Let's explore herbs and spices for different health benefits.
Of course all herbs are beneficial for our health but some are better for specific issues than others.

Let's start with the ones for weight loss since it is one of the most common New Years resolutions people make.

Ginseng
Cayenne Pepper
Cinnamon
Black Pepper
Dandelion
Mustard
Turmeric
Ginger
Cardamom
Cumin
These are just a few that can help with weight loss.
Which ones do you use
Which others do you use for weight loss
How do you use them...in cooking, tea or what

Wow, glad to learn this, Mindy... and glad that some of my regular go-to's are on the list. As for usage, black pepper ends up in most everything, so we'll skip that. Mustard I especially like in finishing sauces, such as a mustard-sage-butter for pork chops. Here we use cayenne regularly too, in soups, stews, and of course Mexican food. I cook a lot of Cuban-influenced dishes, so cumin is another regularly used one. It's also very good in stews, and with short ribs. My favorite use for ginger of late is in a tempura dipping sauce with soy, garlic, and rice wine vinegar. And turmeric, although not a regular go to for me, just added a nice layer of flavor to a beef stir-fry I made. I have never cooked with dandelion and have never tasted dandelion tea... is there another use for it?

I don't like dandelion except for the flowers made into a tea.
Black pepper is said to help the body assimilate the benefits of other foods and herbs.
I have a favorite seasoning mix I make up myself that includes black pepper, turmeric, cayenne pepper among other spices and herbs.
I drink ginger in tea sometimes and use cinnamon in tea and baking.
Mustard I don't like in any form and I've tried them all.
I also use turmeric in a tea blend might add black pepper next time and see what happens.
Cumin I use in some dishes may try mixing a new seasoning mix with it and see what I come up with.

I am currently researching anti-inflammatory herbs, for use in salves for arthritis. Both my husband and I have osteo-arthritis and don't like to rely on OTC drugs which can be problematic for the liver and/or kidneys. My last salve was infused olive oil, with cannabis, oregano, comfrey, and some other herbs. It was a pretty loose concoction but absorbed well and seems to bring some relief. Unfortunately, I lost the precise recipe in my last computer crash, so will start anew when things start growing this spring. I also plan to try to distill oils direct from the plants -- I've read that one can put the herbs in a water bath, bring to a simmer, with an inverted lid over the water that drips into an elevated bowl in the middle of the pot. That is on my list of things to try.

Deb add coriander in your arthritis salve. It contains a compound that blocks the chemical action that causes the pain.

Thanks, will add to my next batch.

My 91 year old mom suffers from chronic pain due to degenerative disc disease. Although we treat her pain, her NP recommended adding turmeric to her daily intake to help with inflammation. I was so excited to hear a health care professional that was able to discuss alternative remedies. Needless to say, we will be trying it.

Here is my list for arthritis and pain
Arthritis
Ginger
Turmeric
Red pepper
Stinging nettle
Oreango
Willow
Hops
Rosemary
Comfrey
Coriander

Pain
Clover
Willow
Evening primrose
Ginger
Kava kava
Lavender
Mountain mint
Peppermint
Sunflower
Rosemary
Eucalyptus
Comfrey

Thanks. Last time I made my salve (which my husband insists on calling slav...) I used what was freshly available at the moment. This spring I'll plan ahead a bit better (buy some herbs that don't grow in my region) and perhaps even measure the herbs I end up using. I think I also used willow last year now that you've mentioned it in both columns. Maybe I'll use my blog to keep track of what goes in my potions.

What is Orlando?
I have not heard of that herb?

To use my lists you need to choose those that appeal to you or the person you are making the salve for. While they all work on pain the ones you like best be it the plant, flower scent etc those will work better for you.
For example the pain salve I make for my husband doesn't work as well for me. The one I make for myself doesn't work on him even though the ingredients in mine are also in his. Mine just doesn't have as many herbs.
A friend sent me some that just had comfrey and coriander in it besides the oils she used and it worked really good on his bad knee.
In case you don't know sunflower oil is really great for pain. I use it to infuse the herbs for pain.
I usually use fresh herbs but dry herbs also work

Thank you for posting those lists, Mindy. Very helpful.....

Orlando may be oregano? I've used that for arthritis. Or perhaps an herb I am not familiar with?

Deb, I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis on my knees when I was only 20 years old. When I was around 50, the pain in the knees was so bad, that I had to take 20 (or more) drops of Tramadol plus 2 paracetamol (500mg) pills every 8 hours (the pain relief lasted less than 8 hours). You have to add that I am obese, which is of no help. I took Tramadol and Paracetamol for nearly 5 years and was really worried to become dependant (I don't allow anything to rule my life!). Then I suddenly realized I could do it with the same dosis, but every 12 hours. At that point I decided to stop the pain medication, unless really unbearable pain. In the meantime, my hands were attacked by osteo-arthritis, deforming my fingers. I use the hands as if they were thongs, but the pain is bearable, unless I have to lift heavy things that I cannot handle with my forearms.

Nobody recommended anythig to me that could have lessened the pain, but I incorporated two items to my life: Stevia as my only sweetener, and fresh Ginger roots, finely sliced in my beverages (tea, coffe, herbs, etc.) and ground fresh Ginger in my salads. It was sort of a compulsive need I felt/feel for Ginger. Were these the two things that changed my life? I have not used Tramadol/Paracetamol or any other pain killer for almost 10 years. I cannot assure you this is what helped me, but I can tell you for sure I will not stop consuming them

Mutisia, what a lovely story! Glad you have been able to manage your pain. I love ginger, and will work to incorporate it more in my diet. Stevia I grow every year but don't really know how to preserve/use it from plant to table.

To be honest, Deb, most of my Stevia is commercialy sold (powder, liquid & tablets). I have just one plant, but when Fall comes, I cut the stems back leaving just some 2". The dried leaves are easily made powder, that you can even use for cakes.

I really do not know if both or just one of them (stevia & ginger) work for me - I just know the pain became bearable when I started consuming these two products (almost simultaneously).

I would love to hear they work for you as well!

Sorry for misspelling oregano
I corrected it

Deb I think you can google how to process stevia.
I seem to recall a friend posting a link years ago when I was just interested in growing herbs

It's February, the month that focuses on the heart.
Which herbs and spices do you use to keep your heart healthy?

Garlic, which has lots of curative plusses, almost always finds its way into my cooking. Ginger is another good one, and aside when I'm not having sushi and eating it raw, it finds its way into many a stir-fry.

More herbs and spices that benefit the heart are
Ciltrano
Rosemary
Cayenne
Turmeric
Onion
Cinnamon

Garlic is the most commonly known of these.
Most people only think of ginger in relation to settling upset stomachs but it is indeed good for the heart as well.