Basil, a native of India, is considered the “king of herbs”; Basileus is the Greek word for king and is still an offering to the gods today. It is generally used for indigestion, fever, cold, headaches, cramps, nausea, vomiting, or constipation. Many also use it for soothing itch of insect bites and as an anti-depressant.
An important fact to remember, if cooking for Arabic males, do not offer food with basil, they will be highly offended because in their country, women use it to relieve their menstrual cramps, so the men consider it embarrassing to ingest this herb in any way!
Chewing on a fresh sprig of basil is a good way to freshen your breath. To combat the nausea associated with chemotherapy and radiation; make a tea with one ounce of basil to a pint of water, simmer for 4 minutes, strain and add honey to taste.
Basil, like cloves, contains COX2 blocking Eugenol, a compound with significant anti-inflammatory abilities. Studies show that just ½ tsp of basil/day is as effective as many NSAID’s, aspirin or ibuprofen.
For heartburn and intestinal gas, make a basil tea adding peppermint or chamomile, research shows they actually relax intestinal muscles and relieve cramping. This slows digestion, which helps prevent intestinal gas.
At the University of Illinois researchers found that sweet basil has more than 30 cancer preventing substances.
Aromatherapy uses basil for restoring the vital spirit, to quicken the brain and awaken joy and courage! It will lift depression, relieve brain fatigue, and bring you clarity and strength.
In the late 1980’s Narenda Singh M.D. realized that a daily basil tea (from 10-12 leaves) was useful in preventing stress related disorders like stomach ulcers and colitis.
Basil can revitalize the skin and hair. It helps congested complexions and acne. You can use the steeped tea as a toner for the skin or as a rinse for the hair. In Africa, they used basil water for control of dandruff.
So even though I love the taste of basil in my food who would have known how many other ways basil can affect our health!
References:
Herbs for Health and Healing by Kathi Keville
The Good Herb by Judith Bunn Hurley
Healing Spices by Bharat B. Aggarwal
Cynthia Burrows, from Austin, Texas, owns Cindy Burrows, Natural Health Consultant; assisting individuals with health issues they would like to change. She will set up a program giving choices of foods, herbs, teas and homeopathic suggestions. Cindy is past owner of Nature’s Healing Herbs, an Herbal, Green Tea, and Tincture product line, and a rare product line of Green Tea Foods. She has certificates for Herbalist at East West School of Herbology, and as Wellness Consultant with the Wellness Forum in Ohio.
Cindy is also a Medical Technologist, with a B.S. degree from Mansfield University in Mansfield Pa., she has been in healthcare for over 30 years. In 2005, she started using a new device founded in Europe, Quantum Biofeedback, “an energy rebalancing of the body”, by using our bodies electricity or frequency waves it can detect stress points in the body, she has added this to her consulting practice. She now has her Certification as a Biofeedback Specialist. She helps her clients by working with the synergy of herbs, food, homeopathy, and aromatherapy within her practice. She is a speaker, writer, and teacher. Cindy has been interviewed on TV; about the benefits of Green Tea and has been on radio about her small business tour to Ecuador.
Cindy has been an herbalist for over 20 years and has spent 6 years learning through the East West School of Herbology with Michael Tierra. She has studied Western, Chinese and Ayurvedic Herbs with a strong emphasis on nutrition. Along with many other continued studies of alternative and complementary medicine. She is a Certified Wellness Consultant, through a special program, The Wellness Forum, which has its nutrition program, now part of the curriculum at Ohio State University, providing educational seminars and workshops designed to impart relevant nutrition information to individuals to take control of their own health. These programs give healthier options and choices that can impact your longevity and quality of life. Cindy has been a speaker to many groups and has conducted many of her own classes on food and healthy life style programs.
Cindy has been involved with a hands-on healing program for the past 4 years and offers energy healing, through donation only, to anyone who needs her services.
She is Co-president of the Austin Herb Society and a member of the American Herbalist Guild. Cynthia has been a board member on many programs in the past including; La Sertoma, Arthritis Foundation, Toastmasters International, National Association of Female Executives, Handicapped Equestrian Learning Program, Entrepreneurs Association, and Austin Integrated Health Care Program.
Cindy also loves nature, animals, reading, blending teas, juices, etc.; likes to hike, and work with plants and, of course, cooking., mostly vegetarian.
Cindy has an adventurous streak.
She has organized and taken tours with business and artists groups to Big Bend, Texas, New Mexico, USA, and Ecuador, South America.
