Medicinal Benefits of Basil Herb

Do you love nature? Do you want to keep yourself fresh, healthy, and active, if yes, then basil herb is for you. Basil is a small plant and is also called as ocimum basilicum. Basil is famous for its fresh and natural fragrance and spicy aroma. Basil is liked by lovers of good food and is well know worldwide for its important therapeutic properties and many health benefits. In India, basil is known as tulsi which means the holy basil and is a popular natural remedy. Basil belongs to the family Labiatae also known as mint family and is an annual herbal plant which has a stem of up to 40 cm tall and the size of leaves is up to 2 to 5 cm. The leaves of basil herb are stalked and slightly toothed. The flowers are white or light purple that are arranged in elongated spikes in the top or at the ends of the stem. The fruit of basil is usually soft, small, and smooth. The varieties of basil herb are graded according to the size of the leaves for example great green is used in decoration, thin green with leaves up to 1 to 2 cm is the ocimum minimum which contains medicinal properties and is used for curing many types of diseases. Basil plant grows in high sunlight and should be well watered. Due to many types of medicinal properties of basil tulsi in India, it is termed as holy basil and is worshipped as a form of incarnation and God. It is recommended that if you will take 5 leaves of Basil or tulsi on a daily basis dipped in tea, then you do not need to go to the doctor. Basil herb is best to cure ailments of nervous and digestive system.

History and symbolism of Basil Herb

Basilicum word comes from Greek and means "real." Since thousands of years ago, basil was considered as the king of herbs. Its seeds were used in Persian and Galenic medicine and thought that for the plant to flourish, it had to be grown outside temples with pure air, sunlight, and water. In ancient Egypt, the basil leaves were scattered all over the graves and were used as a component of balsam used in mummification. Basil is a sacred plant for Hindus and grown in pots near the temples and outside almost every Hindu home. Basil is attributed to Lord Vishnu and Lord Krishna according to Hindu mythology and is widely used in Ayurvedic medicine where it is called Tulsi.

Origin and distribution of Basil Herb

Medicinal Benefits of Basil Herb

• Basil is a well known antiseptic, analgesic, and antidepressant.
• Basil is a carminative with antispasmodic properties.
• Basil is a herbal remedy for nervous and digestive system problems.
• Basil is an emmenagogue (herb which stimulates blood flow.
• Basil is a natural expectorant and treats chronic and acute cough.
• Basil is a natural febrifuge (a medication that reduces fever).
• Basil stimulates the adrenal cortex and stomach.
• Basil is a natural tonic and aphrodisiac.
• Basil is also used to treat respiratory tract problems such as cough, cold, bronchitis, and asthma and improves blood circulation.

Benefits of Basil Oil Massage

• In Nervous System, Basil treats depression, stress, fatigue or tiredness, anxiety, headaches, neuralgia, and migraines. Basil is also used to treat the brain numbness with essential basil oil by inhalations, massage, etc.
• In Circulatory System, Basil helps in stimulation of blood circulation and works as a tonic.
• In Digestive System, Basil cures indigestion, nausea, and gastric spasm.
• In Respiratory System, Basil treats asthma, cough, cold, phlegm in the lungs, sinus congestion, and loss of smell with the use of basil oil by inhalations, massage, dilution in the chest.
• In skin, Basil works as an insect repellent and makes the skin smooth, flaccid, and toned.