In the culinary world, spices are used to add a beautiful aroma, a hint of colour, or a pop of flavour to a dish. They also offer nutritive value to our food and are used as a preservative in food storage.
Spices are any dried part of the plant, besides the leaves, including roots, berries, bark, seeds, and flowers. Herbs are leaves, mainly of herbaceous plants like parsley, coriander, and basil, but sometimes of woody plants, such as rosemary and bay. Spices tend to be more pungent in scent and flavour compared to herbs because they are derived from parts of the plant exceptionally rich in essential oils.
Spices were recognised for their medicinal and therapeutic properties thousands of years ago. Research has reported potential health benefits of spices, via their bioactive components, which are thought to influence various systems of the body, including the digestive, neurological, reproductive, and cardiovascular, resulting in varied metabolic and physiological changes.
They are thought to
- offer protection from acute and chronic disease,
- have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects,
- possess cholesterol and blood-sugar-lowering activities,
- be beneficial in menstrual disorders,
- aid digestion,
- reduce hypertension,
- boost immunity.
Here are some of our favourite spices that we love cooking and formulating with.
TURMERIC
Turmeric, with its distinctive yellow colour, is a popular spice used in cooking, and as a traditional remedy for various ailments. Turmeric adds a warm, earthiness, and lively colour to curries, stews, and rice dishes.
It contains high amounts of the naturally active component, curcumin, which is thought to be a powerful antioxidant and has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antibacterial, antiviral, digestive, and antidiabetic properties.
Curcumin is reported to help improve learning and mental ability, and its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects have proven beneficial in the fight against neurological diseases, like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
Randomised clinical trials have reported curcumin’s ability to decrease joint inflammation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
It is recommended to drink turmeric powder with warm milk and ghee, as it’s believed that the combination of ingredients helps boost immunity, cleanses the blood, reduces fatigue and anxiety, and relieves coughs and colds.
Turmeric is used as an active ingredient in skincare preparation for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. You can find Turmeric Root Extract in our Beauty Masquerade Customisable Clay Treatment
Skin Benefits of Turmeric
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Anti-inflammatory |
Helps calm sensitive skin and reduces redness. Beneficial for inflamed stressed skin prone to skin conditions like eczema and dermatitis. |
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Healing |
Assists in wound healing. |
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Antioxidant |
Helps protect against free radical damage and premature ageing. |
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Antimicrobial |
Benefits congested and acne-prone skin. |
PANAX GINSENG
Ginseng has been used therapeutically to support health and to restore and enhance wellbeing for thousands of years. Researchers believe that active chemical components, ginsenosides, are responsible for ginseng’s clinical effects, and research shows that it could potentially help reduce inflammation and assist in the treatment and prevention of influenza.
A 2014 study suggests that ginseng may assist in lowering blood sugar and therefore be valuable in treating diabetes. Several participants took 2.7 grams of fermented red ginseng daily, while others took a placebo. Researchers discovered that ginseng effectively lowered blood sugar and increased insulin levels after a meal, compared to the placebo.
Samgyetang, a popular Korean Ginseng Chicken Soup eaten during the warmer months, is believed to supplement energy lost from the summer heat. Ginseng root is also commonly used in teas.
Panax ginseng extract comes from the root of the plant and is traditionally used to treat a variety of skin ailments like boils, bruises, swelling, and wounds.
Panax Ginseng is the star ingredient in our Beauty Masquerade Customisable Clay Treatment - it gently balances and brightens the skin whilst having antioxidant and rejuvenating properties.
Skin Benefits of Panax Ginseng
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Stimulating |
The root’s active components, ginsenosides, are said to have stimulating, oxygenating, and revitalising properties. |
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Antioxidant |
Its high phytonutrients concentration offers antioxidant benefits. |
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Nourishing |
It has a high vitamin D content, which may be beneficial to dry skin and help combat conditions like psoriasis and eczema. |
CORIANDER
Coriander is amongst the oldest spice crops in the world has been cultivated and used since ancient times. The seeds and leaves are widely used in cooking and for essential oil extraction.
Coriander is commonly used in Mexican, Spanish, Middle Eastern, and Indian cuisine. Fresh coriander leaves are peppery with a hint of citrus, while the seeds are earthy with a floral aroma that is released when toasted.
Coriander has been documented as a traditional treatment for diabetes and is referred to as an antidiabetic plant in parts of Europe. Certain acids present in coriander are thought to be effective in reducing the cholesterol level in the blood.
Coriander has been the subject of numerous scientific studies and it is suggested that the active components in coriander possess antirheumatic, antiarthritic, digestive, antioxidant, and hormone balancing properties. It is a powerhouse of vitamin A, which is essential for good eye health, and which helps protect against age-related macular degeneration.
With a multitude of benefits, and an intoxicating, spicy-sweet scent that creates a pleasurable olfactory experience, coriander seed oil is at the top of the list of ingredients we love formulating with. It is featured in our Midnight Beauty Rich Revitalising Serum and our Soothe and Repair Daily Moisturiser.
Skin Benefits of Coriander Seed Oil
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Antibacterial |
Coriander seed oil shows pronounced activity against several types of bacteria yet is non-toxic and well-tolerated by the skin. |
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Antifungal |
Components found in coriander seed oil, show strong antifungal activity. |
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Anti-inflammatory |
May help soothe and calm sensitive or irritated skin. |
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Antioxidant |
Antioxidants found in coriander seed oil help protect the skin by neutralising free radical production. Free radicals are unstable molecules that damage healthy skin cells and create oxidative stress, which may result in premature ageing. |
FENNEL
Exuberant and aromatic, fennel is extensively used in cooking and in traditional medicinal remedies around the world.
The crisp, fresh bulbs, young shoots, and leaves are fresh tasting when eaten raw, rich, and melt in the mouth when cooked, and are a staple in Italian cuisine. The fragrant dried fruits are a key ingredient in five-spice powder, and other spice blends, for roast or barbecued fish and meat.
Fennel herbal tea is traditionally used for the treatment of various conditions affecting the digestive system. It is thought to be analgesic, carminative and antispasmodic.
Sweet fennel essential oil is prized for its ability to assist with menstrual and digestive disorders, for its strong antibacterial and antimicrobial activity, and its expectorant properties. It’s also thought to offer clarity, focus, and mental stimulation.
Fennel is a valuable and treasured addition to our skincare products. Fennel water brings an extra dimension of goodness, with its natural, liquorice-like scent, to our Pristine Brightening Essence and fennel seed essential oil is a key ingredient in our Instant Glow Calming Exfoliator as it assists the skin to retain water for a supple, glowing complexion.
Skin Benefits of Fennel Seed Essential Oil
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Hydrating |
Helps the skin to retain moisture and assists in preventing Trans Epidermal Water Loss (TEWL). |
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Antifungal, antibacterial, and antimicrobial properties |
Fennel seed essential oil exhibits antifungal, antibacterial and antimicrobial capabilities. |
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Antioxidant |
Fennel contains rosmarinic acid, a compound that offers strong antioxidant properties, to help fight free radical damage. |
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