Ocimum spp.
planetary ruler: Mars
element: Fire
associated deities: Erzulie, Aphrodite, Krishna, Lakshmi, Vishnu, Jesus, Virgin Mary, Saint Joseph, Dhanvantari
magical virtues: Blessing, peace, harmony, protection, resurrection, dispelling negativity, exorcism, healing, love, luck, wealth
In Hinduism, the holy basil—called tulsi or tulasi—is regarded the holiest of all plants, the threshold between heaven and earth.3 There are many stories as to how tulsi came into being, and in all of them the plant has a divine origin. In one Hindu legend, Dhanvantari, the physician of the gods, shed tears of joy that transformed into the tulsi plant.4 Tulsi is most often regarded as a manifestation of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, and in Hindu homes tulsi is revered as a household deity; there is a common belief that where Tulasi Devi (“the goddess Tulasi”) resides, auspicious vibrations, peace, and prosperity always dwell.5 All forms of ghosts and demons run away from the place where Tulasi Devi is planted, and all kinds of sinful reactions are destroyed when one comes close to Tulasi Devi.6 Growing a basil plant brings a sacred energy to your home; in Hinduism, holy basil is considered to be the Mother Goddess incarnated in plant form, a protective spirit that deflects negative energy from its surroundings, bringing peace, prosperity, and blessings.
The Greek Orthodox Church also considers basil to be the holiest herb of all. It is said that when Helena, mother of the Roman emperor Constantine the Great, was seeking the True Cross at Golgotha in 326 CE, she noticed a patch of basil growing in the corner of a disused temple of Aphrodite.7 As basil means “of the king” in Greek, and she was looking for traces of Christ, who is called the “king of kings” by Christians, she saw this as a sign and ordered the excavations begun on the spot. The diggers found a piece of wood with a sprig of basil growing from it. To test this, Helena asked some sick people to touch it, and when they were healed, she knew this was a fragment of the True Cross.8
On January 6 the faithful of the Orthodox Church attend the Great Feast of the Theophany, when the congregation receives holy water in small bottles. Later, they invite the priest to bless their homes with this holy water by dipping a sprig of basil into it and sprinkling it about the house. This is believed to be so powerful that it will rid the house of evil spirits and even the Kallikantzaroi, the malign spirits of chaos who appear during the Twelve Days of Christmas,9 are driven away on the Eve of the Epiphany by a priest with holy water and a basil sprinkler.10
A basil plant helps remove negative energies from the home, its pure energy cleanses the space. It is used for warding off harmful spiritual energies, evil spirits, black magic, and psychic attacks. Grow one by the front door to prevent unwanted influences coming in, or keep one in the kitchen to foster domestic harmony. To cleanse your house or sacred space, make Basil Tea and sprinkle it with a fresh sprig of basil in all the corners of each room. This may be useful when you move into a new house and are aware of unwanted vibrations left by the previous tenants.
Basil is also useful for dispelling mental and spiritual negativity. Take a cup of Basil Tea each day for seven days or use Basil Flower Essence for twenty-one days. You can also add a couple drops of Basil Flower Essence to your bath. Protect yourself when you know you are going to be facing a difficult situation by dabbing a spot of Basil Infused Oil onto your forehead.
In Europe basil seems to have had a mixed reputation. Nicolas Culpeper 11 recommended that it should be applied to the stings of venomous beasts to draw out the poison, on the principle that “like draws like,” as he thought of basil as a malign herb and assigned it to the planet Mars and the sign of Scorpio the scorpion. This may have been because in hot countries it was observed that scorpions liked to shelter beneath pots of basil, and this gave rise to the superstition that a sprig of basil left beneath a pot would turn into a scorpion or that bruised basil plants would yield scorpions. Despite what Culpeper wrote, in Tudor England basil was considered a lucky and protective plant, and it was often a gift to a couple setting up house or given as a parting gift to guests.12 Follow this tradition by presenting a pot of basil to friends setting up home, along with a blessing.
