I love how I can read Scripture and learn something new each and every time.
If you pay close attention, you’ll read about plenty of herbs and spices in the Bible, which adds to the richness of God’s Word just as those herbs and spices added zest and health benefits to those who lived at that time.
Herbs and spices were grown in Palestine as well as neighboring Syria and Egypt and formed a basis of trade in ancient times. One of the first mentions of herbs and spices happens in the Old Testament in Exodus 12:8 when the Hebrews were instructed to kill an unblemished lamb, take some of the blood and put it on their doorposts, and then consume roasted lamb with unleavened bread and “bitter herbs.”
Good thing the Hebrews weren’t hooked on sweet or salty foods like we are.
Moses was told to make a holy anointing oil out of myrrh, cinnamon, sweet-smelling cane, cassia, and olive oil. Myrrh is referred to again in Matthew 2 when the Three Kings visited the infant Jesus and presented gifts to him—gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And, more soberly, myrrh is mentioned again in John 19 when Joseph of Arimathea asked for the body of Jesus following His death by crucifixion and arrived with Nicodemus, “bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds” (John 19:39).
Herbs and spices have been prized as powerful health agents by cultures around the world for centuries. Herbs can be taken as teas, juices, baths, extracts, oils, and tinctures and are being relied upon by a growing number of Americans for the health of their families. Likewise, spices have aromatic properties that are used to season or flavor foods as well as convey health benefits.
Technically, herbs come from a plant or a part of a plant while most spices are derived from bark, such as cinnamon or nutmeg, or a root in the case of turmeric. But can herbs be spices and spices be herbs? The answer is yes because many herbs can flavor foods while a lot of spices can be used for health purposes, but herbs and spices are both superstars in their own right.
Let me share some of my favorite herbs and spices, which include tea, the most widely consumed beverage in the world after water. The Chinese have a saying about tea: “Better to be deprived of food for three days, than of tea for one.”
All true varieties of tea come from the leaves of a single evergreen plant, Camellia sinensis. (Herbal teas such as chamomile and peppermint should really be called herbal infusions as they don’t contain any true tea.) During harvest time, tea leaves are picked, rolled, dried, and heated. The type of tea depends on how the leaves are processed. Green and white teas are non-fermented and are the freshest. Black teas are the most fermented, which is worth noting. Oolong teas are in between.
Teas often come in teabags, which most Americans prefer, but teas also come in loose leaf forms, which mean the loose teas must be steeped in hot water for three to a five minutes, then filtered out to create an infusion or decoction.
Green tea accounts for 20 percent of the global tea market, while black tea (or green tea that has been subjected to additional processing that ferments the leaves) accounts for about 78 percent. When consuming hot tea, organic honey or evaporated coconut nectar should be used as a sweetener, and tea is best served warm.
And just what makes tea so special? The secret behind tea lies in its high content of a class of health-promoting agents collectively known as polyphenols or flavonoids—specifically the group known as catechins.
Since I’m on the subject, tea should come from organic sources. While hot tea infusions can be wonderful, my favorite use of black tea is in the fermented beverage known as kombucha that unlocks the best of tea’s powerful benefits.
Herbal infusions made from daisy-like chamomile flowers have been often consumed as an after-dinner beverage to settle stomachs and help with digestion. Others believe chamomile has mild sedative properties, which help them fall asleep.
There are literally thousands of herbs and spices being used somewhere in the world. I’m only going to list a handful, but here are a few that I wanted to call to your attention to, in alphabetical order:
Cinnamon is a fragrant spice that’s been used since biblical times for its health and culinary properties. The Romans used cinnamon to take the edge off their strong, bitter wine, and the Greeks used it to season their meat and vegetables. The exotic, sweet-flavored spice comes from the outer brown bark of Cinnamomum trees.
Americans love cinnamon; all you have to do is walk around a mall on a Saturday afternoon and breathe in the crisp smell of cinnamon wafting from the ovens at cinnamon bun shops and pretzel outlets.
