25 Reasons to Add More Herbs to Your Paleo Diet

Instead of using herbs just to add flavour and colour to your cooking, do you ever add them for their medicinal benefits? Since ancient times herbs have been used as medicine in cultures all around the world.  Many modern medicines use active ingredients which come directly from plants – so there’s clearly a lot to be gained from plant medicine.

Here are 25 herbs that you probably have in your kitchen – and what they are claimed to be beneficial for.

1. Basil: full of minerals and a natural antioxidant
2. Black pepper: anti bacterial, antioxidant and helps to stimulates digestion
3. Cardamom: fresh breath
4. Cayenne pepper: antibacterial, rich in beta carotene (pre cursor to vitamin A), reduces pain and helps stimulates metabolism
5. Celery: stimulates the appetite, diuretic, detoxifing, helps with constipation, relieves rheumatism, helps with kidney stones and eases arthritis symptoms
6. Chili pepper: rich in vitamin C, anti-inflammatory and natural antioxidant
7. Cinnamon: regulates blood sugar levels, powerful antioxidant, regulates cholesterol metabolism and promotes good circulation
8. Clove: powerful antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and mildly anesthetic
9. Coriander: rich in iron and magnesium, prevents gas, prevents urinary infections, regulates blood sugar level and a natural detoxifier of heavy metals
10. Dill: anti bacterial, antioxidant and contains a lot of iron
11. Fenugreek: relieves constipation and said to stimulate muscle growth
12. Ginger: antiseptic, calms the stomach, anti-inflammatory and an effective natural remedy for motion sickness
13. Ginkgo biloba: stimulates the circulation, anti-aging and improves memory
14. Garlic: anti bacterial, anti-viral, lowers blood pressure and has natural antibiotic properties
15. Mint: rich in vitamin C, calms the stomach and intestines and relieves headaches naturally
16. Mustard seed: rich in selenium, omega-3, phosphorus, vitamin B3 and zinc, helps against cancer and is a natural anti-inflammatory
17. Nutmeg: anti-inflammatory and helps to regulates sleep
18. Oregano: anti bacterial, strong antioxidant and useful as preservative
19. Paprika powder: anti-inflammatory and a natural antioxidant
20. Parsley: detoxifies, helps with kidney stones and a natural antispasmodic
21. Pepper: contains a lot of capsaicin (the ingredient that ensure the ‘heat’), clears stuffy noses, relieves pain and said to be beneficial for prostate cancer
22. Rosemary: keeps the genes young, strengthens the immune system, improves the circulation and stimulates digestion
23. Sage: improves the memory, anti-inflammatory and a strong natural antioxidant
24. Thyme: antiseptic and a natural anti bacterial
25. Turmeric: often called Curcuma, yellow root or curcumine. Very strong antioxidant, is said have a role in cancer prevention, help with skin infections, anti-inflammatory and relieves arthritis symptoms.

Growing Your Own Medicinal Herb Garden

One of the most empowering ways to include more medicinal herbs in your diet is to grow them yourself. A small herb garden — whether in pots on a windowsill or in a dedicated section of your backyard — ensures access to the freshest and most potent versions of these plants. Even in urban apartments, hardy herbs like basil, mint, parsley and thyme can thrive with enough sunlight and a little care.

Growing your own herbs has several advantages. You know exactly how they’ve been cultivated, there’s no risk of chemical pesticide residue, and you can harvest them fresh when needed — which is when their flavour and medicinal properties are at their peak. It’s also a great way to reduce waste and save money.

If you’re unsure where to start, try growing rosemary, oregano and sage. These herbs are drought-tolerant, relatively low-maintenance, and packed with medicinal properties. For a more challenging project, consider turmeric or ginger — both of which require a bit more warmth and time, but reward your patience with high-value rhizomes you can grate fresh into meals or infusions.

Using Herbs Beyond the Kitchen

While herbs shine in cooking, their uses extend far beyond seasoning your meals. Many can be turned into teas, tinctures or infusions to concentrate their benefits. For example, ginger tea is a widely recognised remedy for nausea and indigestion, while sage tea can help soothe a sore throat. A sprig of rosemary in boiling water makes a fragrant steam for congestion, and turmeric blended with warm milk creates a calming bedtime drink.

Herbal oils and salves are another option, especially for topical relief. Calendula, while not mentioned above, is often infused in oil and applied to skin irritations, while thyme or oregano oil (well diluted) may be used for their antimicrobial properties. Garlic-infused oil has a long tradition as a home remedy for ear infections, though this should only ever be done with professional guidance.

Understanding Herb-Drug Interactions

While herbs have impressive health benefits, it’s important to understand that they are potent and can interact with medications. For instance, ginkgo biloba may interfere with blood thinners, and St John’s Wort (not listed above, but commonly used for mild depression) is known to reduce the effectiveness of several prescription drugs, including the oral contraceptive pill.

Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or on any regular medication before introducing concentrated herbal remedies into your routine. Whole food use of herbs in cooking is typically safe, but it's wise to stay informed, especially when using herbs therapeutically.

Combining Herbs for Synergistic Benefits

Another fascinating aspect of herbal use is synergy. In many traditional practices, herbs are combined to enhance each other’s effects. This is common in systems like Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda, where formulations are created with a blend of herbs that support absorption, balance each other’s strengths and mitigate side effects.

For home use, this could be as simple as combining turmeric with black pepper in recipes to boost curcumin absorption, or pairing ginger and cinnamon for a warming, anti-inflammatory tea blend. Fresh parsley and mint make an excellent digestive tonic when added to salads or steeped in hot water after a heavy meal.

Storing and Preserving Herbs for Maximum Potency

To ensure your herbs retain their medicinal benefits, it’s vital to store them correctly. Fresh herbs should be used soon after picking, but if you grow or buy in bulk, drying or freezing can extend their shelf life. Dried herbs should be stored in airtight containers away from light and heat, and ideally used within six to twelve months. Over time, their potency diminishes.

If drying your own herbs, hang small bunches upside-down in a cool, dry, well-ventilated space. You’ll know they’re ready when the leaves crumble easily between your fingers. Alternatively, you can freeze herbs like coriander, basil and parsley in ice cube trays with olive oil or water — perfect for adding straight into stews and soups.

Making Herbs a Daily Ritual

The real magic of herbs lies in consistency. Rather than thinking of them as an occasional addition, look for ways to make them part of your daily routine. Start your morning with ginger and lemon tea, garnish your lunch with chopped dill or coriander, and infuse your evening roast with rosemary and thyme.

Many herbs can be sprinkled onto salads, stirred into dressings, blended into smoothies, or infused in vinegar and oils for quick flavour boosts. The more regularly you include them, the more cumulative their effects may become — especially when paired with a whole foods diet and lifestyle.

Final Thoughts on Herbal Wellness

Herbs are one of the simplest and most effective ways to boost the nutritional and medicinal quality of your food. Their traditional use spans thousands of years, and while modern science is still catching up in some areas, many of their benefits are now being validated by research. Whether you're seeking immune support, digestive relief or general wellness, nature’s medicine cabinet is full of options — and many of them are already in your kitchen.

How do you incorporate herbs into your life? Are there any you swear by for particular symptoms or rituals? Let me know in the comments — and if you’ve never grown your own herbs before, there’s no better time to start!