Basil: Effect and Use as a Medicinal Plant

Basil is not only a popular kitchen herb for refining and seasoning dishes, but also has a healing effect. We will tell you how basil works, which ingredients are responsible for its healing properties and how to use the herb correctly.

Effect and areas of application of basil as a medicinal plant

Basil as a medicinal plant is nowadays mainly used in Ayurvedic medicine. But the Greek doctor Dioscorides also reported on the healing powers of the plant.

• A 2014 meta-analysis summarizing the results of various studies on the effectiveness of Indian basil (tulsi) cites a variety of diseases and conditions that basil can be used against.
• According to this study, Indian basil can help to reduce so-called metabolic stress by normalizing blood sugar and blood pressure.
• However, the symptoms of psychological stress as well as mood swings and depressive moods can also be balanced with Tulsi, since Indian basil has been shown to have anxiolytic and antidepressant properties.
• Tulsi also has an antimicrobial effect, which is why it supports wound healing and can be used to treat skin diseases and cold symptoms such as sore throats.
• But also digestive disorders, hair loss and joint problems such as rheumatism and gout as well as menstrual pain, sleep disorders, migraines and menopausal symptoms are among the traditional areas of application of Indian basil in Ayurvedic medicine.

The healing properties of basil are based on these ingredients

The reason for the healing effect of Indian basil is a number of active ingredients that are contained in the plant in the form of essential oil.

• The substances contained in the essential basil oil such as citral, linalool and eugenol have an anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effect. Citral also has a relaxing effect.
• Another active ingredient is cineole, which not only has an anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effect, but also an expectorant effect, which is why essential basil oil is effective for respiratory diseases such as colds and coughs, but also for asthma and hay fever.
• According to an in vitro study published in 2014, the eugenol contained in the plant could be used as an adjunctive therapy for breast cancer. The study suggests that eugenol, together with the active substances lutein and lupeol, initiates programmed cell death (apoptosis) of tumor cells.
• Depending on the origin and variety, the content of the individual active ingredients can vary. If the basil leaves develop a citrus aroma when crushed, this is an indication of a high proportion of citral in the essential oil.
• The basil commercially available in Europe, for example, mainly contains cineol and linalool. On the other hand, basil, which is native to Eastern Europe, has a high eugenol content.

How to use basil as a medicinal herb

Basil can be used both internally and externally.

• Prepared as a tea, basil can be used specifically against cold symptoms such as hoarseness, coughing and sore throat. To do this, brew 2 teaspoons of dried basil with 150 to 200 ml of water and let the tea steep for about 10 minutes.
• According to a study published in 2012, basil essential oil can be used topically to treat acne or skin inflammation.
• But basil oil can also be applied locally to relieve the symptoms of insect bites, joint pain, headaches, sleep disorders and inner restlessness.
• Before using on the skin, you should always dilute the essential basil oil to avoid skin irritation. Mix 50ml of a carrier oil with up to 25 drops of the essential oil.
• Basil oil can also be used as a bath additive, steam bath or room fragrance. When buying, you should make sure that it is natural essential oil (Ocimum basilicum) for aromatherapy.
• A drop of basil oil dissolved in water or tea can be used internally to treat digestive and menstrual problems such as cramps. However, internal use should only be done in consultation with a doctor or naturopath.

Basil – Related Questions

What can you use basil for?

There are hardly any limits to its uses: in addition to cold dishes, dips, quarks and cheese, basil is also suitable for seasoning warm vegetable, pasta and meat dishes as well as sauces and soups. The herb emphasizes the fruity taste of ripe tomatoes particularly well.

What side effects does basil have?

Due to the high estragol content, basil oil should not be taken during pregnancy and breastfeeding, by infants and small children, or over long periods of time. Estragole is considered carcinogenic and mutagenic (changing the genetic material).

How many basil leaves can you eat per day?

You can easily and deliciously integrate basil into your diet – for example with pesto! Don’t worry: you don’t have to devour a whole pot of the herb every day. A handful is quite enough.

How Much Basil Can You Eat?

If the values ​​from animal research are extrapolated to a human, the toxic dose starts at 20 basil leaves per day. For hobby gardeners, the all-clear is clear, because there is nothing wrong with growing in the garden or on the balcony.

What do you season with basil?

Basil goes particularly well with fresh salads, such as tomato salad and others, with egg and pasta dishes, and with vegetables. The herb is also used a lot in herb sauces, such as pesto, and on pizza. Fish, lamb, poultry and veal are also flavored with basil.