Basil is widely associated with love and sexual arousal. In Ayurveda basil is considered an aphrodisiac, while the Roman author Pliny recommended its use at the time of mating horses and donkeys. In Tuscany basil is called amorino, or “little love,” while in central Italy it is called Bacia-nicola (“kiss me Nicholas”). In some districts of Italy, girls wore basil behind their ears when visiting their sweethearts. 13 Basil resonates with the energy of love. Use in love spells, love incense, and charm bags. Wear Basil Infused Oil to attract a lover.
Basil is one of the few herbs that can be used to help balance all of the chakras, as well as purify the aura and align the body’s energy field. Use Basil Infused Oil to anoint the chakras in daily practice, and spend a few minutes meditating with a basil leaf held between your palms at the level of the heart chakra to open your heart to love and compassion.
The belief in basil as a wealth-attracting herb is also widespread. In India it represents Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. In the West Indies basil is sprinkled around new business premises to ensure good fortune for the enterprise. Some Mexicans still carry “lucky basil” in a pocket or purse to magnetize money. Basil resonates with the flow of abundance. Carry a basil leaf in your purse, eat a basil leaf, or dab some Basil Infused Oil on your forehead before you go out to find new work or start a new venture. If you have a business, place a basil leaf in the cash register to attract plenty, and sprinkle Basil Tea or some dried, powdered basil herb over the threshold of your premises to attract customers.
culinary uses
Often known as “the king of the culinary herbs,” basil has been used for cooking since ancient times and was a staple herb in the kitchen gardens of ancient Greece and Rome. 14 Basil is used in stews, salads, soups, sauces, vegetable dishes, and pesto. There are more than 150 varieties of this extraordinary plant, but most culinary basils are cultivars of sweet basil (Ocinum basilicum), including Genovese basil (O. basilicum ‘Genovese”), Thai basil (O. basilicum var. thyrsiflora), and cinnamon basil (O. basilicum ‘Cinnamon”). Other species include holy basil, also called tulsi or tulasi (O. sanctum syn. O. tenuiflorum) and lemon basil (O. americanum). If you are cooking with basil, it is always best to use it fresh and add it towards the end of the cooking process to retain the scent and flavour of its volatile oils.
cosmetic uses
Basil contain antioxidants that help protect your skin from the oxidative stress and the free radical damage that leads to fine lines and wrinkles. It also helps tighten the skin, improve its tone, and boost the growth of new skin cells. To get the benefits of basil, you can simply massage Basil Tea into your skin and rinse off with warm water once a day. Use Basil Infused Oil as a moisturising treatment. Once a week, make a basil face pack by blitzing a handful of fresh basil leaves into a paste and applying directly to your face and neck, mixed with honey or yoghurt if desired. Leave for fifteen to twenty minutes and wash off with lukewarm water. Follow with a moisturiser.
medicinal uses
actions: Anthelminthic, anticatarrhal, antidysmenorrhea, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antispasmodic, antiviral, carminative, demulcent, digestive, expectorant, hypotensive, insecticidal
Basil has been used in traditional and folk medicine for thousands of years. In Ayurvedic medicine, tulsi (holy basil) is considered to be the most powerful of all medicinal plants, and Hindu mythology says that even Yama, the god of death, gives way to holy tulsi. Despite the glut of articles appearing about the almost miraculous healing powers of tulsi, holy basil and sweet basil actually have very similar medicinal qualities.
The pungent scent and strong flavour of basil tell us that it is packed full of volatile oils. These vary in quantity and proportion depending on the cultivar; sweet basil has a strong clove scent because of its high concentration of eugenol, for example, while lemon basil has a strong citrus scent owing to its concentration of limonene. Currently, there are many studies looking into the medicinal properties of basil and basil essential oil, and these are very promising. In the lab, basil has been shown to have antimicrobial, antiviral, antifungal, insecticidal, antioxidant, anti-aging and anti-inflammatory activity. 15 So adding some basil to your diet can’t hurt but may reap many health benefits!
There are several herbs with anti-inflammatory properties that can help arthritis, some of which have been shown to be as effective as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and basil is one of these. 16 Drink a cup or two of Basil Tea daily, and externally use a Basil Hot Compress or warmed Basil Infused Oil on affected areas.