Cumin is another delightful spice with a nutty, pepper flavor produced from small, potent seeds that are longitudinally ridged and yellow/brown in color. Cumin was so popular in the Middle Ages that soldiers in Europe marched off to war with loaves of cumin bread in their satchels. The spice originated in Egypt and has a long history as supporting digestive issues by stimulating the liver to secrete more bile, which aids in the breakdown of fats and the absorption of nutrients. Cumin is also an excellent source of iron, which is instrumental in the health of red blood cells.
Dandelion may be viewed as a pesky weed in your backyard lawn, but this valuable herb can be used as a food or a health-supporting agent. When dandelion leaves decorate any salad, this herb contributes to urinary tract and digestive health.
Echinacea, a perennial plant that is slightly spiky and has large purple to pink flowers, comes from the dry prairies and open woodlands of the Great Plains region. It was the most widely used medicinal plant for Native Americans before the arrival of European explorers and settlers. This herb is ultra popular to support seasonal wellness.
Ginger, the world’s most widely cultivated spice, appears in countless varieties, shapes, and sizes. This pungent spice comes from the underground stem of the Zingiber offinale plant that is often found in India, China, Mexico, and several other countries.
Each variety of ginger possesses its own distinctive flavor and aroma, and all you have to do is lean down toward a cutting board and take in a sharp whiff of its sweet perfumed sharpness to encounter one of the most unique sensory experiences you’ll ever come across. The special flavor of ginger adds bite to Asian dishes as well as to vegetable sides.
Ginger has a historical tradition of promoting gastrointestinal health and supporting numerous systems of the body, including fighting occasional nausea. In addition, ginger contains potent compounds called gingerols, which support healthy inflammation response and promote healthy joints, ligaments, and tendons.
Holy basil is a culinary herb grown in profusion around Hindu temples, which explains why it’s revered in India and used in Ayurveda. The Hindu name for holy basil, Tulasi or Tulsi, means “the incomparable one.”
In the kitchen, holy basil is added to stir-fry dishes and spicy soups because of its sharp, peppery taste. Chefs call this herb “hot basil” and appreciate how its flavor intensifies as heat is applied. Indian families regard holy basil as a purifying agent for both the mind and the body, which explains why this herb is held in high regard in India.
Hyssop is one of the better-known plants of the Bible, referred to twelve times in Scripture. “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow” (Psalm 51:7).
Hyssop is a common herb that grows to about two feet tall and about a foot wide with beautiful purple-blue flowers and a strong minty smell. Its name in Hebrew is azob, which literally means “holy herb.”
I’ve always liked using hyssop in its essential oil form. I love taking hot, dry saunas and steam showers, and while I’m sitting inside, I’ll rub a few drops of essential oil of hyssop into my palms, then cup my hands over my mouth and nose and inhale. I also love to rub drops of the oil on my feet, which circulates the compounds throughout the body.
A drop or two of an essential oil such as hyssop, cinnamon, lavender, or frankincense stimulates the olfactory nerves and improves the physical and emotional health of our bodies.
Milk thistle gets its name from the milky white sap that comes from the leaves of this stout plant native to the Mediterranean region. Milk thistle is one of the most popular herbs for the support of liver health and detoxification.
Oregano is a beautiful herb native to the Mediterranean and has been an important ingredient for cooking in Greece, Italy, and Egypt for centuries. Oregano is one of the few herbs that actually increases in pungency and flavor once it’s dried. Oregano supports healthy microbial balance throughout the body.
Turmeric, which comes from a perennial plant, is a cousin of ginger and a pungent Indian spice that imparts a vivid yellow color. Turmeric has gained significant popularity as a powerful source of antioxidants and is the ingredient in mustard that gives the condiment its famous yellow color.
