Understanding the Various Uses of Herb Plants

Herb plants are part of the botanical world that provides to the zoological world many benefits.  Some of the benefits and uses of herb plants include the use of herbs in cooking, in providing various scents and in the treatment of certain conditions of the body. 

Specifically herb plants are defined as plants that originate from a seed, but do not have the woody shoot that typically a tree would have.  The use of herbs by various civilizations is extensively documented historically.  In addition, herb plants are an important component to the cultures of today as they provide religious significance, medical benefits and are an important part of the diet.

Culinary Herbs

Culinary herbs are those herb plants that are used to enhance or add a unique flavor in the preparation of food.  These particular herbs generally have a very hearty flavor and can be used in small quantities to get the desired and tasteful effect.

Examples of these herb plants are parsley, rosemary, thyme, mint, basil, etc.  Often these particular culinary herbs are used when preparing certain meats, fish, poultry and pasta food dishes.  For example rosemary is a wonderful herb to use to bring out the flavor of chicken or basil is a flavorful herb to enhance various pasta dishes that use a tomato based sauce.

Aromatic Herbs

Another popular use of herb plants is those herbs that are used for aromatic purposes. Often these herbs are prepared in a mixture of oil or water so that their fragrance is released through application or by spraying the mixture.

Sometimes these mixtures are put into a spray bottle.  The convenient packaging of these aromatic herb plants allows for the scent to be disbursed on to various items around the home.  For example, a lavender spray can be applied to the sheets of a bed to provide a soothing and relaxing aroma.  This fragrance will provide a calming affect and enhance an individual's sleep

Medicinal Herbs

Herb plants have a lengthy and promising history of being used for medicinal purposes.  For example St. John's Wort has been shown to be effective in the treatment of depression.  Also another herb that has shown promising results in the treatment of depression is licorice. 

In addition, red clover blossom may be beneficial in raising the level of fertility in women.  This claim of raising the fertility level in women is based on the nurturing effect placed on the woman’s uterus and the calming affect it places upon the central nervous system.