The Best Way to Use Herbs for Health
There are so many ways to use herbs to support your body — both for everyday wellness and when illness hits.
You can sip them in teas, brew strong infusions, make tinctures, salves, oils, liniments, or even steams. Each has its place when we’re feeling under the weather.
But there’s another, simpler way to use herbs to stay well in the first place — through the food you eat every day.
By being intentional with the ingredients and flavors you use, your daily meals can become one of your best wellness tools.
It doesn’t need to be complicated. Just get creative, use variety, and spice things up!
Understanding Herbal affinities
Most herbs and foods have an affinity for certain body systems. Some support overall function, while others nourish or help restore a particular organ.
That doesn’t mean they only work for one thing — it’s more like they have a “favorite” place in the body where they offer extra help.
For example, oregano supports digestion. It helps the digestive process run more smoothly — and it also helps the body move through a fever more effectively.
Sage is another good one. It supports digestion, memory, and cognition, and it’s been a steady friend to me for hot flashes over the years. Sage tea anyone?
The properties of these herbs tend toward helping the body eliminate waste and toxins — a good reminder that healthy digestion is the foundation for so many other things.
And then there’s hawthorn — an herb with a special connection to the heart. It can help with both the physical heart and the emotional one. For centuries, it’s been used to comfort people through grief and heartbreak. It doesn’t erase pain, but it helps you move through it with more ease and resilience.
Learn more about what culinary herbs can do for you.
Flavor Your Food, Support Your Health
One of the easiest ways to use herbs for health is to simply use more of them in your cooking.
Most of us are in such a hurry to get dinner on the table that we barely think past salt and pepper. But the leafy herbs in your spice cabinet — basil, thyme, rosemary, oregano, and sage — all help with digestion and can relieve gas and indigestion.
Try doubling the amount of herbs you normally use and see how it changes the flavor. And don’t forget freshly ground pepper — it actually helps your body absorb more of the nutrients from the food you eat.
The Power of Bitter Greens
Years ago, we started breeding the bitterness out of our greens — and that wasn’t such a great idea.
That slightly bitter taste is what stimulates digestion, helping bile flow and making nutrients easier for your body to absorb and use.
That’s why salads used to come before the meal — they woke up the digestive system and got it ready to do its job.
Try mixing up a variety of leafy greens with a simple oil-and-vinegar dressing. If you use unpasteurized apple cider vinegar, you’ll get the added bonus of supporting your gut flora. A small change like that can make a big difference for your belly.
Choosing Whole Foods (Most of the Time)
Whenever you can, reach for real, whole foods — the kind you find around the outer edges of the grocery store.
Dried beans, nuts, seeds, vegetables, good oils, and simple proteins all have something valuable to offer your body.
Processed foods, on the other hand, are designed to look and taste good, but they often come packed with artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives. Those extra ingredients may make food shelf-stable, but they don’t do much for our health.
That said — time is a commodity. I understand! I work full time and run two businesses, and when my grandkids visit, the whole schedule goes out the window. We can’t do everything, and that’s okay. Choose your battles.
Pick one or two nights a week to cook from scratch. You can prep veggies or cook extra meat on the weekend to make weekday meals easier. Even just planning what you’ll make helps you get ahead.
Start small. As it gets easier, add one more thing. And if life gets busy, just do your best — that’s still something.
Try Something New in the Kitchen
Don’t be afraid to experiment!
When I first started bringing more herbs and whole foods into my kitchen, I discovered so many new flavors I hadn’t tried before — and I ended up loving some of them.
Even my husband, who’s a true meat-and-potatoes kinda guy, has found a few new favorites along the way. (That’s no small feat!)
Keep it simple. Try different herbs on the same basic meals to see which you like best. Adjust the amounts until it tastes right for you.
And remember, recipes are just suggestions — start with one and make it your own.
If you need inspiration, Cassy Joy Garcia’s Cook Once, Eat All Week is a great resource. She focuses on prepping ingredients on the weekend so you can put meals together quickly during the week. I do something similar — cook big on weekends and enjoy the leftovers all week long.
Keep It Simple, Keep It Real
None of us can make everything from scratch all the time. I know I can’t. Weeknight meals at my house are often leftovers and a quick veggie side.
But every little bit helps. Each time you cook a simple, colorful meal at home, using real ingredients and a few herbs, you’re supporting your body in staying well.
Your kitchen can be one of your best tools for health. Keep it simple, keep it real, and have fun experimenting. The more herbs and color you add to your meals, the more your body will thank you.
I’d love to hear from you — how do you handle evening meals in your home? Do you have a little system or rhythm that helps make dinnertime easier? Share your thoughts in the comments — I’d love to hear what works for you, and your ideas might just spark inspiration for someone else too.
