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| Basil (Ocimum sanctum) |
Basil (Ocimum sanctum L.) is an annual herb, used as a medicinal plant in day-to-day practice in Indian homes for the successful management of various health-related problems. The holy plant, basil has been used by traditional practitioners as anticancer, antifungal, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, analgesic, carminative, expectorant, antiasthmatic, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, hypolipidmic, antiemetic, antispasmodic, antirheumatic, hypotensive and diaphoretic. These properties are due to the presence of essential oils & other active compounds in the parts of the plant, essentially the leaves. Find here some of the age old traditional cures with basil-
- Take basil leaves extract with ginger rhizome extract (1 tbsp) and honey to get relief from Asthma.
- Grind together dried and powdered basil leaves, ginger & black pepper and mix in honey. Prepare the same into pellets and and such the same thrice daily to ease symptoms of Cough and cold.
- Boil a handful of basil leaves until the water remains 1/4th. This mixture can be inhaled as well as administered as to get relief of Phlegm.
- Soak a few basil leaves in water for 4-5 hours. Chew the leaves followed by a glass of water daily to maintain Good health.
- Boil a handful of basil and neem leaves together & take bath with the same to cure Skin infections & allergies.
- An aqueous concoction of the whole basil plant taken daily is believed to control Diabetes via managing blood sugar levels in the body.
- Powder some basil blossoms & mix 2 g of it with a tbsp of honey. Lick it to get relief of Migraine.
- For Indigestion, crush 3-4 basil leaves and add a pinch of rock salt. Take this formulation with water.
- To Improve Lactation in nursing mothers, crush and boil 8-10 basil leaves & simmer for 5 min. Now, sieve and add honey to taste, and drink 1-2 cups daily.
- Boil basil leaves in water till the water is reduced to half. Add a little rock salt & drink to treat Fever.
- Massaging the scalp with basil oil regularly keeps a check on Hair Fall.
- To cure Jaundice, have 2 tsp of basil leaves juice with ½ cup of radish juice twice a day. Add jaggery or honey to taste.
