Herbs are plants grown for culinary, medicinal, or in some cases even spiritual value. The green, leafy part of the plant is typically used. General usage differs between culinary herbs and medicinal herbs. Medicinal herbs may be a shrub or other woody plant, whereas a culinary herbs are a non-woody plant. By contrast, spices are the seeds, berries, bark, root, or other parts of the plant, even leaves in some cases; although any of these, as well as any edible fruits or vegetables, may be considered “herbs” in medicinal or spiritual use. Culinary herbs are distinguished from vegetables in that they are used in small amounts and provide flavor (are spices) rather than substance to food.
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Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils and other natural aromatic compounds from plants to affect one’s mental or physical health. Essential oils, are known as hydrophobic i.e. non-water mixing or volatile i.e. air mixing. Essential oils are sometimes referred to as an oil of a plant e.g. oil of lavender. Essential oils are referred to as essential because they are the perceived essence of a plant..

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