Basil
Parts Usually Used
The herb
Description of Plant(s) and Culture
Basil is an annual plant; its thin, branching root produces bushy stems growing from 1-2 feet high and bearing opposite, ovate, entire or toothed leaves which are often purplish-hued. The two-lipped flowers, varying in color from white to red, sometimes with a tinge of purple, grow in racemes from June to September. The plant is very aromatic. Tends to favor sunny banks. Other varieties: Dwarf Spicy Globe, Dwarf Bush Basil, Lettuce-leaf basil (O.
basilicum crispum), Dark Opal, Purple Ruffles, Citriodorum, Fino Verde, O. basilicum miminum, O. sanctum, O. kill-mandscharicum, O. gratissimum, etc.
Where Found
Found wild in the tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world; elsewhere it is cultivated as a kitchen herb.
Medicinal Properties
Antispasmodic, antidepressant, antiseptic, stimulant, tonic, febrifuge, diaphoretic, nervine, antiviral, antibacterial, expectorant, appetizer, carminative, galactagogue, stomachic
Biochemical Information
Essential oil, estragol with linalon, lineol, tannin, and camphor.
Legends, Myths and Stories
From its native India, basil was introduced into Europe in ancient times. Views and traditions associated with the herb have been mixed. Some cultures associated basil with hatred and misfortune; others regarded it as a love token. Dioscorides said that it should never be taken internally, while Pliny recommended smelling it in vinegar for fainting fits. In Ayurvedic medicine, basil is known as tulsi and the juice is widely used.
In India, basil is perhaps the most sacred plant, next to the lotus. The scent of basil, they say, is conducive to meditation, and the plant is often used in magic. Also a popular culinary herb. In China this herb is known as Luole. Haitian merchants often sprinkle their stores with a composition made of this fragrant herb soaked in water. According to creed this chases bad luck and attracts buyers.
The herb is much used as a love charm in voo-doo practice.
Uses
Historically, herbalists primarily associated basil with gastrointestinal complaints, employing it for stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, indigestion, constipation, and catarrhal conditions of the stomach and intestines. It was also utilized as a digestive aid to stimulate appetite, alleviate gas, and promote circulation. Traditional practitioners recommended the herb for respiratory ailments such as colds, coughs, and sinusitis, as well as for headaches, fevers, and the discomforts of menopause.
Pliny noted its preparation as a tea for headaches and fainting spells, while ancient Greek traditions incorporated the plant into aromatic baths and used it to flavor must, wine, and liqueurs. In ancient Egyptian medicine, basil was applied to snakebites, scorpion stings, and eye complaints. External folk applications included rubbing the fresh leaves or leaf juice onto the skin for insect stings, hives, and rheumatic joints, as well as applying it to bloodshot eyes.
Beyond medicinal applications, basil held a long culinary tradition across Europe, notably in southern Italy and northern Germany, and was commonly placed in wardrobes or planted in gardens to repel insects such as moths, flies, and mosquitoes.
How Sold
Tea, dried leaf, extracts
Warning
Do not use the essential oil externally or internally during pregnancy.
Bibliography
The Herb Book , by John Lust, Bantam Books, 666 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY. copyright 1974. The Nature Doctor: A Manual of Traditional and Complementary Medicine , by Dr. A. , 27 Pine Street (Box 876) New Canaan, CT. 06840-0876. Copyright Verlag A. , Pantheon Books, Knopf Publishing Group, New York, 1994, first edition The Magic of Herbs , by David Conway, published by Jonathan Cape, Thirty Bedford Square, London, England.
, Lotus Press, PO Box 325, Twin Lakes. , 15 Columbus Circle, New York, NY 10023 The Rodale Herb Book: How to Use, Grow, and Buy Nature’s Miracle Plants (An Organic gardening and farming book) , edited by William H. Hylton, Rodale Press, Inc. , 1974 Country Home Book of Herbs , Meredith Books, Editorial Dept. RW240, 1716 Locust Street, Des Moines, IA 50309-3023, copyright 1994 The Yoga of Herbs: An Ayurvedic Guide to Herbal Medicine , by Dr.
David Frawley & Dr. Vasant Lad, Lotus Press, Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, Second edition, 1988. Holy Basil Tulsi a Herb , by Yash Rai; Navneet (2007)