If you spend any time in the kitchen, chances are good you have some experience using herbs. After all, what would a marinara be without garlic, or a curry without turmeric? In addition to flavoring your meals, herbs can also work on many levels to maintain your health or to alleviate a painful or troublesome condition. All around the world, people use herbal remedies as an alternative to pharmaceutical drugs. And while no medicinenatural or syntheticis absolutely without risk, herbal remedies are many times safer than their manufactured drug counterparts. The key is to know what herb to use, in what dose and when. A little researchand a well-timed conversation with an herbalist or knowledgeable heath practitionercould be all you need to find a safer way to address a troublesome condition. Here, we suggest just a few of the many herbs you could consider for common ailments and conditions.

As always, your responsibility for your health lies with you. Please consult with your health care provider before undertaking any new protocol.

Two herbs to have on hand 

You don't have to be a Master Herbalist to gain helpful benefits from herbal remedies. Two common kitchen spicescayenne and gingerare an easy place to start exploring. Ginger has been used as a natural remedy for many ailments for centuries. From migraines to motion sickness, ginger has anti-inflammatory properties and is a powerful painkiller. Many herbalists rank cayenne among the most useful and valuable herbs; it's known to be effective for the entire digestive tract, as well as for the heart and circulatory system. Cayenne also acts as a catalyst: it increases the effectiveness of other herbs when it's used with them. Here are a few examples of how ginger and cayenne can benefit you:

Cold sore relief can be achieved with this tea: steep 1 teaspoon dried sage in 1 cup boiling water. Strain and add 1 teaspoon ginger; add and honey to taste. Drink three cups throughout the day.  

Cayenne pepper will help a wound stop bleeding quickly. Simply sprinkle the pepper liberally on the cut. Believe it or not, it doesn't sting!  

Ginger works as well as aspirin as a blood thinner. Take two capsules of powdered ginger each day. Ginger is also beneficial for arthritis relief, especially rheumatoid arthritis.  

Cayenne pepper can help lower blood pressure. Add 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper to 1 cup of hot water and drink daily. Alternatively, you could take the pepper in capsule form (2 #00 capsules daily would be a good dosage).