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Plants played important roles in Biblical cultures. They were used not only as food but also for beauty and hygiene, ceremonies, and the treatment of disease. For example, two gifts of the Magi - frankincense and myrrh - were used as personal fragrances as well as in religious rites. Today, research is discovering new uses for traditional plant medicines, such as cinnamon for diabetes and even high cholesterol.
During the holidays, take a moment to discover the healing benefits of herbs and spices. Your health, as well as your holiday celebrations, will be all the better for that exploration.

Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum) made its way to the Holy Lands via Arabian caravans and Phoenician ships from India and Sri Lanka. In Biblical times, this spice was used in holy oils and incense as well as in medicine and perfume. In the twelfth century, Hildegard von Bingen dubbed cinnamon "the universal spice for sinuses" and recommended its use in treating colds, flu, indigestion, and menstrual problems.

Today this spice is best known as a flavoring for foods (apple cider, cinnamon toast, candies, and cookies) and oral health products, where its antiseptic properties work to kill bacteria that cause gum disease and tooth decay. Cinnamon also contains benzaldehyde, an antitumor agent. Given the current diabetes epidemic, the most important function this spice performs is to help reduce the amount of insulin necessary for glucose metabolism. As little as one-eighth teaspoon of cinnamon tripled insulin efficiency in U.S. Department of Agriculture research.

Cinnamon is very safe (even safer than drinking coffee), though a handful of highly sensitive folks may experience an allergic reaction (burning, itching, or rash). This spice (particularly one of its active ingredients, cinnamaldehyde) may weaken the effect of tetracycline. Always discuss any herb you take with your doctor.
Ginger (Zingiber officinale) has been a culinary and medicinal favorite for millennia. Traditionally used for dizziness, indigestion, and morning or motion sickness, this spice has well-documented digestive and intestinal benefits, making it useful for anyone who overindulges in holiday fare.

Research also finds that ginger fights inflammation, which is why herbalists recommend it for joint pain. It contains zingibain, which is as effective as the papain in papaya and the bromelain in pineapple. Ginger also offers a number of antioxidants that help prevent blood fats from forming arterial plaque. And it contains some natural Cox-2 inhibiting phytochemicals. By stimulating bile secretion and fighting fat absorption, this spice can even lower cholesterol levels.

While ginger is also very safe, don't take a large amount (more than 6 grams) on an empty stomach, or it might upset your gastrointestinal tract. This spice may strengthen the effects of prescription blood thinners and intensify the impaired blood clotting that often accompanies chemotherapy. People with gallstones might also want to talk with an herbalist before consuming ginger root.

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is a shrublike herb with a piney scent that's traditionally used at Christmas. Native to the Mediterranean, rosemary is useful for arthritis, circulation problems, gallbladder disorders, indigestion, and pain. It's often found in natural cosmetics and shampoos.

Shakespeare got it right when he linked rosemary with remembrance: Six or more substances in this herb help prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine in the brain, a process implicated in Alzheimer's disease. Rosemary is also rich in antioxidants that enhance blood circulation in the arteries, including those in the brain, cardiovascular system, and eyes. Cineole, an essential oil in rosemary, stimulates the central nervous system.
While the whole herb is safer than drinking coffee, it's important never to ingest its undiluted essential oils - and that goes for any essential oil. These oils are extremely concentrated and can be toxic if swallowed. Because rosemary contains camphor (a volatile oil, which in large quantities could possibly cause convulsions), people with epilepsy should use it cautiously.

Follow label directions for dosage if taking capsules, or brew one teaspoon of dried leaf in one cup of boiling water and steep for 10 minutes to make rosemary tea. Enjoy up to three times a day.

Turmeric (Curcuma longa) preceded aspirin as a pain reliever by some 2,000 years. But this spice is easier on the stomach than aspirin, and turmeric doesn't interfere with the body's ability to produce Cox-2 prostaglandins, necessary for proper blood clotting.

Turmeric is native to the Far East where it has been cultivated for millennia. This spice has dozens of indications, including gallbladder disorders, hepatitis, indigestion, and many more in addition to pain relief. Curcumin in turmeric also appears to halt cancer formation in breast and colon tissue. This spice generates enzyme secretions that help the liver detoxify dangerous substances in the body. Turmeric has few reported precautions, making its reasonable use safer than drinking too much coffee.

Taking capsules may be easier than consuming six to eight teaspoons daily of turmeric in food. Take up to 1,200 mg daily, divided into three doses.

James A. Duke, PhD, a specialist in medicinal plants at the U.S. Department of Agiculture for nearly 30 years , is the author of CRC Handbook of Medicinal Herbs and 30 other titles.

SELECTED SOURCES
CRC Handbook of Medicinal Plants by James A. Duke, PhD, editor, et al. ($129.95, CRC Press, 2002)
"Ginger Extract May Offer a Safe Treatment to Protect Against Alzheimer's Disease Inflammation" by Heather S. Oliff, PhD, HerbClip, 8/31/05
The Green Pharmacy Herbal Handbook by James A. Duke, PhD ($6.99, St. Martin's, 2000)
Herbs of the Bible: 2000 Years of Plant Medicine by James A. Duke, PhD ($34.95, Interweave, 1999)