The Benefits of Basil
Sweet basil! Who doesn’t want to eat tons of basil during the summer time? (Although we are getting so close to fall! I can taste the cinnamon and cloves!)
Pesto is one of my favorite things to eat during the summer time! Besides being ridiculously delicious it has been used medicinally throughout human history.
Herbalist Juliette de Bairacli wrote in her book that Basil has an affinity for men and it was fed to the princes of France. I thought this was interesting because I know from my aromatherapy classes with Herbalist Kathi Keville that in Italy if a couple got into a fight that the lady would leave out a pot of basil on her porch to signal it was okay for the gentleman to come back home. I was very enamored with this historical tidbit Kathi taught me, especially since it made it very easy to remember that the essential oil of basil is used to help people calm down who are extremely angry.
And apparently, it can also be used for nightmares for little ones. I personally use the herb lamb’s ear to go under a little one’s pillow for nightmares. But when researching for this article I found that de Bairacli put little bundles of basil under the pillow instead. How cute is that!?
Basil has also been used in medicinal teas and tinctures historically for the following:
Physical Uses
- Antibacterial, antispasmodic, antiviral, carminative, nervine
- Warming – calms the nervous system
- Calms the tummy
- Clears the mind
- Fight off colds, flus and allergies
- Bye bye to phlegm – colds, flus, allergies
- Cramps, spasms, nausea, gas, constipation
- Can reduce or prevent fevers
- Kidney and bladder imbalances
- Headaches
- Nervous system
- Emotional support during your cycle
Want to learn more about herbs? Sign up here for my newsletter to get ideas and tips of how to use herbs in your home delivered right to your inbox.
*Disclaimer* None of these statements have been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition. This article is meant solely for educational purposes. Please consult a qualified healthcare practitioner before using herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications
Works Cited
Baïracli-Levy, Juliette De, et al. Nature’s Children. Ash Tree Publishing, 1997.
Mars, Brigitte. The Sexual Herbal. Healing Arts Press, 2010.
McBride, Kami. The Herbal Kitchen. Conari, 2010.
Tierra, Michael. The Way of Herbs. Pocket Books, 1998.
