Herbs... and where to find them

There is a herb for every illness, even our ancestors knew that. Today this piece of wisdom enjoys great popularity, as natural healing methods can sometimes prevent that a disease gets worse. Of course one has to see a doctor if the problems are not getting better or a serious illness is behind it. But even then herbs can be an additional help to the recovery. 
But not only for the recovery herbs can be useful. It's also hard to image life without them in the kitchen. Parsley, chives, garlic, sage and rosemary... what would for example the Italian kithcen be without them? Whoever has ever tried a creamy soup of tarragon, tomatoes with basil and mozzarella and Christmas cookies spiced with aniseed and coriander, will agree to this. So herbs do not only spoil our gustatory nerves, but at the same time develop their preventive therapeutic effect. 
The herbs we use in the kitchen are normally bought at the market or at the supermarket, if we don't belong to the lucky ones who have their own garden. Out in the open would be plenty of herbs to be collected, but unfortunately we have advise you not to, as pollution has spared only very few places. However, if you know a place where you can pick and use dandelions without remorse, you should be delighted. That is an exception these days.
For healing purposes dried herbs or roots in whatever administration are widely available in pharmacies and health food shops. At least here one can assume that they have been taken care of and grown and processes under healthy conditions. Why don't you try to 'gurgle away' your sore throat with a tea of sage next time, or to fight fever with hot juice elderberry juice...