Ocimum, Basil
Basilicum
Babuitulsi (Ayurveda); Tusli (Sacred Basil, Ayurveda)
Luo Le (TCM)
Dioscorides Materia Medica, Mathias, 1563
Krauterbuch, Lonitzer, 1578
Clove Basil (Left); Great Basil (Right)
Krauterbuch, Rihel, 1565
Chaumeton, Flore médicale (vol. 1), 1833
Botanical name:
Ocimum spp.
O. basilicum is the Common or Sweet Basil
Holy or Sacred Basil (O. sanctum) is used similarly.
Clove Basil (Small or Bush Basil), is from O. caryophyllatum
Parts used:
Herb; Seed
Temperature & Taste:
HERB: Warm, dry. Pungent;
SEED: Cool, moist, Pungent and sweet
Classifications:
2K. RESOLVENT. 2P. HEMOSTATICS.
3D. CORDIALS & CARDIACS. 3F. LITHONTRIPTIC. 3G. EMMENAGOGUE. 3H. LACTAGOGUE
4c. CARDIAC. 4e. STOMACHIC. 4g. HEPATIC
Uses:
HERB:
1. Clears Wind-Heat, Resists Poison:
-Colds, Influenza, Fevers, Small Pox; given during the Cold stage of Intermittent Fever
-acute Sore Throat, Catarrh
-Cough, Whooping Cough, Bronchitis, Asthma
2. Moves the Blood, Opens the Channels, Promotes Menstruation
-Amenorrhea, Dysmenorrhea; Uterus obstruction
-Trauma, Bruising (TCM)
-“A powerful tonic for the Heart”. (Avicenna)
3. Benefits the Kidneys, Promotes Urine:
-Edema, obstructed Urine
-Lower Back Pain, Impotence, Sexual Dysfunction
4. Regulates Qi, Calms the Mind and Nerves:
-Depression, Melancholy, poor Memory, Stupor and Hyper-emotionalism;
5. Clears Damp, Moves Qi:
-nausea, vomiting, indigestion, poor appetite
-colic, bloating
6. Kills Worms:
-“Useful in treating Worms and Ringworm” (Avicenna)
SEED:
1. Clears Heat, Cheers the Heart, Calms the Mind:
-Melancholy, Fear, Worry, Nervousness and Insomnia.
-anxiety with Palpitations; Nervous Heart disorders
2. Clears Heat, Moistens:
-Diarrhea, chronic Dysentery, habitual Constipation
-Strangury, Painful urination, Gonorrhea
3. Clears Heat, Stops Cough:
-Cough, Asthma, shortness of Breath
4. Benefits the Brain and Eyesight
-in formula to increase Eyesight
Dose:
Herb in Decoction: 5–12 grams
Herb in Powder: 2–5 grams
Seed in Decoction: 3–6 grams
Seed in Powder: 1–3 grams
Correctives:
Substitute:
Main Combinations:
1. To promote Happiness, Basil with … available in PRO version
2. Sadness, Depression, to promote Happiness:
i. Basil with … available in PRO version
ii. Basil with … available in PRO version
3. Melancholy:
i. Basil with … available in PRO version
4. Shortness of Breath, Basil with … available in PRO version
5. Cough, Asthma, Basil with … available in PRO version
6. Heart weakness:
i. Basil with … available in PRO version
ii. Basil seed with … available in PRO version
7. Palpitations from Cold, Basil with … available in PRO version
8. Strengthen the Heart and Brain, resists Melancholy, Basil with … available in PRO version
9. Infertility from repletion and obstructed Menstruation, Basil with … available in PRO version
Major Formulas:
Decoction for Cough and Asthma (Galen)
Powder of Happiness (Letificans)
Letificans Almansoris (Rhasis)
Powder to Warm the Heart
Electuary for Sadness and Worry
Abbots Confect of Rose (Diarrhodon Abbatis) (Nicholas)
Cooling Powder of Gems
Electuary of Gems (Mesue)
Cautions:
1. Herb is not used during Pregnancy
2. ‘Dioscorides saith that if Basil be much eaten, it dulleth the sight, it mollifieth the belly, breedeth wind … drieth up milk, and is of hard digestion’. (Gerard)
Main Preparations used:
Distilled Water of the whole plant made in Summer
Basil, Holy Basil and Clove Basil are similar, but have some differences. Basil is more pungent and spicy while Holy Basil is less pungent and more sweet. Several sources have noted the medicinal differences between the two, such as the use of Holy Basil for anxiety and depression, However, studying the traditional western use of Basil shows clearly that it has been used for these conditions too.