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Basil leaves
contain many notable plant derived chemical compounds that are known to have
disease preventing and health promoting properties.
Basil herb
contains many polyphenolic flavonoids like orientin and vicenin. These
compounds were tested in vitro laboratory studies for possible anti-oxidant
protection against radiation-induced lipid per-oxidation in mouse liver.
Basil leaves
contains many health benefiting essential oils such as eugenol, citronellol,
linalool, citral, limonene and terpineol. These compounds are known to have
anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties.
The herbs parts
are very low in calories and contain no cholesterol, but are very rich source
of many essential nutrients, minerals, and vitamins that are essential for
optimum health.
Basil herb
contains exceptionally high levels of beta-carotene, vitamin A, cryptoxanthin,
lutein and zeaxanthin. These compounds help act as protective scavengers
against oxygen-derived free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) that
play a role in aging and various disease process.
Zeaxanthin, a
yellow flavonoid carotenoid compound, is selectively absorbed into the retinal
macula lutea where it found to filter harmful UV rays from reaching retina.
Herbs, fruits, and vegetables that are rich in this compound help to protect
from age related macular disease (AMRD), especially in the elderly.
Vitamin A is
known to have antioxidant properties and is essential for vision. It is also
required for maintaining healthy mucus membranes and skin. Consumption of
natural foods rich in vitamin-A has been found to help body protect from lung
and oral cavity cancers.
Vitamin K in
basil is essential for many coagulant factors in the blood and plays vital role
in the bone strengthening function by helping mineralization process in the
bones.
Basil herb
contains good amount of minerals like potassium, manganese, copper, and
magnesium. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids, which
helps control heart rate and blood pressure. Manganese is used by the body as a
co-factor for the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase.
Basil leaves are
an excellent source of iron, contains 3.17 mg/100 g of fresh leaves (about 26%
of RDA). Iron, being a component of haemoglobin inside the red blood cells,
determines the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood.
Fever: The miraculous healing properties of Basil come mainly
from its essential oils and the phytonutrients contained in it. Basil is an
excellent antibiotic, germicidal, fungicidal and disinfectant agent and very
efficiently protects our body from all sorts of bacterial, viral and fungal
infections. Fever is mainly caused due to infections from protozoa (malaria),
bacteria (typhoid), viruses (flu) and even allergic substances and fungus.
Fever is not actually an ailment in itself. It is just a symptom which shows
that our body is fighting against less visible infections. The tremendous
disinfectant, germicidal and fungicidal properties of basil destroys all those pathogens
discussed above and heals the resulting fever. It is an old practice in India
to have a decoction of basil leaves and flowers in case you are suffering from
a fever.
Respiratory
Disorders: basil, along with curing viral, bacterial
and fungal infections of the respiratory system, gives miraculous relief in
congestion due to the presence of components like Camphene, Eugenol and Cineole
in its essential oils. It is very effective in curing almost all varieties of
respiratory disorders including bronchitis, both chronic and acute.
Asthma: basil is very beneficial in the treatment of asthma, since it
relieves congestion and facilitates smoother breathing. The phytonutrients and
essential oils, along with the other minerals in it, help cure some of the underlying
causes of asthma as well.
Lung Disorders: The compounds like vitamin-C, Camphene, Eugenol and Cineole that
are present in the essential oils of basil do not only cure the infections in
the lungs, but also cure congestion of the lungs. Furthermore, they are found
to be effective in healing the damages caused to the lungs due to smoking,
tuberculosis, and lung cancer. It also helps to cure tuberculosis due to its
antibiotic properties.
Heart Diseases: Basil contains vitamin-C and other antioxidants such as eugenol,
which protect the heart from the harmful effects of free radicals.
Additionally, eugenol is very beneficial in reducing the cholesterol levels
within the blood.
Stress: Vitamin-C and other antioxidants in Basil, apart from repairing
damages done by free radicals, also minimize the stress caused by these
oxidants. They soothe the nerves, lower blood pressure, reduce inflammation and
thus reduce stress. One such component is Camphene. Potassium also reduces
blood pressure-related stress by replacing sodium and loosening the tense blood
vessels.