Thyme is a delicate herb with a penetrating fragrance that’s a wonderful addition to any kitchen spice rack and used to season stock, stews, and soups. Thyme contains certain flavonoids with powerful antioxidant capacity and is a good source of calcium and dietary fiber when consumed whole.
I’ve never needed any convincing that herbs and spices have amazing properties, although it seems herbal folk remedies were much more effective in the past.
Why is that? Could it be that our ability to digest, assimilate, and fully utilize these nutrients and compounds has been compromised due to the toxins in our food supply and environment?
We don’t have a good answer yet, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t stop seeking the health benefits that herbs and spices can offer us. How to successfully access those health benefits is a challenge, though.
I thought there must be a way to develop an effective delivery system to help herbs express their full potential within the body. After more than a decade of trying, I believe I’ve found the solution—a live food fermentation process called “bio-transformation.”
I’ve long been a champion of fermentation—the natural preservation and pre-digestion of foods utilizing beneficial bacteria, yeast, and even mold. If fermentation could preserve and improve the vitality of food, then in my mind, fermentation of botanicals would certainly have merit.
When it came to unlocking the full spectrum of benefits found in herbs and spices, bio-transformation turned out to be a perfect process. We found that a long cycle of fermentation not only unlocked the full spectrum of active compounds in herbs, but also a bevy of other nutrients were either enhanced or created. As we began to consume the fruits or rather the herbs of our labor, I could feel the benefits of these amazing botanicals in a way I never had before.
I decided to call these fermented herbal extracts “Terrain Living Herbals,” and they are a synergistic combination of organic botanicals infused with ancient symbiotic microorganisms.
Just as it takes a considerable length of time for grapes to ferment into a fine wine, we found that the fermentation process was something you couldn’t rush either. All Terrain Living Herbals undergo a fermentation process that lasts three to eight months and utilizes ancient symbiotic cultures to produce enzymes, organic acids, and bioactive compounds to support digestive and immune system health.
At the time of this writing, there are sixteen different Terrain Living Herbal formulas containing vitamins, probiotics, enzymes, and antioxidants that will help you rebuild your inner ecosystem and replenish key nutrients that your body craves. I believe the secret to building a strong terrain can be found in adapting sweet- and salt-loving taste buds to these sour-tasting liquid herbal tonics made from organic botanicals.
Yes, Terrain Living Herbals impart a sour taste, but when it comes to boosting your body’s terrain, sour is the secret.
Does this mean you have to pucker up every time you consume them? Not at all. You can mitigate the sour taste of living herbal botanicals such as turmeric and milk thistle by diluting them in water, juice, tea, or veggie juice. I just consumed 30 milliliters or two tablespoons of Terrain Sacred Herbs in vegetable juice as I was writing this chapter, and it was awesome. You can try Terrain Turmeric in a curry sauce or Terrain Kombucha Black Tea in any beverage.
Terrain Living Herbals are best consumed upon waking, before sleep, and prior to the largest meal of the day to support digestive function, so now let me introduce you to Terrain Living Herbals by Beyond Organic:
Terrain Sacred Herbs is a combination of turmeric and holy basil, two plants native to India and South Asia. When I was in India in 2012, I saw firsthand how turmeric and holy basil were considered “sacred” and have been treasured for thousands of years within Ayurvedic herbalism in India. The traditional health system of India for thousands of years, Ayurveda emphasizes re-establishing balance in the body through diet, lifestyle, exercise, and body cleansing. Turmeric and holy basil are superstar botanicals, which makes Terrain Sacred Herbs a great foundational herbal formula for everyone.
Terrain Sacred Herbs, which supports blood sugar levels in the normal range as well as the maintenance of healthy cholesterol levels, is probably my favorite Terrain Herbal formula.
Terrain Turmeric provides the foundational benefits of healthy metabolism, digestion, and balanced pH levels in the body while supporting healthy joint function and healthy skin by providing antioxidants to help support your cells against oxidative stress due to free radicals. Terrain Turmeric also supports cardiovascular health.
