Herb

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Please help improve this article or section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. (March 2008)

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (March 2008)

Basil, a common herb

A(n) herb (pronounced /ˈhɝb/ or /ˈɝb/; see pronunciation differences) is a plant that is valued for qualities such as medicinal properties, flavor, scent, or the like^[1].

Contents 1 Uses 1.1 Culinary herbs 1.2 Medicinal herbs 1.3 Religious herbs 2 See also 3 References 4 External links

[edit] Uses

Herbs have a variety of uses including culinary, medicinal, or in some cases even spiritual entheogen usage. General usage differs between culinary herbs and medicinal herbs. In medicinal or spiritual use any of the parts of the plant might be considered "herbs", including leaves, roots, flowers, seeds, resin, root bark, inner bark (cambium), berries and sometimes the pericarp or other portions.

[edit] Culinary herbs

Culinary use of the term "herb" typically distinguishes between herbs, from the leafy green parts of a plant, and spices, from other parts of the plant (including seeds, berries, bark, root, fruit, and even occasionally dried leaves). Culinary herbs are distinguished from vegetables in that like spices they are used in small amounts and provide flavor rather than substance to food.

Some herbs are shrubs (such as rosemary, Rosmarinus officinalis), or trees (such as bay laurel, Laurus nobilis) – this contrasts with botanical herbs, which by definition cannot be woody plants.

[edit] Medicinal herbs

Many plants contain phytochemicals that have effects on the body. There may be some effects even when consumed in the small levels that typify culinary "spicing", and some herbs are toxic in larger quantities. For instance, some types of herbal extract, such as the extract of St. John's-wort (Hypericum perforatum) or of kava (Piper methysticum) can be used for medical purposes to relieve depression and stress. However, large amounts of these herbs may lead to poisoning, and should be used with caution. Some herbs that are used not only for recreation can also be used for medicinal purposes such as cannabis.

[edit] Religious herbs

Herbs are used in many religions – such as in Christianity (myrrh (Commiphora myrrha), ague root (Aletris farinosa) and frankincense (Boswellia spp)) and in the partially Christianized Anglo-Saxon pagan Nine Herbs Charm.

[edit] See also

• List of plants used as medicine
• Herbaceous plant
• Pot herb
• Apothecary
• Herbalism
• Herb garden
• The Herb Society of America
• International Herb Association
• List of herbs and spices
• Remedy
• Prehistoric medicine
• Strewing herb

v • d • e Herbs and spices Herbs Angelica • Basil • Basil, holy • Basil, Thai • Bay leaf • Boldo • Bolivian Coriander • Borage • Chervil • Chives • Cicely • Coriander leaf (cilantro) • Cress • Curry leaf • Dill • Elsholtzia ciliata • Epazote • Eryngium foetidum (long coriander) • Hemp • Hoja santa • Houttuynia cordata (giấp cá) • Hyssop • Lavender • Lemon balm • Lemon grass • Lemon verbena • Limnophila aromatica (rice paddy herb) • Lovage • Marjoram • Mint • Mitsuba • Oregano • Parsley • Perilla (shiso) • Rosemary • Rue • Sage • Savory • Sorrel • Tarragon • Thyme • Vietnamese coriander (rau răm) • Woodruff Spices Ajwain (bishop's weed) • Aleppo pepper • Allspice • Amchur (mango powder) • Anise • Aromatic ginger • Asafoetida • Camphor • Caraway • Cardamom • Cardamom, black • Cassia • Cayenne pepper • Celery seed • Chenpi • Chili • Cinnamon • Clove • Coriander seed • Cubeb • Cumin • Cumin, black • Dill & dill seed • Fennel • Fenugreek • Fingerroot (krachai) • Galangal, greater • Galangal, lesser • Garlic • Ginger • Golpar • Grains of Paradise • Grains of Selim • Horseradish • Juniper berry • Liquorice • Mace • Mahlab • Malabathrum (tejpat) • Mustard, black • Mustard, brown • Mustard, white • Nigella (kalonji) • Nutmeg • Paprika • Peppercorn (black, green & white) • Pepper, long • Pepper, Brazilian • Pepper, Peruvian • Pomegranate seed (anardana) • Poppy seed • Saffron • Sarsaparilla • Sassafras • Sesame • Sichuan pepper (huājiāo, sansho) • Star anise • Sumac • Tasmanian pepper • Tamarind • Tonka bean • Turmeric • Vanilla • Wasabi • Zedoary • Zest Herb and spice mixtures Adjika • Advieh • Afghan spice rub • Baharat • Berbere • Bouquet garni • Buknu • Chaat masala • Chaunk • Chili powder • Crab boil • Curry powder • Fines herbes • Five-spice powder • Garam masala • Garlic salt • Harissa • Herbes de Provence • Jerk spice • Khmeli suneli • Lemon pepper • Masala • Mitmita • Mixed spice • Old Bay Seasoning • Panch phoron • Persillade • Pumpkin pie spice • Qâlat Daqqa • Quatre épices • Ras el hanout • Recado rojo • Sharena sol • Shichimi • Tabil • Tandoori masala • Za'atar Lists of herbs and spices List of Australian herbs and spices • Chinese herbs • List of Indian spices • List of culinary herbs and spices Related topics Marinating • Spice rub

v • d • e Cuisine Regional Asia · Europe · Caribbean · South Asia · Latin America · Middle East · North America · Africa Styles Haute · Immigrant · Fusion · Fast food Food Bread · Pasta · Cheese · Rice · Sauce · Soup · Dessert · Herbs · Spices Technical Techniques · Utensils · Weights and measures See also Kitchen · Meal · Wikibooks:Cookbook

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• How to Grow Herbs - Useful information on growing different types of herbs
• The Herb Hunters Guide American Medicinal Plants Of Commercial Importance

Find more about Herb on Wikipedia's sister projects:
	Dictionary definitions
	Textbooks
	Quotations
	Source texts
	Images and media
	News stories
	Learning resources