Basil contains anti-itching compounds such as thymol and camphene (the latter also has a cooling effect) that can help eczema. Using basil with a vegetable oil will help keep the skin moisturised and supple, which is also important when treating this condition, so smooth on Basil Infused Oil or apply a paste of pulverised fresh basil leaves mixed with an equal quantity of vegetable oil.
Basil is considered to be a mild antidepressant as well as an adaptogen, a herbal medicine that helps the body normalize the harmful effects of stressors. 17 Make a cup of Basil Tea and sip it during the day when you are feeling stress, or pour a cup of Basil Infusion into a soothing bath to unwind after a difficult day.
Basil has a mildly sedative action. Drink a cup of Basil Tea before bed to help get you off to sleep.
Studies have shown that basil has antibacterial properties, and a wash of Basil Infusion can be employed externally for ulcers, cuts, and wounds. The antifungal properties make it a useful mouthwash and gargle for oral thrush.
Caution: Basil is generally recognised as safe in food amounts and likely safe in medicinal amounts for most people, but do not take medicinal amounts of basil for more than four weeks. However, basil lowers blood sugar and blood pressure marginally, so use medicinal amounts with care if you are on medications for diabetes or hypertension. It may slow blood clotting, so avoid medicinal amounts for at least two weeks before surgery or if you are already taking anticlotting medications. Medicinal amounts of basil should not be taken by pregnant or breastfeeding women. You may have read that a study conducted by the Bureau of Food and Drug Analysis discovered that safrole, a substance found in basil, induced liver cancer in rats when given in large quantities, but “you would have to eat kilograms of basil every day for years on end before having to start worrying about its carcinogenic properties,” according to the researcher Wen Chi-Pang.18
Recipes
Basil Tea
250 millilitres (1 cup) boiling water
4–5 fresh basil leaves
Pour the boiling water over the leaves. Let it steep for four to five minutes. Strain and drink.
Basil Infusion
50 grams (2 cups) chopped fresh basil
500 millilitres (2 cups) boiling water
Put the herbs in a pot and pour the boiling water on them. Cover and infuse for twenty minutes. Strain.
Basil Infused Oil
Pack a sterilised glass jar with fresh, crushed basil leaves. Fill this up with vegetable oil, making sure the herb is covered. Fit the lid and leave on a sunny windowsill for two weeks, shaking daily. Strain the oil into a clean glass jar. Keep in a cool, dark place for up to a year.
Basil Hot Compress
Make a fresh Basil Infusion. While it is hot, dip in a clean cotton cloth and apply it as warm as you can bear to the affected part. When it cools, dip it in the infusion again and reapply. You can do this several times.
Basil Flower Essence
Gather six mature basil flowers. Float them on the surface of 150 millilitres spring water in a bowl and leave in the sun for three or four hours. Make sure that they are not shadowed in any way. Remove the flowers. Pour the water into a bottle and top up with 150 millilitres brandy or vodka to preserve it. This is your mother essence. To make up the flower essences for use, put seven drops from this into a 10-millilitre dropper bottle, and top that up with brandy or vodka. The usual dose is four drops of this in a glass of water four times a day.
Basil Vinegar
Put a few sprigs of fresh basil into a glass jar of cider vinegar. Fit a lid and leave on a sunny windowsill for two weeks, shaking daily. Strain the vinegar into a clean bottle. You can use this as a salad dressing, pour in your bath to cleanse you and help you relax, or use as a magical cleanser to clean tools, sacred spaces, and people.
Basil Shampoo
250 millilitres (1 cup) basil infusion
150 millilitres (10 tablespoons) liquid castile soap
3 millilitres (½ teaspoon) olive oil
8 drops basil essential oil (optional)
Combine the ingredients and bottle. Shake well before use. This will not lather as much as a commercial shampoo, but it will cleanse and treat your hair with nourishing basil. This will keep in the fridge for a week.
