Sweet basil also popularly called as Thai sweet basil has wonderful uses and health benefits. Like so many I was confused with the varieties of basil at first. What is generally referred to as basil in English is sweet basil not our Tulsi which is always called as holy basil. I have been wanting to post about sweet basil sooner because after I wrote about sabja seeds many were getting confused that it were the seeds of holy basil.
I have always loved sweet basil for it’s amazing and wonderful fragrance. Even when I was a kid, I used to dry and save sweet basil in between my notebooks. Though we don’t add sweet basil leaves in our cooking, we use it extensively in remedies. Like holy basil, it can be used to treat many skin diseases like acne and can be used as a home remedy for many illnesses.
Basil Botanical Name & Common Names:
Though holy basil and sweet basil belong to the same family, they are different plants and should not be confused with one another. Basil | Sweet basil’s botanical name is Ocimum Basilicum and there are many varieties in ocimum basilicum. The main confusion for me was in the varieties of basil under ocimum basilicum, for example both thai basil and sweet basil’s botanical name is ocimum basilicum but they are 2 different plants!
But usually the varieties under basil is referred with a suffix to Ocimum Basilicum for eg, Thai basil is referred to as Ocimum Basilicum Var Thyrsiflora. So if it is just plain Ocimum Basilicum it is sweet basil or Basil and it is the variety I am referring to in this post. We call sweet basil thiruneetru pachai in Tamil and it is a plant that I truly love.
Basil Seeds (Sabja Seeds)
Side Effects Of Basil:
10 Top Medicinal Uses Of Basil:
1. Basil For Acne:
Basil leaves like holy basil leaves can be used for treating acne scars. To treat acne scars, collect fresh basil leaves and crush it together along with very little boiled water to get a thick juice and apply it over the scars. Do it daily to see good results.
2. Basil For Anxiety & Stress:
Like I keep repeating again and again, sweet basil has a wonderful calming scent and you can make the best use of it by drying the sweet basil flowers and leaves and making small scented sachets of them. The scent will calm anyone…
3. Basil for Ear Infection:
Like garlic oil, basil leaves can be used for ear infection. Get the raw juice as mentioned in step 1 and apply it in the inside of the ear for ear pain or ear itching.
4. Basil For Mouth Ulcers:
Chewing on the fresh basil leaves is a good remedy for mouth ulcers. Whenever you find yourself with mouth ulcers, try to get a handful of fresh basil leaves, chew slowly and swallow the leaves.
5. Basil Leaves For Insect Bites:
For insect bites, basil leaves can be used very effectively. Try to collect fresh leaves, crush between your hands and apply on the bitten area. This is a very simple first aid for insect bites that is very effective.
6. Basil leaves For Skin Infection:
The leaves when applied directly on the skin along with turmeric is very good remedy for minor skin infections. For the remedy take a handful of the fresh leaves and grind it along with a small piece of fresh turmeric and apply on the skin infection.
7. Basil leaves For Headache:
Basil leaves when ground together with few drops of camphor essential oil and a small piece of kasthuri turmeric and applied on the forehead as a poultice is a very good remedy for sinus headaches.
8. Basil Leaves For Hair:
Like other herbs we can make basil oil using fresh basil leaves for hair. Grind the fresh basil leaves and extract the juice. Add equal quantity of unrefined coconut oil and heat till there is no moisture left, strain and you have wonderful basil oil that can be used for all hair preparations.
9. Basil Seeds For Beating The Heat:
I love love basil seeds and consume it very often and we call it sabja seeds in India. I usually soak the seeds in hot water for 5to 10 minutes, drain the water and add the seeds to a cup of whole, grass fed milk from the farm along with homemade rose syrup and rose petals jam. I love to have it cold and this is an effective remedy for stomach burn and it is also a wonderful drink that help us beat the heat.
10. Basil Leaves Steam:
If you are suffering from nose congestion try basil leaf steam. Boil water in a pan and once it comes to a boil add a handful of fresh basil leaves and few drops of pure eucalyptus essential oil to it and use it for steaming.
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