When most people think of barley, they associate it with the grain, which is widely considered to be the first cereal grain to be cultivated. Crop references date back to 25th century BC, and references to barley as part of standard diets could be found throughout Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Barley is an annual grass that can easily grow in a wide range of climates, which accounts for its wide spread across both the European and Asian continents.

Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris), also known as wormwood, is a member of the daisy family and is primarily found in Europe and Asia. If you have any sort of green thumb, you may know the mugwort plant as a weed whose pollen is known for causing hay fever and allergic asthma, or as a natural insecticide.If you are a beer aficionado or a home brewer, you probably know that mugwort can be used in the brewing process to add a bitter flavor to beer.

If you’ve ever had allergies, you can well understand just how frustrating it can be when your patients have symptoms that seem to linger for days on end. They may probably find that spicy food, particularly curry, can do wonders to help open up clogged nasal passages and stuffed ears, and sooth sore throats. As odd as it may sound, there may actually be some sound science behind some of the symptom relief that they can get. The secret is in turmeric, which is the main spice used in the sauce for curry.

There is a common thread that runs through many healing traditions, in which many of the same herbs and spices that are used for culinary purposes also have healing properties. Chinese herbal medicine uses ginger, Ayurvedic medicine relies on turmeric (one of the main ingredients in curry), and Latin American traditional medicine uses sage and cumin. In fact, there is often a complex relationship between the types of foods you should eat, depending upon the best way to balance your body for optimal health.

The milk thistle plant (Silybum marianum) is a small, prickly plant that has bright purple flowers and white veins.It is native to southern Europe, Asia, northern Africa, Australia, and North and South America. The plant’s active ingredients are part of a group of plant compounds known as silymarin, which are thought to have a number of benefits, including treating gallbladder disorders and improving breast milk production, as well as antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties. However, milk thistle is perhaps best known for its ability to treat a variety of liver disorders.