Oral Care: basil is an excellent mouth freshener and oral disinfectant and
its freshness lasts for a very long time. Basil destroys more than 99% of the
germs and bacteria in the mouth and this effect can last all day. It also cures
ulcers in the mouth. Finally, it is also known to help inhibit the growth of
oral cancer which can be caused by chewing tobacco.
Dental Care: Basil destroys the bacteria that are responsible for dental
cavities, plaque, tartar, and bad breath, while also protecting the teeth. It
also has astringent properties which make the gums hold the teeth tighter,
thereby keeping them from falling. However, basil also has certain compounds
like mercury, which has rich germicidal properties that can actually be harmful
for the teeth if kept in direct contact for too long. Therefore, it is advised
to avoid chewing these leaves. It is actually discussed in holy books and
Ayurvedic teachings that chewing these leaves robs them of their holiness.
However, it has no harm if you do not chew it or consume its decoction.
Kidney Stones: basil, being a detoxifier and a mild diuretic, helps to reduce
the uric acid level in the body, which is the main culprit as far as kidney
stones are concerned. It also helps to
clean out the kidneys through increased frequency of urination. Acetic acid and
certain components in basil essential oils also facilitate dissolution of the
stones. Finally, it has pain-killer effects and help bear the pain from kidney
stones as they pass.
Skin Care: Try taking a daily bath with a decoction of Basil mixed with
your bathwater, washing your face with it, or simply applying the paste of its
leaves on an infected area of the skin in case of skin diseases. You can also
just consume basil leaves, and still manage to keep your skin free from all
infections. You may not believe this, but rubbing Basil leaves or its extracted
oils on the body keeps mosquitoes and other insects away. It cures skin
disorders both internally and externally, without any side effects. This
property mainly comes from its essential oils, which are highly antibiotic,
disinfectant, antibacterial and antifungal in nature. External application on
the skin also removes extra oil from the skin surface. Camphene in it also
gives a soothing, cooling effect.
Headache: Headaches caused due to migraines, sinus pressure, cough and
cold, or high blood pressure can be effectively controlled by the use of a
single basil serving. Camphene, Eugenol, Cineol, Carvacrol and Methyl-Chavicol
have excellent analgesic, sedative, ant congestive and disinfectant properties.
Anti-Aging: Vitamin-C, A, phytonutrients and the essential oils in Basil
are excellent antioxidants and protect the body from nearly all the damage
caused by free radicals in the body, which are hazardous by-products of cellular
metabolism that are responsible for a wide swath of diseases, including cancer.
In the traditional Indian medicine system called Ayurveda, it is considered as
a tonic to retain youth and avoid premature aging.
Immunity: Basil is so good for boosting up the immune system that it is
hard to describe in words. It protects against nearly all infections from
viruses, bacteria, fungi and protozoa. Recent studies show that it is also
helpful in inhibiting the growth of HIV and carcinogenic cells.
Eye Care: Wash your eyes
daily with a few leaves of basil soaked in water and you will be free from
conjunctivitis, boils and many other problems of the eyes which are caused due
to viral, bacterial or fungal infections. It also soothes eye inflammation and
reduces stress. Regular consumption can protect your eyes from much of the
damage done by the free radicals, such as cataracts, macular degeneration,
glaucoma, vision defects, and opthalmia, due to the high antioxidant content of
its essential oils, vitamin A, and vitamin C.
Other Benefits: It can protect your body from radiation poisoning and also
heal and damages from that sort of condition. It can be given after surgery to
help heal wounds quickly and also to protect those healing areas from
infections. It acts as a vaccine against pox if consumed regularly. It is ant
carcinogenic and found to be effective in healing nearly all types of cancer
and tumours. Being an expectorant is one of the most prized properties of Basil,
making it very efficient in curing coughs and colds. It is beneficial in
reducing labour pain, destroying rabies germs, treating gastroenteritis,
cholera, whooping cough, measles, mumps, rheumatism, nausea, septic, urinary
and genital infections, destroying worms in the stomach. Furthermore, its dried
leaves can be mixed with food grains to be used as an insect repellent. Apart
from these many functions, more alternative applications and uses of this truly
miraculous plant are always being discovered or experimented with.
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