Herbs and Spices: Health Benefits, Allergies & Uses

Herbs and spices like cayenne and ginger offer therapeutic benefits for everything from weight loss to heart health. However, understanding spice allergies and toxicities, such as those associated with nutmeg and paprika, is vital for safety.

Nutmeg with grinder

Side Effects of Eating Nutmeg

Nutmeg is a spice used in cooking. This spice is also abused by teenagers or adults who want to get high. Several teaspoons to 2 tbsp. of nutmeg can produce a high, notes Health Services at Columbia University. Eating this spice to get high can cause a wide range of serious side effects.

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Side Effects of Lemongrass

Lemongrass is an herb that was originally grown in India and Sri Lanka. It has a distinctive scent and taste of lemon, from which it gets its name. Both the plant and its extract have been used in cooking and flavoring, as well as for medicinal purposes, for centuries.

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Raw Organic Green Thyme

Herbs: Fresh Thyme vs. Dried Thyme

Thyme leaves give your foods a minty and tealike flavor.You can use fresh or dried thyme to achieve this effect, but you’ll need to use different amounts of fresh versus dried thyme. You also add thyme to your dishes at different times depending on which form you use.

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Curry in a small bowl

Is Curry Powder Good for You?

Curry powder is a blend of several spices that are used to mimic the flavors of Indian cuisine. The most common spices included in curry powder are turmeric, coriander, cumin and fenugreek. Ginger, garlic and black pepper are also included in some curry powder blends.

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Stem of Ginger

Is Ginger Safe With GERD?

Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, can turn eating hot or spicy foods into a potentially painful experiment. Ginger, a root herb that may be used as a seasoning or as an herbal remedy for nausea or indigestion, lends warmth and zest to foods and beverages.

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Bowl with Sesame

The Nutrients in Raw & Roasted Sesame Seeds

Whether you are a fan of sesame candy such as the creamy halvah and sweet sesame brittle, or merely enjoy a sprinkle of seeds on your bagels, sesame seeds can be nutritionally significant if you eat a lot of them.

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Can Sesame Seeds Cause Diverticulitis?

Diverticulitis occurs when one or more diverticula, which are small, bulging pouches in your digestive tract, become inflamed or infected and protrude your intestinal wall.

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An Allergy to Basil Pesto

If you develop allergy symptoms every time you eat basil pesto, you are most likely allergic to one of the ingredients, not the basil. Basil is not a common food allergen and should not cause an allergic reaction. Basil pesto can be made various ways and may contain various ingredients.

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Bread with sesame seeds

Sesame Seeds & Nut Allergies

Sesame seeds are not considered nuts, but certain proteins in sesame seeds can trigger allergy symptoms related to a nut allergy. When the body mistakes certain proteins that are similar to other proteins in foods, it is called cross-reactivity.

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Organic Dried Red Hot Peppers

How Much Cayenne Pepper Should One Take?

Cayenne is both a spicy food additive and natural medicinal supplement derived from the red pepper, or Capsicum annuum. The active ingredient in cayenne is capsaicin, which may be used as an herbal treatment to alleviate pain and inflammation.

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How to Use Garlic for Toothache

A toothache is an aching pain in or near a tooth that is caused by decay. Tooth decay is caused by sticky plaque that clings to and eats through the enamel of your teeth, causing pain and sometimes creating a cavity. According to Suresh Babu, author of "A Treatise on Home Remedies,"

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Garlic bulbs and cloves on wooden background

Can You Cure Allergies with Garlic?

Allergies, according to the Mayo Clinic, are your body's reaction to something it perceives as foreign, such as pollen, pet dander or medication. In response to the perceived threat, your body releases histamines, which cause a chain of events that are meant to stop the foreign invader from causing harm.

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Habanero, Jalalpeno and chili peppers in frying pan on wood

The Benefits of Habanero Pepper & Cayenne

Habanero and cayenne peppers belong to a class of peppers called chili peppers. The habanero pepper is one of the hottest of the chili peppers, while the cayenne pepper has a milder flavor. Peppers are high in vitamin C, an antioxidant. Peppers also contain capsaicin, the active ingredient used for medicinal purposes.

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Use of Garlic Against Fungus

The use of garlic for treating fungal infections is a folk remedy, and it is often the only effective treatment for fungus trapped in hard to reach areas, such as under the nail bed. James Duke, author of "Dr.

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Lemongrass leaf

An Allergy to Lemongrass

Lemongrass is an herb that is commonly used in Asian cuisine, herbal teas and in essential oil form, according to Drugs.com. Depending on how you use lemongrass can determine what type of allergic reaction you will experience.

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Two garlic bulbs isolated on white background

How to Use Garlic for Staph

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, is a serious staph infection. Most medications typically used for treating bacterial infections, do not kill the stubborn bacterial strains.

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Close-up of a salt shaker

How to Remove Too Much Salt in Cooking

Salt often rescues bland dishes. Adding too much salt can make food unbearable, however, leaving you scrambling to reverse a culinary disaster. This may happen when you misread a recipe or if the lid falls off the salt shaker over the pan.

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How to Use Garlic for Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids are painful blood vessels in the anus that have become inflamed due to constipation, pregnancy or straining during bowel movements. Garlic can be used to decrease itching and inflammation related to hemorrhoids.

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Nigella or Black cumin

Black Cumin Seed Benefits

Black cumin seeds are native to southwest Asia. They are commonly used for culinary purposes in candy making and preparation of liquors due to their pungent bitter smell and taste. Black cumin seeds have been used for centuries for medical purposes. A study in the August 2000 "Phytotherapy Research"

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Is it Safe to Exfoliate the Face Daily With Sea Salts?

Rich in minerals and deeply cleansing, sea salt may seem the logical choice for scrubbing your face. But talk to your dermatologist before attempting any daily exfoliation, especially with sea salt. Most dermatologists advise against daily face scrubs, and sea salt is too harsh for most complexions.

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