Herbs and spices have tremendous importance in the way we live, as ingredients in food,alcoholic beverages, medicine, perfumery, cosmetics, colouring and also as garden plants.Spices and herbs are used in foods to impart flavour, pungency and colour. They also have antioxidant, antimicrobial, pharmaceutical and nutritional properties. In addition to the known direct effects, the use of these plants can also lead to complex secondary effects such as salt and sugar reduction, improvement of texture and prevention of food spoilage. The basic effects of spices when used in cooking and confectionery can be for flavouring,deodorizing/masking, pungency and colouring . They are also used to make food and confectionery more appetizing and palatable. Some spices, such as turmeric and paprika, are used more for imparting an attractive colour than for enhancing taste. The major colour components of spices. Because of their antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, spices have dual function – in addition to imparting flavour and taste, they play a major role in food preservation by delaying the spoilage of food. Many herbs and spices have been used in cosmetics, perfumery and beauty and body care since ancient times. The toiletries and allied industries use spices and herbs and their fragrant oils for the manufacture of soaps, toothpastes, face packs, lotions, freshness sachets, toilet waters and hair oils. They are essential ingredients in beauty care as cleansing agents,infusions, skin toners, moisturizers, eye lotions, bathing oils, shampoos and hair conditioners,cosmetic creams, antiseptic and antitanning lotions and creams, improvement of complexion and purifying blood  Spices form an important component in quite a few alcoholic beverages and beers

Medicinal uses
Herbs and spices have been an essential factor in health care through the ages in all cultures.They are prepared in number of ways to extract their active ingredients for internal and external use. There are a number of different systems of herbal medicine, the most important of which are Chinese and Indian (Ayurvedic) systems of medicine. All spices are medicinal and are used extensively in indigenous systems of medicine. Some of the important uses of major medicinal spices in Ayurveda, according to Mahindru ,Extracts from herbs and spices are used as infusions, decoctions, macerations, tinctures, fluid extracts, teas, juices, syrups, poultices, compresses, oils, ointments and powders. Many medicinal herbs used in Ayurveda have multiple bioactive principles. It is not always easy to isolate compounds and demonstrate that the efficacy can be attributed to any one of the active principles. However, the active principles and their molecular mechanism of action of some of the medicinal plants are being studied .
 

Basic uses of herbs and spices Basic function Major function Subfunction Flavouring Parsley, cinnamon, allspice, dill, mint, tarragon, cumin, marjoram, star anise, basil, anise, mace, nutmeg, fennel, sesame, vanilla, fenugreek, cardamom, celery Deodorizing/ Garlic, savory, bay leaves, clove, leek, masking thyme, rosemary, caraway, sage, oregano, onion, coriander Pungency Garlic, savory, bay leaves, clove, leek, thyme, rosemary, caraway, sage, oregano, onion, coriander, Japanese pepper, mustard, ginger, horseradish, red pepper, pepper Colouring Paprika, turmeric, saffron Garlic, onion, bay leaves, clove, thyme, rosemary, caraway, sage, savory, coriander, pepper, oregano, horseradish, Japanese pepper, saffron, ginger, leek, mustard Parsley, pepper, allspice, mint, tarragon, cumin, star anise, mace, fennel, sesame, cardamom, mustard, cinnamon, vanilla, horseradish, Japanese pepper, nutmeg, ginger

Basic uses of herbs and spices