Ocimum, Basil

Basilicum
Babuitulsi (Ayurveda); Tusli (Sacred Basil, Ayurveda)
Luo Le (TCM)
Picture Picture
Dioscorides Materia Medica, Mathias, 1563
 Krauterbuch, Lonitzer, 1578
Picture Clove Basil (Left);  Great Basil (Right)
Krauterbuch, Rihel, 1565

Picture Chaumeton, Flore médicale (vol. 1), 1833

Picture

Members CLICK HERE for the PRO VERSION


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-Cold, Resists Poison:

2. Moves the Blood, Promotes Menstruation:

3. Benefits the Kidneys, Promotes Urine:

4. Regulates Qi, Calms the Mind and Nerves:

5. Clears Damp, Moves Qi, Warms the Stomach:

6. Kills Worms:


SEED:
1. Clears Heat, Cheers the Heart, Calms the Mind:

2. Clears Heat, Moistens:

3. Clears Heat, Stops Cough:

4. Benefits the Brain and 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

Comment

:
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.

Correctives:


 … available in PRO version



Substitute:


 … available in PRO version


Picture

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