Speaking of traditional herbs and spices, the list could be endless but you could learn a bit from herbs and spices you could find around you. The list of herbs that starts with L and health benefits below are some example of herbs you could find around you or even some herbs that you just hear for the first time.
- Lagerstroemia speciosa
Lagerstroemia sepciosa is the scientific name of Banaba plant. Both flowers and the leaves are containing medicinal properties well known as diabetes remedy. This plant is also well known as insulin plant due to its ability to regulate insulin and glucose level.
- Lagundi Leaves
Speaking of Asia herbs and its benefits, lagundi is probably in the top of the list. This herbal plant is excellent for asthma, relieve cough and could be used as natural pain relief due to its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties.
- Lavender
Lavender is well known for its beautiful and aromatic flowers. This flower is commonly used as insect repellent but the essential oil is great for skin and hair health. Not only that, lavender is also consumed as herbal tea to help curing insomnia and reducing anxiety and symptoms of depression.
- Ledum
Ledum is bushy plant which is commonly used in the form of essential oil. Generally, the ledum essential oil is used to treat liver dysfunction and prevent hepatitis. Aside from that ledum is also excellent immunity booster and consuming it regularly could help maintaining the urinary tract health and super helpful in addiction treatment.
- Lemon
Lemon is one of the citrus fruits which are rich of vitamin c benefits. Drinking lemon water regularly could be used natural body detox. Drinking hot lemon with honey could help accelerating the recovery process due to its antioxidants and vitamin C that could act as immunity booster to help fighting infection caused by viral infection.
- Lemon Peel
Not only the juice of the fruit, the lemon peel also beneficial for human health. The peel is not only containing vitamin C but also some essential mineral, especially potassium. In other words, lemon peel could help maintaining cardiovascular health by eliminating the excessive amount of sodium.
- Lemongrass
Lemongrass is one of the herbal plants commonly used for cooking. However, less people know about the health benefits of lemongrass such as good aromatherapy to help reducing anxiety and stress, able to help reducing the cholesterol level and contain potent antibacterial and analgesic properties.
- Licorice Root
Licorice root could be consumed as licorice powder or licorice tea. Both health benefits of licorica tea and licorice powder is similar, just the way you consume it is a bit different. Licorice has beel well known for its amazing ability to cure ulcers and respiratory problems due to its expectorant effect.
- Lime
Not a lot of people know about the health benefits of lime for uric acid though some studies have been conducted to prove it. Uric acid could occur when the amount of purines becomes excessive in the joint. Lime contains vitamin C that could improve the liver performance which could wash off the excessive amount of the purines to cure uric acid.
- Lime Leaves
In various countries, lime leaves are consumed as herbal tea as home remedy to several diseases. Lime leaves are natural way of how to prevent diarrhea for both children and adults. The lime leaves tea is also health tonic to help treating asthma and some respiratory problems.
- Linden Leaves
The unique thing about linden tree is the heart-shaped of the leaves. The herbal tea made of linden leaves are used to relieve stress and even safe to be consumed by children. For those with insomnia could consume linden leaves tea before bed.
- Lingzhi Mushroom
Some studies have found out that the main health benefits of lingzhi mushroom is able to prevent cancer and inhibit the growth of tumor. This mushroom is able to improve the blood circulation to reduce the symptoms of high blood pressure and the risk of heart attack and stroke.
- Lion’s Mane Mushroom
Lion’s mane mushroom is not only unique in the appearance but also excellent brain booster and able to improve cognitive function. Some studies also stated that this mushroom could prevent Alzheimer, dementia and Parkinson’s.
- Lobelia
Lobelia is well known herb due to its anti-depressant properties that could stimulate brain chemical to relieve stress and anxiety. However, some studies also found out that lobelia is able to treat some respiratory problems such as reducing the symptoms of asthma and treat bronchitis.
- Long Pepper
Long pepper is spice native to Asia region which is commonly consumed to help losing weight and reducing the risk of diabetes.
- Lotus Flower
Lotus flower is edible and tasty. Health benefits of lotus flowers are able to fight cancer due to its high antioxidants content and lotus flower is also able to prevent diabetes and obesity.
- Lotus Seeds
Not only the flower the lotus seeds’ benefits also well known from containing some powerful medicinal properties to prevent some kidney problems, cure diarrhea and also could act as anti-aging and contain some anti-inflammatory to prevent inflammation.
- Loquat Fruit
You probably won’t find loquat fruit in the nearby fruit market because this fruit is quite rate even in the native countries. This fruit is excellent source of vitamin A, so it is good for vision and immune system. As rich of fiber, loquat fruit is also great for digestion and cholesterol.
- Lovage
Lovage is one of the herbal plant commonly consumed for soup or vegetables salad. Lovage is high of fiber to ease up digestion, prevent constipation and its antibacterial agents are natural remedy to diarrhea.
- Luyang Dilaw Tea
Luyan dilaw tea is traditional herbal tea from China made of turmeric. Consuming this herbal tea regularly could help reducing the risk of Alzheimer and improve brain function.
One thing to remember when it comes to herbs and spices are you cannot just focus on herbal leaves but also the fruit, bark, fruit and even the flower. The mixture of several herbs is also important because they could make a powerful concoction or herbal tea.