What can I plant together with basil?

The following herbs are particularly good as basil neighbors: Rosemary, it promotes the growth of – basil – oregano – savory – parsley – chervil – borage – garden cress Vegetables also like to accompany basil . Tomatoes therefore go well with basil not only in the kitchen.

Is basil carcinogenic?

In addition, basil supplement contains many important ingredients including caffeic acid that have CYP2C9, CYP2C19 and CYP3A4 interactions with ifosfamide treatment and therefore should be avoided by cancer patients undergoing this treatment.

Is basil good for the skin?

Basil, ocimum basilicum oil, It has an antibacterial, skin-clarifying, antipruritic and antiviral effect and improves the elasticity and suppleness of the skin and is also suitable for repelling insects.

Can you dry basil leaves?

Bundle the basil shoots into small bouquets and hang them upside down in a warm, dry, dark and well-ventilated place. Alternatively, drying in the oven or dehydrator is suitable – however , the temperature must not exceed 35 degrees Celsius.

How much basil is unhealthy?

The warning is therefore purely a precautionary measure. If the harmful amounts are extrapolated from the test animals to a human, the questionable threshold is exceeded from a quantity of 20 basil leaves per day. Nobody will eat such a quantity voluntarily.

Can you overdose on basil?

In the right dosage, basil is not harmful to health and may even provide health benefits. It is traditionally used to banish an upset stomach. However, the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment recommends using estragol and methyl eugenol sparingly.

How can I process basil?

Rinse the basil . Pick off the basil leaves by hand. It is best to cut the leaves into strips with a sharp knife or – for example for basil – pesto – chop in an electric food processor.

Can you drink basil as a tea?

To make the healthy basil tea, simply pour around 150 milliliters of boiling water over a teaspoon of fresh basil. Then the whole thing should take about ten minutes. After this time , the tea can still be sweetened with a little honey and drunk.

How often do I have to water basil?

Basil is one of the moisture-loving herbs that needs to be watered regularly . It is best to check with your finger whether the substrate is still sufficiently moist. On hot days, the plant in the pot must be watered daily.

What vitamins are in basil?

Basil has a high content of the minerals potassium, magnesium and calcium, among other things it contains vitamin A and vitamins from the B group and provides the body with many valuable ingredients.

Is basil good for hair?

With basil , the household remedy par excellence, you can optimally care for your hair . A cocktail of vitamins, minerals and trace elements makes the plant extract a hair miracle. Vitamin A, vitamin K and beta-carotene protect against free radicals. Magnesium, potassium, iron and calcium promote hair growth.

Does Basil Go Bad?

If you buy basil in the supermarket, however, you won’t have anything from the herb for long. With proper care and a sunny location, the plant can last up to a year.

Is Basil Good for the Liver?

The liver loves it It’s better to eat the following foods regularly: Bitter substances – they are found in chicory, radicchio, endive, lamb’s lettuce, rocket, spinach and artichokes, for example. Herbs such as rosemary, thyme or basil.

How tall can basil grow?

Many are annuals. The perennial, robust shrub basil is well suited for cultivation in the garden. In good conditions , it can develop into a 50 to 100 centimeter tall plant with attractive flowers ranging in color from white to purple.

Can you cook fresh basil?

Basil should always be chopped fresh just before use and never cooked . Basil tastes best fresh, but can also be dried or frozen.

What can you do with basil pesto?

What goes well with basil pesto ? The green sauce goes perfectly with pasta, especially spaghetti, or gnocchi. But pesto also tastes great with meat and fish . It is best to sprinkle the dish with a little Pecorino or Parmesan at the end.

Can basil be frozen?

If you’re in a hurry, you can also freeze basil with some water in a freezer bag or container. Wash the freshly harvested basil leaves before freezing them. If you use an ice cube tray, you can even freeze the basil in portions.

Does Basil Become Bitter When Cooked?

However, the leaves of the basil taste a bit bitter when the plant has already flowered or is about to flower. You can easily avoid the bitterness of the leaves by boiling the basil in a sauce. The heat dissolves the bitter substances and the natural aroma comes to the fore again.

Is basil a vegetable?

Basil (Ocimum basilicum), also known as basil, basil herb or royal herb, is a herb from the basil genus of the same name ( Ocimum ) in the mint family.