In India, sweet basil is considered a sacred plant, a passport to paradise, but historically it was treated with suspicion. The herbs name is derived from basileias, the Greek word for king, but legend has it that the name came from the venomous monster, the basilisk, that could cause death with just a glance.
Basil was once credited for growing a scorpion in a man’s brain after he had sniffed the herb every day. Other tales include the breeding of poisonous beasts if sweet basil was left to rot in horse dung.
Sweet basil keeps flies and mosquitoes away from the area in which it grows, and pots of the herb are often seen in sidewalk restaurants in France.
Grow Sweet Basil
The aromatic sweet basil herb is an annual plant. Its green or red leaves are smooth and slightly curved, similar to spinach leaves. Small white two-lipped flowers are produced in midsummer, and small, oval black seeds follow.
Sweet basil grows best in a sunny, sheltered spot and needs a rich, well drained soil that is moisture retentive.
Medicinal Uses of Sweet Basil
Sweet basil is a staple in an herbalist’s arsenal for digestive problems. An aromatic, this tea herb is used to relieve gas and colic. It has also been used to expel intestinal worms and as an antibacterial.
Colds, exhaustion and depression have also been treated with basil. The essential oil of sweet basil is used externally to treat acne, bites and stings.
In Roman times, the use of sweet basil for healing was disputed by Greek healers Galen and Dioscorides who thought it should not be taken internally. Pliny, the Roman scholar and author on the other hand, defended it’s use and it has since been used to lower blood pressure, cleanse the blood, lower blood sugar levels and cholesterol and as a general detoxifier.
Active ingredients of volatile oil of sweet basil are linalool, estragole, coneol, borneol, eugenol and gerianol. The herb also is a good source for phenolic acids, vitamins A and C.
Sweet basil can be used fresh, dried, as an essential oil or tincture.
Sweet Basil Tea
A refreshing drink with a subtle aroma and flavor, basil tea not only calms the nerves, but can relieve nausea.
To make this medicinal tea, place a large sprig of fresh sweet basil in a cup and fill with boiling water. Let the infusion steep for five minutes and strain. Add a teaspoon of orange juice and stir.
When used to help a cough, substitute honey for the orange juice
Sources:
Polunin, Miriam, Robbins, Christopher. The Natural Pharmacy. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company, 1992.
Atha, Anthony. The Ultimate Herb Book. Great Britain: Collens & Brown Limited, 2001.
Shaudys, Phyllis. The Pleasure of Herbs. Vermont: Storey Communications, 1986.
 |
