At this time of year, very specific spices shape our cooking and snacking. These are the typical spices of the Christmas period, such as cinnamon, cloves, anise, star anise, cardamom, allspice and vanilla. The great thing is that these spices are not only incredibly tasty and characterize the very special taste of Advent, but they are also very healthy.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is almost an all-rounder among Christmas spices. Whether turmeric milk, porridge, tea, mulled wine, hot chocolate, cakes, pastries, fruit bread or Indian dishes, cinnamon complements almost every dish with a delicate touch. However, cinnamon has also gained a lot of attention in recent years for its blood sugar-lowering effects, making it popular among some diabetics. Cinnamon is used in natural medicine, but also for numerous other ailments, such as nausea, loss of appetite, gastrointestinal problems, colds with fever, menstrual and menopausal problems. Due to its antispasmodic, antibacterial, pain-relieving and warming properties, cinnamon is considered a spice with a wide range of effects.
Healthy recipes in our magazine
Our Wild Herbs Magazine (available here) offers culinary and naturopathic recipes suitable for every season as well as educational articles on the wild plants of our land. We publish the magazine just like we publish our books without the help of a publisher. All issues published in 2023 are still available. To ensure you don’t miss any magazines next year, we also offer a subscription that ends automatically after one year. You also get the winter edition here as Set with one of our homemade incense packs and the book “Preserving Wild Herbs”. You can find more information in our shop at www.die-moderne-Kräuterhexe.de It also contains delicious and healthy recipe ideas for winter
Ani
But anise seeds can also shine for their many uses in natural medicine. Anise is also excellent for this time of year as it can help us in case of colds with cough, difficulty swallowing and headaches. But anise also has a calming effect on the gastrointestinal tract thanks to its antispasmodic and relaxing properties. Anise is generally considered an antibacterial, tonic and diuretic spice, also used as an aphrodisiac.
Star anise is often equated with anise seeds due to its name, taste and properties, although these are not directly related to each other. Star anise is used in natural medicine, especially for nerve pain, and can also have an expectorant, antibacterial, diuretic and relaxing effect. Star anise is said to have a healing effect on the respiratory system. Like other spices, it is also used for gastrointestinal disorders. Star anise can also be used against bad breath, toothache and tonsillitis.
Educational Christmas gifts made with love
If you’re still looking for a Christmas gift, check out our Herbal Witches online store www.die-moderne-Kräuterhexe.de Above. There you will find our book”With wild herbs and medicinal plants all year round“(available here), in which we present numerous local wild herbs. We will explain when you can collect and use which components of the plant and how to discover and distinguish them. In addition to the large format images, for each plant there are also examples of use in the medicine cabinet and witch’s kitchen. We have our own to match Seasonal calendar of wild herbs (available here) developed. Month after month you will be able to see at a glance the most important wild herbs ready for harvesting. The calendar is designed as a permanent calendar, which is why you can reuse it every year! Click here for our Christmas offers.
clove
Cloves are known for their use against toothache, bad breath and inflammation of the mucous membranes and are often added to natural toothpastes. It is said to have an antibacterial, analgesic, calming, antispasmodic and even fungicidal effect. Clove is also used against muscle and joint pain and, as a Christmas spice, it also has the task of providing relief from gastrointestinal disorders.
Vanilla
Vanilla is also a must as a Christmas spice and adds a delicate touch to many sweet dishes. Vanilla is a beautiful plant and is an orchid. The dark vanilla pod then develops from its flower, from which the vanilla pulp is obtained. Sweet vanilla was previously said to have an enhancing and aphrodisiac effect. It can be invigorating and relaxing at the same time. Vanilla can stimulate metabolism and digestion, promote menstruation and activate bile production. It is therefore also used in natural medicine against weakening of the bile, against muscle strength and weakness, as well as against rheumatism and indigestion.
Tonka, cardamom and allspice
Now I would like to talk about the tonka spices, cardamom and allspice, although the tonka bean is probably the least known spice. The small, narrow, elongated seeds have a vanilla-like flavor and are sometimes used as a vanilla substitute. When talking about tonka beans, particular attention must be paid to the coumarin content so as not to exceed the maximum permitted quantity. Thanks to its coumarins, tonka bean is said to have antiviral, antimicrobial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, vasodilator, and sometimes anticancer effects. Cardamom belongs to the ginger family and thanks to its essential oils it has a harmonizing effect on our gastrointestinal system. It can aid digestion and have an antispasmodic effect. Cardamom is also used in naturopathy for menstrual and menopausal symptoms, as well as coughs and asthma.
Last but not least, I would like to mention allspice, a prized spice. Since allspice also stimulates digestion, we often find this spice as an ingredient in foods that are difficult to digest. Allspice may also have an appetite-stimulating effect and can be used in case of a weak stomach. As we can see, we usually find these spices combined in sweet and sometimes difficult to digest foods. When you now consider their digestive and strengthening effect on the gastrointestinal tract, this also makes sense. Most of the spices mentioned above are also said to have an aphrodisiac effect, and this was probably also used in the past by combining them in certain foods.
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