What Is an Herb and How Are Herbs Used?
During the 38 plus years of growing, harvesting, using, and learning many facts about herbs, I have had a lot of fun and learned quite a bit as well. One of the questions people ask me repeatedly is, "just what is an herb and how are herbs used?"
Well, a good answer to that question comes from Deni Brown author of The Herb Society of America New Encyclopedia of Herbs and Their Uses, who states:
"In addition to herbaceous perennials, herbs include trees, shrubs, annuals, vines, and more primitive plants, such as ferns, lichens, and fungi. They are valued for their flavor, fragrance, medicinal and healthful qualities, economic and industrial uses, pesticidal properties, and coloring materials (dyes)."
As you can see the answer to the question many people ask covers a very broad area. The reason for this fact is that herbs are used in a variety of ways.
Let's take a look at these uses. First, it is well-known that they flavor our food. You can't miss this fact when you watch one of the food channels on television. Chefs of different ethnic backgrounds using a variety of herbs to compliment the recipes they demonstrate and present. For example, there was one program where the chef made Greek potatoes. He used potatoes complimented by olive oil and fresh rosemary. I am very happy to see these chefs promoting the use of herbs and showing how to effectively use them. As a personal example, I have used basil, Greek or Italian oregano, and cinnamon in my homemade spaghetti sauce for over thirty years.
Second, herbs are valued for their fragrance. In our home, herbal fragrance permeates the air almost every day of the growing season. We use basil, rosemary, thyme, sage, savory, tarragon and mint frequently. A glass of iced mint tea really hits the spot on a blisteringly hot day. And the fragrance of mint greets everyone who enters our home whenever I make this tea. Also, whenever I bring in freshly harvested basil, its aroma permeates the entire house. It's most refreshing!
Yet, there are other ways to enjoy the fragrance of herbs in your home. One is by using potpourris around the house for a constant, delightful fragrance, Two is by making an herbal wreath that can be hung on a wall or door in your home. Wreathes made of rosemary branches are a tradition in many places at Christmas time. And three is by having some scented geraniums growing in a sunny location in your house. Just pluck a geranium leaf and rub it between your hands to release its wonderful odor. Throughout the centuries, the fragrances of herbs have freshened the air of many homes.
The third use is medicinal. Doctors and herbalists use a variety of herbs to treat many ills, particularly in India, China, and other cultures as well. However, that does not mean that we in the West have neglected the advantage of herbal treatments or cures for our ills as well. One famous example was the use of the thymol extract from the oil of thyme during World War One. Thymol was used by the Allies as a battlefield antiseptic. However, because of a severe shortage of thyme, the Allies relied on the Ajowan plant from India which produced twenty percent more oil of thyme and thymol extract than thyme plants.
Even today, we continue to use herbal products to treat and cure many ills as well as to enhance our health. Have you noticed how many herbal supplements are on the market today? Just visit a nearby supplement store, pharmacy, grocery, or discount center and you'll find many shelves of supplements for treating all kinds of medical conditions or enhancing your health.
Fourth, there are the economic and industrial uses. One of the big industries using herbs is the manufacture and marketing of herbal teas. Herbs are used to flavor some regular teas, but they are also used by themselves in herbal teas. Many of the herbal teas offered by the companies selling them are blends of several different herbs. Yet, there are still some that you can buy, or better yet, make from herbs you grow in your own garden. For example, mint tea and chamomile tea are two that come to mind. These two teas are easy and fun to make from fresh herbs you can grow.
Herbs contribute heavily to industry and the economics of industry in our country. They are used in many products. For example they are ingredients for flavoring in toothpaste, chewing gum, and candy. Also, they are still used for their antiseptic properties in products such as mouthwash and some antiseptics as well.
Fifth, herbs are used in pesticides. It is true that some herbal pesticides are toxic to humans, but nowadays there are organic herbal pesticides, fungicides and weed killers that are certified as non-toxic to humans. In many cases they are certified organic as well. That means they protect the environment because they will break down easily and become harmless. By the way, there is one of these organic pesticides that claims it will kill an insect pest found in many states, the marmorated stink bug.
Sixth and last are the dyes that are made from herbs. These are natural dyes and many people prefer them over the more prevalent synthetic dyes used predominantly today. These dyes come from a variety of herbs, trees, flowers and vegetables. It's really interesting to see what colors come from different plant parts -- roots stems, bark, leaves and flowers.
As a matter of fact, synthetic dyes are pure colors whereas herbal dyes are often a complicated blend of colors. Just as with all dyes, herbal dyes in dyed materials will fade over a period of time, but not as dramatically as synthetic dyes. Herbal dyes will retain much of their color in lighter hues as they fade. On the other hand, synthetic dyes fade dramatically. A good example of this is when an American flag fades and the red stripe become a light pink.
Some manufacturers use herbs to dye their textiles and woolen materials because the herbs for dying are readily available whereas the synthetic dyes are not. Other product makers use herbal dyes to naturally stain finished wood products. Black walnut shells make a wonderful natural wood stain. And still others use herbal dyes in hair products. Probably the most famous of the hair dyes is the one for red hair that is made from a plant called henna.
In conclusion, the question, "just what is an herb and how are herbs used?" has been answered in this article. The definition of an herb was given and the many uses of herbs explored.
Sanford H Kirkland is the owner of SHK Enterprises, LLC the operator of the website http://www.plantyourherbs.com/ Plant Your Herbs. He has been growing, using, and learning about herbs for the past 38 years and is an At-Large Member of the Herb Society of America. Want to learn more about herbs? Then, visit the Plant Your Herbs website, http://www.plantyourherbs.com/ today.
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