Basil

Botanical name: Ocimum Basilicum
Botanical family: Labiatae

Note: Top

Part of plant used: Leaves

Origin: Originally comes from Asia, basil is found in both the northern and southern hemispheres.

Description: Very clear, sweet and slightly spicy.

History: Ancient plant used in Ayurvedic medicine. Used a lot in India and grown for luck in many homes. There is an ancient myth about a jealous father who chopped off his daughter’s lover’s head and buried it. The daughter found the buried head with a basil bush growing on it. (Poem by Keats)

Properties and Indications:

Digestion – activates peristalsis, enzymes, detergent for poor indigestion
Can clear blockages (mucous, psychological)
Restorative, stimulant, especially for the nervous system
Good for post ops – it can stimulate if the person is very low
Extremely euphoric, high, giddy feeling
Sharpens the senses, makes more alert
Helpful for people coming off tranquillizers and drugs
Wasp stings, snake bites

Personality:

Brings out repressed anger for people who cannot express anger
Expels melancholic vapors from the heart – depression
For people who are too laid back, cannot make a decision and people who procrastinate too much
Useful to connect a person, ie. for backwardness
Can move someone who has too much water, earth or air

Contra-indications:

Not to be used in pregnancy
Never use at night
Avoid on epileptics
Not to be used on people who are restless, irritable, strong willed, domineering, forceful, angry or burnt out
Not usually good for Fire signs unless they are depleted

Blending: