Medicinal Use
CAUTION: Regular or prolonged medicinal use of Basil is NOT recommended beyond normal culinary consumption. Do NOT attempt to self medicate with Basil. Use the herb medicinally only under the care of a practicing professional. Pregnant, nursing women and toddlers should not take Basil at all.
The medicinal properties of Basil should be viewed as positive perks of a popular culinary herb for most of us, and there are numerous ways to include it in your kitchen specialties without taking it as a medicinal dose. It does have beneficial properties in small amounts, however, so let's take a look at those.
Different varieties of Basil have slightly different areas of effectiveness. The O. viride can be effective in treating fever. The varieties O. canum, O. gratissimum and O. crispum are all useful in treating colds. Even if you can't find these specialized varieties, however, common Sweet Basil is still an effective medicinal herb.
Sweet Basil or Ocymum basilium is most often used to aid digestive disorders. As a member of the mint family, you could try replacing an occasional after dinner mint with a cup of stomach settling Sweet Basil tea. An infusion of Basil can be effective in treating cramps, vomiting, and constipation as well as fever, cold, headaches and anxiety. Basil does have mild sedative effects, which makes it effective for all these complaints.
Externally, Basil has been shown to have antibacterial properties as well, and a poultice of Basil can be used to treat bruises, and some say warts as well.
Asian medicine recommends Basil for poor circulation, stomach cramps, bad breath, clouded vision, earache and kidney disease too.
Gardening With Basil
There are at least 15 different varieties of Basil, and you'll find some gardeners who collect them all, which can make for a beautiful herb garden display. I don't like to group my Basils, however, although I like to try a variety every year of this easy growing annual. But Basil is far too effective as a companion plant to isolate it to one part of the garden. Grow Basils among your tomatoes to enhance their flavor and immune systems.
Sow Basil seed in full sun once the soil has warmed and all danger of frost is past. In the garden, Basil will find the rich soil it loves. Depending on your variety, Basils can range from small 6" plants up to 5 feet in height, with differing shape, smell and leaf colors as well. The Bush Basil or Ocymum minumum are your lower, 6" varieties, while the Sweet Basils grow upward from there. Most all Basils produce smallish white flowers in July and August.
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