We have officially entered fall! Did you grow herbs this summer? If so, don’t let them go to waste! Make plans now to harvest and preserve them. Using herbs is an often-overlooked ingredient in good nutrition during cancer treatment! Herbs add so much delicious flavor and, in some cases, may be used to offset cancer related taste changes. I have suggestions on how to use them whether it’s harvesting basil and preparing pesto to freeze or tying a bunch of oregano up with kitchen twine to dry to use later in sauces or other recipes.
In the past I’ve written about growing herbs (www.healingfoodforcancer.com/post/this-summer-cancer-patients-should-grow-these-six-herbs). In today’s post, I’ve done some updates to share some info about herbs that fight cancer and provide direction on how to harvest and prepare or dry them. This isn’t an exhaustive list – rather a collection of commonly grown herbs.
Terms
It may be helpful to understand a few terms if you aren’t already familiar with them.
Antibacterial - substances that kill or suppress bacteria.
Anti-inflammatory - inflammation can be both good and bad. It is part of the body’s natural response to injury or infection. Chronic inflammation can lead to disease, including cancer and supports growth and spread of tumors. Reducing inflammation is important for those with cancer.
Antimicrobial - prevent organisms like bacteria, viruses or fungi from causing infection or disease.
Antioxidant - Oxidation is a chemical reaction that produces free radicals (unpaired electrons that are unstable and reactive) that can damage cells which can lead to cancer. Too many free radicals can cause what is known as oxidative stress and result in disease. Antioxidants, which are produced internally and found in many foods, stop this process.
Antiseptic - prevents growth of organisms which cause disease.
Nuclear factor-kB or NF-kB - is a transcription factor (it turns on and turns off gene expression) that plays an important role in a variety of processes, including cell growth, development, and survival as well as immune response and inflammation. Abnormal NF-kB activity can contribute to cancerous tumors.
Cancer-Fighting Herbs
Now let’s get to the delicious, cancer-fighting herbs! Whether you plan to dry them or use them right away in a cancer fighting recipe, I recommend washing your them using a veggie wash. I like Environne Purely Essential which can be found on Amazon.
1. Basil: Basil’s sweet pungent flavor is something most everyone loves.
Therapeutic benefits - In addition to having anticancer effects, basil is vitamin rich and contains compounds that are protective to cells during radiation treatment. It regulates NF-kB. Basil can also help with taste changes and irritation in the mouth and throat. It aids in digestion and is anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antimicrobial. Its antioxidants are protective to the liver, brain and heart.
Tips - Basil is the most tender of all the herbs mentioned here. It prefers plenty of sun. Therefore, as temperatures dip and the days get shorter, it’s not as happy and it’s not an herb I’ve had success wintering over inside.
I recommend picking it right before you use it. However, if you harvest it and need to store it, cut the stem and place it in water like you would a flower in a vase.
Favorite use: Fresh rolls (rice paper wraps, tofu, spinach, cucumber, mint, basil with peanut sauce) Pesto. I normally make a large batch of pesto with walnuts, olive oil and Parmesan and freeze it. A lot of people like freezing it in ice cube trays so that they may easily thaw it and use it in sauces or directly on pasta or pizza.
2. Rosemary: It also boasts a pungent flavor to sweet and savory foods, such as apples and pears or potatoes.
Therapeutic benefits - it aids in digestion, is anti-inflammatory, and a NF-kB regulator. In animal studies, it has been shown to inhibit breast and skin tumor development. It also improves immune function.
Tips - Rosemary is among the heartiest of herbs. In many climates it is a perennial that can survive outside through the winter and live for years. In an effort to protect it in the winter, I put mine in the garage near a window and have had it live for years! If you wish to harvest yours, trim it (leaving it on the branch), wash it, dry on a paper towel, tie a bunch with kitchen twine, hang in a pantry or another cool, dark, dry, dust-free place for several weeks to dry. Remove the rosemary from the branch and store in an air-tight container.
