Connecting with Herbs in our Environment

More than just a meal, Mujadara embodies the wisdom of ancient food traditions, combining humble ingredients to create a dish that’s both nourishing and

Connecting with herbs in our environment is life-giving. Herbs are blessings from nature that have an assortment of properties and usages. They are small or large seed-bearing plants whose leaves, fruit, stems, bark, oils, and roots are used for culinary and medicinal/therapeutic purposes. Amazingly, herbs that human beings need to nourish and heal themselves are found in their immediate environments, as “supreme creative intelligence” provides everything we need to sustain ourselves right at our fingertips.

Why Connect

As human beings, it is very important to discover our connection with the herbs in our environment, as all of the creations are interconnected. As living organisms, herbs draw us to them through sensory stimulation with their physical beauty, aromatic fragrances, unique flavors, and healing powers restoring health and rejuvenation. Niki Senior, a master herbalist, in herJournal Twoabout herbs states:

“By using herbs to heal, the very plants we walk alongside on the earth, we not only create empowerment within ourselves, but also identify and connect with dis-ease, allow it a swifter passage for greater healing to be made.”https://books.google.co.il/books/about/Herbalism_for_Beginners_the_Complete_Gui.html?id=r1KszQEACAAJ&redir_esc=y

Nurturing our relationships with these plants can be very fulfilling and empowering as we can use them to enhance our culinary skills, and learn how to cure ourselves from various physical ailments, and mental/emotional discomforts.

In the Holy Land, fresh herbs are commonly sold in outdoor markets and supermarkets. These natural wonders are also commonplace throughout the country’s terrain growing wild along the roadside, sidewalks, personal gardens, etc. Rosemary, aloe vera, sage, wormwood, nettle, dodder seed, spearmint, peppermint, milk thistle, ashwagandha, parsley, fresh coriander, dandelion, bitter lettuce, dill, broadleaf plantain are but a few commonly found herbs indigenous to Israel.

While rosemary is used to flavor sauces, roasted vegetables, rice dishes, etc., medicinally it is used as an antibiotic, aids digestion, promotes hair growth, improves circulation, helps restore memory, etc. It is common to see people in the Holy Land drink a cup of hot water accompanied by a steeping sprig of fresh rosemary.

Wormwood tea is also a popular sight as it rids the body of intestinal parasites among other important medicinal values. Dandelion leaves are added to salads and help strengthen the immune system and aid in good liver health. Fresh mints are also commonly drunk to odorize the breath, help with indigestion, relieve stress, etc. All of these herbs have been naturally and conveniently placed in the midst of this country for its inhabitants’ enjoyment and aid.

Living With Herbs

In the Village of Peace Dimona, the community members follow the ultimate ancient food guide, where every seed-bearing plant/herb and fruit tree is a green light for consumption. The village is home to an impressive array of herbs, and if you peek around, you’ll probably spot some locals gathering handfuls for cooking , steeping some tasty teas, or even whipping up some homemade hair and skin products – who needs fancy stores when you’ve got nature’s goodies at your fingertips!

Siblings Yahletahl Baht Ayleenaton (25) and Yoshavyah Ben Ayleenaton (22) grew up in the Village of Peace, where their father worked as an herbalist and agriculturalist. Their father’s lifelong relationship with plants inspired and instilled in them a deep respect for the healing properties of herbs and plants. Today, they continue to honor their father’s legacy by incorporating herbs and plants into their daily self-care routines.

The fresh and dried herbs Yahletahl and Yoshavyah commonly use are nettle, aloe vera, dodder seed, broadleaf plantain, mint, rosemary, and others to create teas, medicinal treatments and maintenance regimes for prevention. These young individuals are living proof thatchildren live what they learnand that herbs have a place in everyone’s lives in the Village of Peace as they are mastering the art of living by using these plant miracles that nature so generously provides.