Because it supports healthy digestion, it is often used to season hearty dishes and to ease digestive disorders. It is also effective for infectious conditions of the respiratory tract.

Elderflower and ripe elderberries are proven to help with flu and the common cold, and they are used to make delightful cordials, jams and desserts. Green berries must be avoided.

A well known remedy for digestive discomfort and cramp relief, anise also helps relieve coughs. It is widely regarded as an aphrodisiac effective for both men and women.

The root of this plant has been used since antiquity to ease almost every digestive complaint. It also proves helpful for coughs, colds, flu, and bronchitis. Other parts of the plant can be added to dishes as a seasoning.

Freshly picked herbs usually have greater medicinal value, yet they are not always available. As drying reduces volume, one teaspoon of dried herbs equals three teaspoons of fresh herbs. Experts distinguish several types of herbal teas.

It is safest to buy medicinal herbs from registered producers, for instance through specialist herbal pharmacies. That said, freshly grown lavender from the garden or a pot of basil deserves to be preserved rather than left to fade. Fresh leaves may be picked for immediate use at any time during the growing season. For herbs you intend to store, harvest at the height of the season.