It is historically believed that basil started growing in India. Records show that the ancient Egyptians used basil for embalming. Basil has also been used for medicine going back to the time of the ancient Greeks. Jews used to give them extra strength while they were fasting, and the Portuguese would use it to show affection to a lover or as a special spice on certain holidays.

Basil Health Benefits

1. Anti-Inflammatory

Basil helps to lower the body’s inflammation by weakening the enzyme inhibiting compounds. By lowering the overall inflammation of the body, it lessens the chances of bowel issues caused by inflammation.

2. Digestion

There is something in basil called eugenol. Eugenol can lessen the amount of inflammation in the stomach and digestive tract. While the eugenol is doing its work there, basil also balances acid levels in the body. This can also help to prevent and treat acid reflux.

 

3. Skin

Basil is amazing for cleaning your pores. If you have trouble with acne, there is a facial mask you should try that might be able to help more than most of the name brand stuff out there. What makes basil an honorable adversary against acne is the antimicrobial and anti-inflammation properties that it poses.  

To make the mask,  mash up fresh basil leaves in a paste, then mix rose water and sandalwood paste into it. Apply the mixture to your face and leave it on for about 20 minutes.

 

4. Free Radicals

Free radicals are horrible for your body and can actually lead to cancer. There are flavonoids that work with the water in your body. The two flavonoids that basil has been called viceniare and orientin. These two together protect DNA, empower your immune system, and protect your cells’ structure. That is how free radicals cause cancer, by endangering and messing with your DNA and cell structure.  

 

5. Diabetes

Basil has a rather low glycemic level. It can do amazing things for lowering triglyceride levels, slowing the rate at which sugar enters the blood, and lower cholesterol levels.

 

6. Depression

Basil has a way of stimulating the neurotransmitters in the brain that can balance hormones that are responsible for energy and happiness. Through the same way, basil can also keep anxiety levels down. The anti-inflammation that was mentioned earlier can also assist in stress levels.

7. Nausea

Basil, when the levels are simply chewed, can calm the stomach, lessen appetite and bloating, release water retention, and calm the acid reflux.

8. Liver Health and Detox   

The detoxing components in basil can flush out your liver and stop fat from building up in your liver while helping your metabolism to move along. Basil’s antioxidants can also help your body to get rid of unneeded toxins and chemicals. Because of the liver helping to flush things out, basil assists in flushing out the free radicals.   

 

9. Antibacterial

Basil stops the growth of bad bacteria and helps your body to build resistance to them. Basil has even been found to stop the growth of E. coli bacterias. More studies are being conducted to see if basil is as powerful as some antibiotics.

 

10. Infections and Viruses

There are antimicrobials found in basil that battle against mold, viruses, and yeast. Basil can be very useful if you are fighting candida or other types of bacterial infections.

 

11. Heart Health

The anti-inflammation compounds in basil can help to keep your heart healthy by keeping your blood vessels more relaxed which helps them to flow and move easier. By keeping the blood vessels moving, it limits that chances of blood clots forming and causing heart attacks. Inflammation in the heart can also bring on cholesterol and plaque buildup which can raise the chances of a stroke.

12. Aphrodisiac

In both Italian and Hindu culture, holy basil has been used to get things flowing better when in private. Chew some leaves, make a tea by boiling fresh cut leaves, see what it can do for you.

13. Wound Healing

Making a paste out of holy basil can actually help to quicken the healing time of a wound because of the antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antifungal. The really crazy thing is that basil can even help to reduce pain. If you eat the basil, it can help to heal mouth ulcers. The herb can lighten scars and acne marks.

 

14. Brain Health

Basil has copper and manganese, both of which keep the brain working strong. The two minerals keep the electronic transmitters in your brain healthy and keep your reflexes quick.

 

15. Arthritis

Basil is great for helping to ease the pains and discomforts that come with arthritis because it keeps inflammation down. The inflammation is what causes the burning feeling in your joints. By simply adding basil to your diet, you should have less pain because of arthritis.

16. Bone Health

Basil has a high amount of vitamin K and that vitamin is very important in keeping your bones strong and healthy because it helps your body to absorb calcium. If your family has a history of osteoporosis, it might be wise to start adding basil to your diet since the absorption of calcium can help keep it at bay.

 

17. Energy

This herb has a good amount of copper. Copper produces what is called adenosine triphosphate which gets rid of exhaustion and fatigue. Some people even add basil leaves to their smoothies because the basil can stop you from having an energy crash.

18. Epilepsy

It has been mentioned that basil has eugenol and that it can assist the nervous system. What has not been mentioned, is that basil extract can actually make spasmodic activity in the brain happen less often.

 

19. Eyesite

For years, people have been saying that carrots are the best things that you can eat for your eyes. That is not the case because basil is better for your eyes than carrots are. Basil has vitamin A, beta-carotene, and Ascorbic acids. The ascorbic acids in basil have been used to heal Stargardt’s disease and dry eye syndrome.

Will you use basil more often now that you know some of its health benefits? Comment below!

   

Sources

https://www.naturalfoodseries.com/12-health-benefits-basil/

https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/basil-benefits

https://food.ndtv.com/food-drinks/9-incredible-benefits-of-basil-leaves-you-may-not-have-known-1834742

https://www.thespruceeats.com/the-history-of-basil-1807566