Terrain Holy Basil supports a positive stress response and cellular health while promoting a calm and balanced mood and healthy energy levels.
Terrain Ginger supports cardiovascular function and a healthy inflammation response while also supporting healthy intestinal function including alleviating occasional nausea.
Terrain Oregano supports respiratory health and healthy immune system function while maintaining a healthy inflammatory response to seasonal stressors.
Terrain Peppermint supports healthy digestion and brain function and has a very distinct minty taste.
Terrain Milk Thistle supports healthy liver function and detoxification as well as healthy kidney and gallbladder function while promoting healthy skin.
Terrain Echinacea supports a healthy immune system response, maintains a healthy inflammatory response to seasonal stressors, and promotes the healthy drainage of the lymphatic system.
Terrain Kombucha Black Tea is a slightly sour beverage with an effervescent taste. Terrain Kombucha Black Tea supports healthy energy levels and the body’s natural detoxification efforts while providing antioxidants that can help support your cells against excessive oxidation and free radicals.
Terrain Cinnamon supports healthy blood sugar levels, healthy microbial balance, and imparts a nice flavor and a warming sensation.
Terrain Star Anise helps support immune system function and digestive health. Star Anise is the fruit of a small evergreen tree native to southwest China, so these star-shaped fruits with a licorice taste are not well known in this country. Star anise pairs well with fruit and is used to flavor teas, marinades, and soups.
Terrain Garlic supports healthy microorganism balance within the body. Garlic, commonly used in American kitchens, has an intense and unique flavor that’s a welcome addition to sauces, marinades, soups, and cooked meats. Garlic has shown an ability to support healthy immune system function as well as cardiovascular health, particularly in the area of blood pressure.
Terrain American Ginseng supports healthy energy levels and enables the body to better adapt to stressors. Ginseng, a root, has been prized by ancient emperors as an energy and vitality tonic.
Terrain Maca brings you a health secret from the high-altitude Andes mountains in South America. Maca, a tuber, has been used to support healthy hormone function in both men and women.
Terrain Ashwagandha rounds out arguably the top three most popular herbs in the subcontinent of India (along with turmeric and holy basil). Ashwagandha is considered an adaptogenic herb that supports multiple functions and systems of the body to resist the many stressors of life.
Terrain Coffee promotes healthy energy levels within the body. Believe it or not, coffee is the number-one source of antioxidants in this country, but that’s because so much coffee is poured each day. Coffee’s notable antioxidants are chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid, which help support healthy blood sugar levels and cardiovascular health.
There’s not a single person on this planet who couldn’t benefit from this cornucopia of herbal botanicals gathered from around the world. You’ll experience the fullness of herbal nutrition without alcohol extractions, high heat, or chemicals. You’re going to consume herbal nutrition as it was designed through a delivery system that starts with the bio-transformation fermentation process.
If you’re looking to experience the unique combination of the sour secret and biblical botanicals, here are a dozen ways and combinations to use Terrain Living Herbals:
For healthy digestion, I encourage you to consume 30 milliliters of Terrain Sacred Herbs first thing in the morning in 16 ounces of purified water. This will wake up your digestive tract.
Before dinner, I recommend 30 milliliters of Terrain Peppermint mixed in 16 ounces of water ten to twenty minutes before a meal. This will stimulate your gastric juices and get you ready to utilize the nutrition that is in that meal.
Before bed, I encourage you to consume 30 milliliters of Terrain Ginger in water to support healthy digestion and a healthy inflammation response, which will allow your sleep to be transformative.
For daily immune system support, start with 30 milliliters of Terrain Sacred Herbs in 16 ounces of purified water when you wake up. At dinner time, mix 30 milliliters of Terrain Garlic in water to support healthy immune system function. Before bedtime, consume 30 milliliters of Terrain Kombucha Black Tea in water to support the body’s detoxification efforts.
