BASIL
Botanical: Ocimum basilicum Family: Labiatae/Lamiaceae (mint) Other common names:  Common Basil, St. Josephwort, Sweet Basil, Garden Basil, Tulsi

"The smell of basil is fit for a king's house."
- John Parkinson
Apothecary and Herbalist (1567-1650)

Indigestion?  Take Basil to calm nausea, while relieving stomach cramps, flatulence, constipation and other gastric problems. Highly aromatic Basil has also been recommended for headache and whooping cough. Its essential oil helps to allay mental fatigue and is said to be helpful as an antidepressant.

History:
Basil is an aromatic annual, native to tropical Asia and Africa and introduced into Europe in ancient times. The herb grows to a height of two to three feet and is now widely cultivated not only for its medicinal properties, but also for its culinary value as a flavoring agent. The high esteem in which this herb is held may be derived from its word origins. Its English name and botanical specific may come from the Greek, basilikon, meaning king, or the Latin basilicus, meaning royal. The Roman, Pliny, described its now-well-known benefits as a digestive that was effective in relieving flatulence and stomach cramps. Its properties had an almost spiritual reputation, as some cultures associated it with misfortune, while others regarded it as a love token or a powerful protector. In ancient Egypt, the plant was used as an embalming herb, and it has been said that Basil was strewn in the tomb of Christ. In the Caribbean and parts of Mexico, Basil was used to return a lover's roving eye and to attract money. In India, Basil (tulsi ) is considered a sacred herb. It was held in such high esteem that it was used in courts to swear upon, and next to the Lotus, it was considered one of the most sacred plants. Its "divine" essence is actually a disinfectant, and because it is used in almost every Hindu house, it is believed to protect the family. In Ayurvedic medicine, Basil is widely used for snakebites and as a general tonic for chills, coughs, skin problems and earaches. Its chemical components include essential oils (including estragol, eugenol, lineol, linalol), tannins, caffeic acid, vitamin C and beta-carotene.

Beneficial Uses:
Delicious to eat, Basil is an effective remedy for a variety of digestive and gastric disorders. It has been used as a carminative to relieve flatulence. It is also thought to ease stomach cramps and nausea and to help stop vomiting.

Basil promotes normal bowel function and will relieve constipation, while easing the "griping" pains associated with laxatives (painful grumbling in the intestinal tract).

As an antispasmodic, Basil has sometimes been used for whooping cough. It is considered an expectorant that helps to loosen phlegm, ease dry coughs and bronchitis, and is also used to relieve catarrh, the inflammation of mucous membranes.

Basil has been recommended for the relief of headache. As an aromatic herb, Basil is considered a fine appetizer, and as a mild stimulant, it has also been used very effectively in cases of complete exhaustion. Its essential oil helps to allay mental fatigue and is said to be helpful as an antidepressant.

Basil is used as an antiseptic. Its antibacterial properties have been utilized to inhibit organisms that cause dysentery.

Topically, Basil was applied to relieve fungal infections, ringworm and acne, and as a poultice to draw the poisons from snakebites and insect stings. The essential oil of Basil may be added to massage oils for sore muscles. Basil has also been used as a gargle or mouthwash for thrush, as a bath herb for increased energy and as an eyewash for tired eyes.

Nursing women may benefit from this gentle tonic that helps expel gas in the infant and increases lactation in the mother. Traditional herbalists claim that Basil helps bring on suppressed menses.

*Provided itself beneficial in research that did not involve people, the study could have been done in a test tube, petri dish or animals for Therapeutic use, Acne, Bug Bites, Gas, Dental Problems, Parasitic Infections, Wounds.

Infusion: 1 tsp (dried )to 1/2 C water, (fresh ) 2 tsp to 1 C  water steeped 7-10 mins strain and take 1 -2 x’s a day( also for scalding, burning urine)
Combine with:  Lemon balm, rose petals as an infusion for mild depression
                             Cinnamon, cloves for chills
Fever: 1 oz of leaves to a pint of water simmered for 20 mins with 3 black peppercorns per cup. Steeped 10 mins, strain,  and take
Tincture: 10 to 30 drops
Bath: Oil 5 -10 drops added to water for nervous exhaustion, mental fatigue, melancholy or general uneasiness.
Massage oil : essential oil has been diluted in almond oil to use as a for nervous weakness
Chest rub: 5 drops essential oil, diluted in 10 ml of almond (or olive) oil for asthma and bronchitis
Salve: applied to poison ivy rash
Warts: leaf placed over wart, then covered with a bandage and changed daily for 5 to 7 days
Poultice: seeds used externally on sores for the antibacterial effect

Contraindications:
Pregnant women should use this herb with caution.

 
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Disclaimer:The information presented herein by Organic Herbs Medicine Cabinet is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.