The world of herbalism is wide and certainly intimidating for newbies. But fear not, as we’re here to make it more approachable!
What Foods are Considered ‘Herbs’?
So what exactly are herbs? Generally, they’re considered to be a group of plants with aromatic or medicinal properties that exclude common fruits and veggies. While often grouped together, what distinguishes herbs from spices (generally) are the parts of the plant they come from. Herbs are typically the leafy part of the plant whereas spices are the non-leafy aspects.
Herbs range from your everyday culinary variety like basil, parsley, dill, cilantro, chives, mint, tarragon, etc to more medicinal varieties including chamomile, marshmallow, lemon balm, echinacea, licorice (not the candy), gingko, ashwagandha…the list could go on and on.
Health Benefits of Herbs
Regardless of whether they’re used in cooking, teas, or natural medicine, all herbs offer an array of health benefits. This is largely due to the high concentration of plant compounds, or phytonutrients, they contain. These bioactive compounds act as antioxidants in the body to help reduce inflammation and fight off disease-causing free radical molecules.
Additionally, certain herbs may offer further benefits, especially the varieties that fit into the ‘medicinal’ category — though culinary herbs are often included, too. Herbs are frequently grouped based on their health-promoting properties. Just some of these groups include:
- Carminatives: Herbs that relax the muscles of the digestive tract to ease bloating and cramping and encourage better digestion, absorption, and motility. Examples include chamomile, bergamot, peppermint, fennel, cinnamon, and thyme.
- Nervines: Herbs that help to ease the nervous system, promoting relaxation. Examples include chamomile, lavender, and rose.
- Antispasmodics: Herbs that relax the muscles of the respiratory system, helping to alleviate coughs. Examples include licorice, wild cherry bark, ginger, fennel, and calendula.
- Mucilage: Mucilage is actually a substance found in certain herbs. It’s a slippery, slimy material that helps hydrate and soothe inflamed or dehydrated tissues, great for alleviating dry coughs. Examples include licorice, marshmallow, and mullein.
Beyond these groups of herbs, each specific herb has its own unique health properties — the majority of which are well-researched and peer-reviewed. Though, if I were to go through each, I’d have something closer to a novel than a blogpost. Plus, I’m not a registered herbalist, so I don’t have the full breadth of knowledge that those wonderful practitioners do.
Bottom line: The edible, medicinal herbs readily available to us have proven health benefits that are worth taking note of.
The Sustainability Potential of Herbs
Something else to love about herbs is their potential to be highly sustainable. However, this depends on a variety of factors, including how and where they were grown, harvested, processed, packaged, and transported from.
At baseline, plants (herbs included) are photosynthesizers, meaning they utilize sun, water, and carbon dioxide to produce oxygen and energy…aka they sequester carbon instead of emit it. This is already a big leg up on other foods, like animal-based products, which tend to be carbon emitters. Read more about the impacts of these products and the food system as a whole here!
There are a few places where herbal production can be even more sustainable, however. These include brand investment in sustainable packaging, minimal waste production, energy efficiency, sustainability reporting, and certifications illustrating sustainable agriculture and business practices. Ethical wildcrafting or foraging can also be a great sign, too — as is local sourcing.
When it comes to certifications, there are a few that clue you into a brand’s investment into environmentally-friendly practices. Just some include:
- Fair Trade: This certification seal illustrates that a brand is committed to better worker conditions, fair compensation, and environmental protections through strict standards.
- Organic: USDA Certified Organic guarantees that an herbal product was made without synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, or other chemicals. Regenerative Organic Certified is a level up as it combines all the benefits of organic farming with additional animal welfare and labor standards.
- B Corporation: B Corp or Certified B Corporation demonstrates that a brand is committed to sustainability through environmental and social initiatives.
- Plastic Neutral: Plastic Neutral is pretty much self explanatory, illustrating the the company is neutral in their contribution to plastic pollution and invested in improving the plastic waste crisis.
Brands We Love
*This part of the post may contain affiliate links, learn more about what that means here.
While there are a smattering of herbal products that I adore, two come to mind immediately as they’re sitting in my pantry right now.
Rasa
Rasa is a coffee-alternative brand that features an impressive array of adaptogenic herbs including rhodiola, ashwangandha, chicory, burdock, dandelion, maca, and more. Plus, their products feature some functional mushrooms like reishi and chaga.
They have so many varieties of coffee-alternatives to choose from, some caffeine-free and some caffeine-containing (from either cacao or coffee). All the options are incredibly delicious, imparting a warm, roasted flavor reminiscent of chai, hot cocoa, and your favorite latte.
Rasa does a fantastic job at prioritizing sustainability, too, through sourcing with ecosystem health in mind, Fair Trade certification, and third-party testing for purity.
To try Rasa for yourself, use this link or the code CHRISTINA08650 for 15% off! (My first discount code, eek!)
Hilma
Hilma is natural remedies company that produces herbal supplements aimed at supporting gut, immune, respiratory and sleep health. This is accomplished through their use of herbs like peppermint, fennel, lemon balm, carraway, passionflower, nettles, and more.
All Hilma products have been formulated by herbalists and medical doctors and are third-party verified for purity and safety. Plus, each supplement they offer has been clinically researched for efficacy.
I personally love their Indoor/Outdoor Support for seasonal allergies and the Gas + Bloat Relief after indulgent meals or if I’m just feeling bloated. Their Tension Relief, Daily Pre-Probiotic, and Sleep Support are worth a try too! Though, all their products are really impressive.
Hilma is also dedicated to sustainability through investing in community gardens, recyclable and post consumer recycled packaging, carbon offsets, and are Plastic Neutral certified. They are publicly committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, too, which I love.
I’ve been so pleasantly surprised by how well their products work and am grateful to skip out on using pharmaceuticals when I can. To try Hilma for yourself, click this link and use the code SUSTAINNOURISH20 for 20% off!
There’s so much to love about herbs, from their health benefits to their sustainability potential. And while you should always consult with your healthcare provider prior to using herbs for a specific health concern, carefully chosen herbal products can make a meaningful impact!
