Herb 13296 225784343 2008-07-15T11:30:38Z TXiKiBoT 3171782 robot Adding: [[gl:Herba]] {{otheruses4|garden herbs|botanical herbs|Herbaceous plant|other uses|Herb (disambiguation)}} {{Expand|date=March 2008}} {{Refimprove|date=March 2008}} [[Image:Herbs.jpg|thumb|Basil, a common herb]] A(n) '''herb''' ({{pronEng|ˈhɝb}} or {{IPA|/ˈɝb/}}; see [[American and British English pronunciation differences#Single differences|pronunciation differences]]) is a plant that is valued for qualities such as medicinal properties, flavor, scent, or the like.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/herb |title=Dictionary.com |accessdate=2007-12-19 }}</ref> ==Use== Herbs have a variety of uses including culinary, medicinal, or in some cases even spiritual [[entheogen]] usage. General usage differs between culinary herbs and [[medicinal herb]]s. In medicinal or spiritual use any of the parts of the plant might be considered "herbs", including [[leaf|leaves]], [[root]]s, [[flower]]s, [[seed]]s, [[resin]], root bark, inner bark ([[cambium]]), [[berries]] and sometimes the [[pericarp]] or other portions. ===Culinary=== Culinary use of the term "herb" is more restricted. Culinary use typically distinguishes between herbs, from the leafy green parts of a plant, and [[spice]]s, from other parts of the plant (including [[seed]]s, [[berry|berries]], [[bark]], [[root]], [[fruit]], and even occasionally dried leaves). Culinary herbs are distinguished from [[vegetable]]s in that like spices they are used in small amounts and provide [[flavor]] rather than substance to [[food]]. Some herbs are [[shrub]]s (such as [[rosemary]], ''Rosmarinus officinalis''), or [[tree]]s (such as [[bay laurel]], ''Laurus nobilis'') &ndash; this contrasts with [[Herbaceous plant|botanical herb]]s, which by definition cannot be woody plants. Many plants contain [[phytochemical]]s that have effects on the body. There may be some effects even when consumed in the small levels that typify culinary "spicing", and some herbs are toxic in larger quantities. For instance, some types of herbal extract, such as the extract of St. John's-wort (''[[Hypericum perforatum]]'') or of kava (''[[Piper methysticum]]'') can be used for medical purposes to relieve depression and stress. However, large amounts of these herbs may lead to poisoning, and should be used with caution. ===Religious=== Herbs are used in many [[religion]]s &ndash; such as in [[Christianity]] ([[myrrh]] (''Commiphora myrrha''), ague root (''[[Aletris farinosa]]'') and [[frankincense]] (''Boswellia'' spp)) and in the partially Christianized [[Anglo-Saxon paganism|Anglo-Saxon pagan]] ''[[Nine Herbs Charm]]''. ==See also== * [[Herbaceous plant]] * [[Pot herb]] * [[Apothecary]] * [[Herbalism]] * [[Herb garden]] * [[The Herb Society of America]] * [[International Herb Association]] * [[List of herbs and spices]] * [[Remedy]] * [[Prehistoric medicine]] {{Herbs & spices}} {{cuisine}} == References == {{reflist}} == External links == *[http://www.lamanherba.com/ All about Organic Herb] *[http://www.gonuae.com/ Guide to Herbal Medicine] *[http://www.herblocater.com/ Research and Find Herbs] *[http://chestofbooks.com/flora-plants/The-Herb-Hunters-Guide/index.html The Herb Hunters Guide] American Medicinal Plants Of Commercial Importance *[http://herbs.randomboo.com/ Guide to Growing Herbs] *[http://www.growingherbs.org.uk/ How to Grow Herbs] Information about planting, propagating and growing herbs *[http://www.allnatural.net/pages/index.shtml Encyclopedia of Herbs] {{Sisterlinks}} [[Category:Plant morphology]] [[Category:Herbs]] [[gn:Ñana]] [[bg:Билка]] [[ca:Herba]] [[da:Krydderurt]] [[es:Hierba]] [[fr:Herbe]] [[gl:Herba]] [[ko:허브 (식물)]] [[he:עשבי תיבול]] [[ht:Zèb]] [[la:Herba]] [[nl:Kruid (keuken)]] [[ja:ハーブ]] [[no:Urter]] [[nn:Urt]] [[nds:Kruut]] [[pl:Zioła]] [[pt:Erva]] [[sk:Bylina]] [[sl:Zelišče]] [[fi:Yrtti]] [[sv:Ört]] [[tl:Yerba]] [[ta:மருத்துவ மூலிகைகள்]] [[te:గుల్మము]] [[th:สมุนไพร]] [[zh:香草]]