For seasonal immune support, I encourage you to consume 30 milliliters of Terrain Star Anise first thing in the morning in 16 ounces of purified water. Before dinner, I recommend 30 milliliters of Terrain Oregano mixed in 16 ounces of water ten to twenty minutes before a meal. Before bed, I encourage you to consume 30 milliliters of Terrain Echinacea for unparalleled immune system support.
For healthy inflammation, including supporting joints, ligaments, and tendons, and improving flexibility, start with 30 milliliters of Terrain Turmeric first thing in the morning in 16 ounces of purified water.
Before dinner, I recommend 30 milliliters of Terrain Ginger mixed in 16 ounces of water ten to twenty minutes before a meal. This will stimulate your gastric juices and get you ready to utilize the nutrition that is in that meal.
Before bed, probably an hour before, I encourage you to consume 30 milliliters of Terrain Holy Basil in water to support healthy digestion and healthy inflammation response and to boost your mood, which will allow your sleep to be transformative.
This is a powerful protocol.
For energy, start with 30 milliliters of Terrain Coffee in 16 ounces of purified water upon waking up. Before dinner, consume 30 milliliters of Terrain Kombucha Black Tea in water, and thirty to sixty minutes before bed, take 30 milliliters of Terrain American Ginseng to provide a boost to the organs and systems of your body.
For brain health, I suggest beginning the day with 30 milliliters of Terrain Ginseng in 16 ounces of purified water after rising. Before dinner, take 30 milliliters of Terrain Peppermint followed by 30 milliliters of Terrain Holy Basil before bedtime.
For healthy metabolism, start with Terrain Coffee by mixing thirty milliliters in water. Before dinner, take 30 milliliters of Terrain Kombucha Black Tea followed by 30 milliliters of Terrain Ashwagandha before you fall asleep.
To support healthy detoxification, begin the day with 30 milliliters of Terrain Garlic in 16 ounces of purified water when you wake up. At dinner time, mix 30 milliliters of Terrain Milk Thistle in water to support detoxification as well as healthy kidney and gallbladder function. Before bedtime, consume 30 milliliters of Terrain Kombucha Black Tea in water to also support the body’s natural detoxification efforts.
For healthy skin, I recommend you to consume 30 milliliters of Terrain Turmeric first thing in the morning in 16 ounces of purified water to provide antioxidants that will help support your cells. Before dinner, I recommend 30 milliliters of Terrain Cinnamon mixed in water ten to twenty minutes before a meal. Before bedtime, consume 30 milliliters of Terrain Holy Basil in water to also support cellular health as well as healthy skin.
For blood sugar support, get the day going with 30 milliliters of Terrain Coffee in 16 ounces of purified water when you wake up. At dinner time, mix 30 milliliters of Terrain Cinnamon in water to support detoxification as well as healthy kidney and gallbladder function. Before bedtime, consume 30 milliliters of Terrain Sacred Herbs in water to help you maintain blood sugar levels.
To support healthy cardiovascular function, I encourage you to consume 30 milliliters of Terrain Garlic first thing in the morning in 16 ounces of purified water. Before dinner, I recommend 30 milliliters of Terrain Cinnamon mixed in water ten to twenty minutes before a meal. Before bed, probably an hour before, I encourage you to consume 30 milliliters of Terrain Sacred Herbs in water to support the cardiovascular system.
To support healthy cholesterol levels, begin with Terrain Sacred Herbs after waking up, mixing 30 milliliters in 16 ounces of purified water. Before dinner, consume 30 milliliters of Terrain Garlic in water. An hour before bed, finish the day with 30 milliliters of Terrain Kombucha Black Tea, which provides antioxidants to help support your cells against excessive oxidation and free radicals.
I want you to remember one thing about Terrain Living Herbals. As you unlock the secret of sour, your body will change, as well as your taste buds. You will grow to enjoy these zero calorie, zero sugar, high probiotic, antioxidant- and enzyme-rich herbal infusions.
Once that happens, you’ve truly transformed your terrain.