Medicinal spices according to Hildegard

Medicinal spices according to Hildegard – spice for body, soul and life

Sometimes it's just a touch. A warm tingle on the tongue, a scent that awakens memories, a taste that touches the heart. Spices are much more than what we carelessly sprinkle over our food. For Hildegard von Bingen, they were medicine —in the kitchen as well as in life.

Medicinal spices play a central role in her healing practices. They warm, cleanse, and invigorate. And they bring order wherever something is unsettled—in the stomach, the mind, the entire organism. Hildegard's view of spices is loving, wise, and deeply human. And that's precisely what makes her so special to this day.

Seasoning means healing – as Hildegard understood it

Hildegard considered the effect of a spice not only on the physical body, but also on the mental state. A spice should not only "taste good," but also strengthen , clarify , and balance . Her medicinal spices were small sources of energy—often inconspicuous, but full of power. She attributed to them properties that we can scientifically confirm today in modern herbal medicine.

If you feel weak, if your digestion is sluggish, your circulation is fluctuating or your mood is low – then it is often precisely these small spices that bring you back into balance.

The big little ones – Hildegard’s most important medicinal spices

• Galangal – the "spice of the heart." It warms from within, strengthens the heart and circulation, dispels heaviness, and is particularly effective for an upset stomach. An ideal companion in stressful times.

• Bertram – mild yet powerful. Hildegard recommended it with almost every dish. It improves nutrient absorption and helps eliminate "mucus and toxins" from the body.

• Thyme (wild thyme) – a friend of the respiratory system. It has antibacterial properties, strengthens the lungs, and provides relief from colds or inner restlessness.

• Nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves – warming, strengthening, and mood-enhancing. Hildegard used them specifically to awaken the inner fire – in cases of exhaustion, melancholy, and feelings of cold.

These spices aren't a fad. They've been with us for centuries – because they work. And because they don't just combat symptoms, they get to the root cause: what's out of balance within.

Healing begins with cooking

Perhaps the best thing about Hildegard's approach is that you don't need a complex therapy plan or complicated steps. You start where your everyday life takes place anyway – in the kitchen. A little galangal on your soup, fenugreek over your breakfast egg, thyme in your tea. Small gestures, big impact.

It's not about doing everything perfectly. It's about doing something good for your body with every meal. Supporting it. And nourishing your soul at the same time.

An everyday life with more spice – and more depth

Hildegard's healing spices invite you to treat yourself more mindfully. To sense what's good for you. And to discover how powerful the little things can be. It doesn't take much – just a little attention, a few simple herbs, and a little time.

And maybe the courage to listen to your body more again.

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