My Herbs Magazine 2 - sample

Lovage
Herbs (not only)
in the soup
Autumn is the time of the year when we preserve herbs for
winter. They will come in handy not only healthwise but
also as tasty ingredients. And soup is an essential part of
your winter diet as it is the perfect thing to warm you up.
What herbs are the best to serve the purpose?
LOVAGE
(Levisticum officinale)
Lovage is a traditional seasoning used
especially in Central Europe. As it
grows spontaneously in many gardens
as weeds, requiring no care whatsoever,
we sometimes tend to forget how beneficial
to our health this plant might be.
And that’s a shame.
Lovage contains a lot of vitamin C
and A, minerals, tannins, organic acids,
bitter chemical agents, resin, sugars,
furocoumarines, and essential oils.
These components cause the spasmolytic
effect of the plant (inhibiting
painful contractions, colic of smooth
muscles, intestines, bladder, and urinary
tract). Lovage helps cure bladder
inflammations and kidney problems
and is popular in naturopathy. It also
helps improve digestion and supports
stomach activity and appetite. It is
often used as an ingredient in tea
blends, as it reduces flatulence. Lovage
alleviates fatigue and refreshes the
body, lowers uric acid levels in the
blood, and stimulates the nerves. Externally,
it can help eliminate swells and
heal bad wounds.
Use in cooking:
All parts of the plant can be used in
cooking – the leaves, the seeds, and also
the roots. It is most often used to season
soups and sauces, roast meat, and
stew vegetables. You can also add it
to marinades or dressings.
Description:
Lovage leaves slightly resemble those
of parsley but are significantly bigger. It
can grow up to two meters or two yards
in height. To grow lovage, plant root
sprouts or seeds in the ground. Do that
16 MY HERBS MAGAZINE