Basil Skin Toner
25 basil leaves
200 millilitres (¾ cup) rose water
1 centimetre lemon zest (no white pith)
100 millilitres (½ cup) witch hazel
3 millilitres (½ teaspoon) benzoin tincture
Put the basil, rose water, and lemon in a pan and warm gently for ten minutes. Do not boil. Remove from the heat and leave to infuse for three to four hours. Sieve through fine muslin into a jug or bowl and stir in the witch hazel and benzoin tincture (a preservative). Pour into a glass bottle, stopper, and store in the fridge for up to two weeks. Use morning and evening by dabbing it on your face and neck with a cotton wool pad. Follow with a moisturiser. This will help bust blemishes and deep clean, tighten, and protect your skin from environmental stresses. Basil is a powerful cleanser, and this toner is perfect for those with oily skin and clogged pores.
Basil and Egg White Face Mask
8 basil leaves
white of 1 egg, whisked
1 teaspoon honey
Pulp the basil leaves finely in a blender or pestle and mortar. Add the juice to the whisked egg white and honey and apply to the skin of the face. Leave on for twenty to thirty minutes, then wash off with lukewarm water. Finish with a splash of cold water to close the pores, and apply your moisturiser. Basil and honey have antiseptic properties that help clear up the infections that cause blemishes, while the egg white helps to tighten the skin and reduce enlarged pores. Try adding one teaspoon of ground turmeric powder for an extra anti-inflammatory effect. This will also help remove blackheads.
3 Simoons, Plants of Life, Plants of Death.
4 Aruna Deshpande, India: A Divine Destination (Crest Publishing House, 2005).
5 Swami Vibhooti Saraswati, Tulasi—India’s Most Sacred Plant, http://www.yogamag.net/archives/2006/koct06/tulsi.shtml, accessed 11 April 17.
6 http://www.gutenberg.org/files/44638⁄44638-h/44638-h.htm#chapter-5, accessed 11 April 17.
7 https://orthodoxwiki.org/Elevation_of_the_Holy_Cross, accessed 11 April 17.
8 Brannon Parker, The Serpent, the Eagle, the Lion and the Disk (Lulu.com, 2012).
9 Anna Franklin, Yule, History, Lore and Celebration (Lear Books, 2010).
10 Simoons, Plants of Life, Plants of Death.
11 Culpeper’s Complete Herbal.
12 http://www.gardenersworld.com/plants/plant-inspiration/fact-file-basil, accessed 11 April 17.
13 Angelo de Gubernatis, La Mythologie Des Plantes: Ou, Les Legendes Du Regne Vegetal (Scholar’s Choice edition, 2015).
14 Pliny the Elder, The Natural History.
15 H. R. Juliani and J. E. Simon, “Antioxidant Activity of Basil” in J. Janick and A. Whipkey (eds.), Trends in New Crops and New Uses (Alexandria, VA: ASHS Press), 575–579, https://hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/ncnu02/v5-575.html, accessed 29 February 17.
16 Jürg Gertsch, Marco Leonti, Stefan Raduner, Ildiko Racz, Jian-Zhong Chen, Xiang-Qun Xie, Karl-Heinz Altmann, Meliha Karsak, and Andreas Zimmer, “Beta-caryophyllene Is a Dietary Cannabinoid,” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 105, no. 26 (July 2008): 9099–9104, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0803601105. A. Vijayalaxmi, Vasudha Bakshi, and Nazia Begum, “Anti-Arthritic and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Beta Caryophyllene Against Freund’s Complete Adjuvant Induced Arthritis in Wistar Rats,” Journal of Bone Reports and Recommendations, http://bone.imedpub.com/antiarthritic-and-anti-inflammatory-activity-of-beta-caryophyllene-against-freunds-complete-adjuvant-induced-arthritis-in-wistar-rats.php?aid=7220, accessed 29 March 17.
17 S. Joti, S. Satendra, S. Sushma, T. Anjana, and S. Shashi, “Antistressor Activity of Ocimum sanctum (Tulsi) Against Experimentally Induced Oxidative Stress in Rabbits,” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17922070, DOI: 10.1358/mf.2007.29.6.1118135, accessed 7 April 17.
18 http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2007/05/15/2003360954, accessed 15 May 2017.