Favorite use: Rosemary roasted root vegetables and pizza. I roast carrots, butternut squash, small potatoes, red onions with olive oil and rosemary. It’s good on any type of crust but is especially delicious on a cornbread crust.
3. Thyme: There are more than a hundred varieties of thyme. It is delicious with fish, mushrooms and onions.
Therapeutic benefits - Thyme supports respiratory health and is soothing to sore throats and coughs. It also relieves indigestion, gastritis (inflammation of the lining of the stomach), diarrhea and gas. It serves as an appetite stimulant and is antimicrobial, antibacterial and antiseptic. It can be dried using the same method above: wash, dry, tie in bunches with twine, hang to dry then remove from the stem and store.
Favorite Use: Home-made cough syrup. Once dried you steep it in hot water like you would tea. Add some honey and use as needed.
4. Lavender: Studies have shown that just the sight of lavender is calming. It’s sweet, sour flavor is delicious with fruit such as peaches or lemons as well as potatoes.
Therapeutic benefits: Lavender provides anti-leukemia and anti-tumor effects for liver, spleen and breast. It provides relief from indigestion, exhaustion, irritability, and headaches. It is antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, antitumoral, analgesic and a relaxant. Lavender is used for anxiety, depression, loss of appetite, gas, indigestion, nausea, vomiting and neuropathic pain.
Note - lavender fragrances are often made with synthetic ingredients and should be avoided.
Lavender belongs to the mint family. Certain varieties are best suited for culinary use.
Tips - Lavender likes well-drained soil. This has been one of the trickiest herbs for me to grow – probably because of a lack of sun!
To preserve, you may wish to save some as a dried bouquet or use the same method described previously: wash, dry, tie in bunches with twine, hang to dry then remove from the stem and store.
Favorite use: Tea. I like lavender mainly for the flower and the scent. Since my luck with growing lavender hasn’t been the greatest, I buy Yogi Honey Lavender Stress Relief.
5. Sage - Sage is another perennial herb. It has a spicy, herby flavor that is often associated with stuffing at Thanksgiving but is also good with tart cherries, beans, eggplant and onions.
Therapeutic benefits - Sage is a terrific treatment for loss of appetite, gas, bloating, indigestion, diarrhea and inflammation of the stomach lining. It helps side effects of treatment.
Tips - Sage has been one of the easiest herbs to grow. The plant I bought several years ago has lived through the winter after being stored near the window in my garage. If you wish to dry yours, you guessed it: wash, dry, tie in bunches with twine, hang to dry then remove from the stem and store.
Favorite Use: I must admit that while I’ve used it in a pear and sage jam recipe, it is not my favorite flavor.
6. Oregano - This is the first herb that comes to mind when I think of Italian food. Its peppery flavor is best enjoyed with tomatoes, pasta and pizza.
Therapeutic benefits: Oregano is antioxidant rich - more so than blueberries! It promotes wound- healing while preventing infection. It is a digestive aid, is anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antibacterial. This can be especially helpful to your immune system while undergoing treatment. It is a good source of manganese and iron which are important to forming red blood cells. It may help to lower blood glucose levels.
Tip: Oregano, like many herbs, can be harvested and using the method described above, tied with kitchen twine and hung in a cool, dry place to dry out and use long into the winter.
Favorite use: Seasoning a variety of meals including asparagus wraps and adding both dried and fresh when making Latin American kraut.
Happy harvesting! Savor the freshness herbs add to meals and reap the benefits of these powerful plants! Want more inspiration? The American Institute of Cancer Research (AICR) website: https://www.aicr.org/resources/blog/celebrate-summer-with-herbs-and-spices/ publishes loads of recipes!
Disclaimer: This information is not intended to take the place of medical advice. Herbs contain powerful compounds that have the potential to heal but can interfere with absorption of some nutrients as well as interact with some forms of treatment - especially if they are concentrated in the form of supplements. Talk with your healthcare provider to learn about possible interactions with treatment as well as to learn about best ways (culinary herbs, teas, oils, tinctures, lotions or aromatherapy) to reap therapeutic benefits.
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