Preparations for Christmas are well under way, with food shopping taking on a different dimension at this time of the year as we purchase herbs and spices we normally do not use. The spices include cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, ginger, cardamom, allspice, and star anise. The herbs commonly used at Christmas include parsley, bay leaves, rosemary, thyme, sage, and mint.
If you are purchasing powders such as cinnamon, ginger, or nutmeg, please keep them in the freezer, as this preserves their potency. You can clearly label them in resealable containers. That way, they will retain their flavour rather than go dead after a few months—or even weeks—and end up on the compost heap.
We use these herbs and spices in different ways at Christmas. Cinnamon is added to cakes but is also used in mulled wine. That glass of mulled wine is not only warming but also beneficial to health, as cinnamon balances blood sugar and stimulates circulation. It is a particularly useful herb for diabetics, as it helps cells respond more effectively to insulin.
Cloves are good for our health and have more uses than just flavouring ham. They are antiseptic and help relieve flatulence, which will certainly be helpful over Christmas. They are also useful as mouthwash due to their powerful antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and pain-reducing qualities. Clove contains eugenol, which is a powerful substance that kills bacteria, fungi, and viruses in the mouth. This helps reduce plaque, lower the chance of gum disease, and stops the growth of germs that cause cavities and bad breath. Clove-infused water is a very useful mouthwash that helps to reduce gum inflammation, strengthen teeth, and cure bleeding gums, as well as keeping one’s breath fresh. If pain or gum infection persists after using cloves, you need to see a dentist for further evaluation, as cloves are a safe, effective, and research-backed natural alternative to artificial mouthwashes for maintaining oral hygiene.
Ginger is very well known and helps reduce nausea. It is also warming.
Cardamom should be used more often, as it has many health benefits. Adding it to coffee enhances digestion and helps reduce the coffee’s acidity. This makes coffee gentler on the stomach and reduces bloating and acid reflux. Cardamom also reduces stress, which makes it very useful during Christmas.
Because we eat so many rich and fatty foods at Christmas, it's important to be generous when adding thyme, parsley, and garlic. Parsley is excellent for us, and I’m not speaking about sprinkling it like grass seed over potatoes. To get the full benefit of parsley, you need to sauté it. This helps to liberate the fat-soluble minerals and phytochemicals, making them more accessible and simpler to absorb in your body. Parsley protects cells from harm and promotes heart, bone, and eye health as well as our immune system. The herb is also high in minerals, including iron, magnesium, potassium, and calcium, as well as apigenin, a chemical related to lower cancer risk and muscle relaxation. Apigenin levels in parsley actually rise with moderate cooking, adding to the health advantages.
Most people know how beneficial garlic is, but thyme is largely ignored as being old-fashioned and not trendy. If we value our health, we value thyme. It is valuable because it is effective against foodborne pathogens like Salmonella and E. coli. That is why it is always used for stuffing chicken. Thyme, and especially thyme essential oil, can inhibit the growth and biofilm formation of Salmonella and E. coli. A jug of thyme tea for washing lettuce and salad leaves could help prevent many upset tummies over Christmas.
If the healing wisdom of Christmas herbs sparked your curiosity, why not continue exploring Ireland’s rich tradition of natural medicine? My blog is filled with stories, remedies, and folklore that reveal how deeply Irish culture has always intertwined food, health, and heritage.
Continue your journey and discover more centuries-old practices still relevant today!