Herbs and spices are powerful tools in the kitchen, offering a range of health benefits.
BSKC II Huynh Tan Vu, from Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy (Campus 3), shares that herbs are a great way to add flavor to meals and also offer a host of health benefits. Many herbs have natural antibacterial properties, boost immunity, aid digestion, and have a calming effect on the body. During the colder months, incorporating more herbs into your diet can help protect your health and ward off seasonal ailments.
Here are some common herbs that are easily accessible and affordable, yet highly effective in preventing illnesses during the cold season, as recommended by Dr. Vu:
– Vietnamese Coriander (Rau Ram): Known for its distinct aroma, spicy flavor, and warming properties, this herb is often used alongside dishes like snakehead fish porridge, balut, and chicken salad. In traditional medicine, Vietnamese coriander stimulates digestion, relieves colds, and treats ailments such as snake bites, scabies, hemorrhoids, loss of appetite, and excessive sexual desire. It is typically used fresh, without any processing.
Herbs like Vietnamese coriander offer numerous health benefits, even in small quantities. Photo illustration.
– Cilantro (Rau Mùi Ta) and Celery (Rau Mùi Tàu): Cilantro, also known as coriander, has a spicy flavor and warming properties. It aids digestion, fights off colds, improves bowel function, and treats measles and boils. Cilantro is commonly grown and used in northern Vietnam during the winter months. Celery, on the other hand, is often referred to as Chinese celery or leaf celery. It has a slightly bitter taste, a warm nature, and a strong aromatic fragrance. Celery helps dispel dampness and heat from the body, cleanses the system, strengthens the spleen and stomach, and stimulates digestion.
– Perilla (Tía Tô): Perilla is a medicinal herb in Eastern medicine, known for its ability to induce sweating and treat colds. Beyond its culinary uses, perilla has two varieties: one with flat, light purple leaves and a mild fragrance, and another with curly, dark purple leaves and a strong fragrance. Perilla has a spicy flavor, warming properties, and is effective in treating colds, indigestion, and vomiting. The stems of perilla are sweet and spicy, and they help stabilize pregnancies, reduce nausea and vomiting, alleviate pain, and manage asthma.
Herbs like betel leaves and perilla are highly beneficial during the cold season and are also affordable. Photo illustration.
– Betel Leaves (Lá Lốt): Betel leaves, also known as Chinese pepper leaves, belong to the Piperaceae family and are widely grown across the region. They have a warming effect on the body, particularly the stomach. Betel leaves are used to treat nausea caused by cold stomach aches, headaches, toothaches, persistent runny noses, and diarrhea. Additionally, they are used to address joint pain, gynecological issues, excessive sweating in the hands and feet, and skin conditions like dyshidrotic eczema.
– Lemon Basil (Húng Chanh): Lemon basil is commonly used fresh in Vietnamese cuisine. With its sour and spicy flavor, warming properties, and positive impact on the lungs, it helps relieve colds, eliminate phlegm, and detoxify the body. It is also effective in treating sore throats, colds, and fevers without sweating. People often consume fresh lemon basil leaves or make herbal teas. Additionally, lemon basil essential oil is used in combination with other herbs to produce cough and cold remedies.
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