Herb Guide

Holy Basil (The Queen of Herbs)

Shifaa Khan

Feb 16, 2024 — 1 min read

Photo by Rob Pumphrey / Unsplash

Botanical Name: Ocimum basilicum

Unani Name: Tulsi

Other Names: St. Joseph Wort & Basilic

Taste: Sweet, pungent & slightly bitter.

Mizaj: Warming & Drying

Leaves

Action - warming/uplifting for mental exhaustion

Therapeutic action -

Fresh leaves - rub on insect bites
Infusion - w/motherwort straight after childbirth to prevent a retained placenta
Tincture - w/wood betony & skullcap for nervous conditions, w/hyssop for coughs & bronchitis

Essential Oil

Action - Antidepressants

Therapeutic action -

Fresh leaves - rub on insect bites
Infusion - w/motherwort straight after childbirth to prevent a retained placenta
Topical - w/ hyssop, bergamot or geranium as a massage oil for depression (make sure you dilute the essential oils in a carrier oil).
Tincture - w/wood betony & skullcap for nervous conditions, w/hyssop for coughs & bronchitis

Caution - Not to be used, internally or externally during pregnancy.

References

Ody, Penelope. The Complete Medicinal Herbal. Dorling Kindersley, 1993.
Pattanayak P, Behera P, Das D, Panda SK. Ocimum sanctum Linn. A reservoir plant for therapeutic applications: An overview. Pharmacogn Rev. 2010 Jan;4(7):95-105. doi: 10.4103/0973-7847.65323. PMID: 22228948; PMCID: PMC3249909.

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