Some of us, myself included, can admit we do not have green thumbs. However, healing herbs are some of the easiest things to grow at home and provide great relief to some common ailments.
No large space or full garden required, and you’ll be able to pick fresh herbs daily for all of your juices, smoothies, and salads like this Asian Kale Slaw. Not to mention growing your own herbs is way less expensive than buying them, or worse, buying them and watching them wilt because you forgot to use them.
Here are just a few of my favorite healing herbs and their amazing medicinal properties. Of all the herbs, I must say, mint is my favorite!
Mint– In addition to being a great digestion aid, mint is also a great natural cure for acne. The salicylic acid present in mint (which also helps with excessive oil), makes it a pimple-fighting powerhouse. It’s also anti-pruritic giving it the ability to calm itchy, infected skin.
Ginger – A deliciously spicy ingredient that has been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine, ginger has been used to treat colds, stomach aches, nausea, indigestion, constipation, and other bowel troubles.
Cilantro – Aside from being a delicious addition to a basic guacamole, cilantro also has some wonderful health benefits. Cilantro is a strong detoxifier, binding with toxins in your body and loosening them from you skin. And if that wasn’t enough, cilantro has been shown to improve sleep, decrease anxiety and boost your antioxidant intake.
Now that you’re ready to naturally boost your health with medicinal herbs, here’s an easy slaw to mix up for your next lunch or dinner.
Asian Kale Slaw with Miso Ginger Dressing
Ingredients
- 2 cups kale leaves, chopped into bite-sized pieces
- 1/4 head of red cabbage, shredded
- 1/4 head of green cabbage
- 3 carrots, grated
- 1/2 large beet, grated
- 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
- small bunch cilantro, coarsely chopped
- small bunch mint, coarsely chopped
- 1 avocado
- 1/4 cup shelled edamame
- 1/4 cup unsweetened dried cherries
- sliced cherry tomatoes
- handful of slivered almonds
For the miso ginger dressing
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon tamari
- 2 tablespoons miso paste (I used white)
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- juice of half a lime
- juice of 1 lemon
- juice of 1 orange
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 3 tablespoons fresh minced ginger
- 2-4 tablespoons water (or more, if needed)
- 2 teaspoons Sriracha
Directions
Using a high powered blender, combine all of the dressing ingredients and blend until smooth (the resulting mixture was a smooth, yellowish color).
In a large mixing bowl, toss together lettuces, cabbages, carrots, onions, beet, cilantro and mint. Pour over dressing and combine well. [The flavor is even better when you allow it to marinate 2 or more hours in the refrigerator].
Top with sliced avocado, dried unsweetened cherries, edamame, tomatoes and slivered almonds, oh, and enjoy a healthy healing meal!
JoyfulGoodness 
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