Herb of the Week — stomachache RSS

       Allspice, used as a spice and medicinal herb, is the dried, unripe berry or fruit of the evergreen pimento tree. Other common names include: Jamaican pepper, pimento, pimenta, clove pepper, myrtle pepper, and newspice.The tree grows 22 to 43 feet high on average, but is slow growing. Its leaves are leathery, glossy, and elliptical-shaped. The tree blooms with small white flowers in the spring and fall, turning to clusters of brownish-green berries in the fall. The tree is cultivated in tropical regions, and is native to southern Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.  Allspice contains a chemical compound called eugenol that is known to be antiseptic and anesthetic. Allspice is also carminative, antidiarrheal, aromatic, a...

     Spearmint has been a popular herb in both culinary and medicinal uses for centuries, being prevalent in early medieval times and probably long before. Originating in the Mediterranean, it soon became widespread. It’s name in Spanish, yerba buena, which means “good herb”, points to its popularity and use for many things. Spearmint has been found in English gardens since at least the 9th century, and was brought over to the Americas on the first voyages.