothache, vomiting, hiccough, laryngitis, pharyngitis low blood pressure, impotence

Clove essential oil is a powerful analgesic (pain killer) for the mouth and teeth.

Cilantro
(herb)
—
Coriander
(seed)

 cooling

alterative, diaphoretic, diuretic, carminative

burning urethra, cystitis, urinary tract infection, urticaria, rash, burns, sore throat, vomiting, indigestion, allergies, hay fever

Coriander is the seed; cilantro is the leafy green herb. Coriander is very helpful for urinary issues, and cilantro can cool spicy foods.
Cumin
(seed)		 cooling

carminative, alterative, stimulant

digestive weakness, gas, bloat, colic, headache

Cumin is used in building the immune system in those with allergies and even with AIDS patients.
Fennel
(seed)		 cooling

carminative, diuretic, antispasmodic

indigestion, low agni, abdominal pain, cramps or gas, difficult or burning urination, children’s colic

Fennel is very helpful in dispelling intestinal gas—both burping and farting, particularly in infants.
Fenugreek
(seed)		 warming

tonic, stimulant, expectorant, rejuvenative

dysentry, dyspepsia, chronic cough, allergies, bronchitis, influenza, convalescence, dropsy, toothache, neurasthenia, sciatica, arthritis

Fenugreek stimulates the production and flow of breast milk and is used to make imitation maple syrup.
Ginger
(root)		 heating

stimulant, diaphoretic, expectorant, carminative

colds, flus, indigestion, vomiting, belching, abdominal pain, laryngitis, arthritis, hemorrhoids, headaches, heart disease

The fresh version of ginger is much less heating than the dried version.
Turmeric
(root)		 warming

stimulant, carminative, alterative, vulnerary, antibacterial

indigestion, poor circulation, cough, amenorrhea, pharyngitis, skin disorders, diabetes, arthritis, anemia, wounds, bruises

Turmeric is anti-inflammatory to all bodily systems. Turmeric helps to protect against and reverse the brain plaques which are associated with Dementia and Alzheimer’s.