Basil benefits have been mentioned in the Ayurveda written centuries ago. It is a medicinal herb used to treat quite many problems in our bodies. It has made quite a journey from being taken as a medicine to finding its rightful place in the kitchen cabinet.
Scientific name: Ocimum basilicum
Now it is used
as an herb to enhance the flavor of dishes. In India, it is worshipped as the
holy plant ‘Tulsi'. People still
have it in their homes. It purifies the air around us. (1)
Basil Benefits
Let us find
out more about these benefits of basil,
1. Treats SKIN
conditions:
Basil's benefits include the use of its essential oil for external
applications. Basil is a medicinal herb traditionally used to treat skin
infections, rashes, or allergies. It also cleans up facial acne.
2. Maintaining
Liver Health:
Basil has a
detoxifying effect on the body. It cleans the system and avoids fats to
accumulate in the liver. This helps to prevent liver and stomach-related
diseases. Too much alcohol consumption puts the liver at risk. A few leaves of
basil a day can help to keep the liver safe and robust.
3. Cures Stomach
aches:
An upset tummy
can be due to many reasons such as indigestion, gas, or acidity. Drinking basil
leaves soaked in warm water helps to soothe the stomach from within and resolve
any digestion or unnecessary trouble.
4. Helps to Clot
Blood faster:
If we’re
looking at the benefits of basil,
we simply can’t ignore this one. Since it has high vitamin K content, it helps
in quicker blood clotting. So it is extremely useful in healing wounds faster.
Vitamin K repairs damaged cells
and speed up the recovery process.
5. Basil seeds to
control body heat:
The seeds of
the basil plant are also highly beneficial. They have cooling properties and
can be consumed by soaking them in water for a few hours. This helps to deal
with body heat problems. Basil seed water cools down the body temperature and
helps to give relief from sunstroke.
Read: How can
we keep our brain healthy and young
6. Acts as an
Antibacterial Mouthwash:
This is
another one of raw basil benefits. Basil
leaves can be chewed raw to clean the mouth and get rid of built-up bacteria.
It improves your breath and leaves you feeling refreshed. It has a minty flavor
and can be used instead of mouthwash.
7. Helps to treat
motion sickness:
If you're ever
facing motion sickness and feel like you're about to vomit, drinking basil
water can immediately calm down the acid reflux (2) in the
throat. It instantly diminishes nausea and soothes the stomach. It can also be
consumed before a long travel journey to avoid motion sickness.
8. Basil oil can
help to improve concentration:
The benefits of basil can also be seen in terms of focus and meditation. It
can be used in an oil diffuser to spray in a room. The oil has properties to
relax our senses and help us concentrate better. Many yoga enthusiasts use it
during their meditation sessions to calm their minds.
9. Works as a
laxative:
The raw pulp
of basil can be taken along with warm water to empty the stomach and clean the
intestines. It helps to facilitate smoother digestion and can be taken as a
laxative.
10. Reduces the
chances of epilepsy:
Basil contains
manganese which is an important element required in small quantities in the
body. Manganese works in sync with our nervous
system and brain and helps to avoid seizures caused by epilepsy. It
regulates brain function to avoid any abnormalities.
Final Note
For all those
who are new to this small but multipurpose herb, this list of basil benefits will surely prove to be
useful. Like in the old era, starting your day with a leaf of basil will help to
keep your health fit as a fiddle throughout the day.
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