The Asda 60p favourite that helps stop you farting – gardening expert reveals

WHETHER it’s a twist of black pepper on dinner, a dollop of pesto on pasta or pretty much every curry going – our diets wouldn’t be the same without an incredible array of herbs from all over the globe.

Happily, here in the UK, we’re able to grow a great variety of them on our windowsills, patio pots or directly into the earth (if you’re lucky.) from a packet of seeds for less than £2.

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How Herbs Healed the World is out now, published by Quercus[/caption]

And as our temperatures heat up, they’ve proving to be a perfect plant for hotter, dryer climates.

But not only are herbs great in food – there’s all sorts of medicinal and healing benefits too.

For example, did you know that Dill is good for flatulence? And in Scandinavian countries it used to be hung above baby’s cots to stop them crying with colic.

And it’s on sale in Asda for 60p right now.

According to new book ‘How Herbs Healed the World’ by Connor Smith, experts also use dill as a tea to treat stomach aches, colds and coughs, while the seeds can be chewed to prevent bad breath.

The book details how the Romans ate fennel seeds after meals to cleanse their palates, reduce wind, and stimulate digestion. Plus it contains the chemical Chloride, which helps the body produce hydrochloric acid – which aids the breakdown of food.

Parsley can treat autoimmune and inflammatory illnesses, while Chives come from the genus Allium – which are known to reduce blood pressure, with their high potassium content making them helpful in treating kidney stones.

And the book says that a study in 2010 showed that extracts from sage leaves reduced metastasis – the spread of cancer cells throughout the body.

It also claims that Rosemary improves memory and reduces nervousness and tension, as well as easing digestion and improving blood circulation and liver function.

Peppermint combats inflammation and aids digestion, while studies of Organo show it may be helpful in combating cardiovascular problems.

And it also claims that in 2021, researchers from an Iranian university prescribed Thyme essential oil to Covid patients – discovering that those who used it alongside their usual medication experienced shorter infections and more manageable symptoms.

To find out more – ‘How Herbs Healed the World’ is out now, published by Quercus at £22