Basil – The Incomparable Herb

“The Incomparable One”

Basil herb is originally native to Iran, India and other tropical regions of Asia. In the city of Genoa in Italy the plant is considered a sign of love. Basil is one of the most important herbs in many cultures and cuisines. The ancient Greek word “basilikohn,” meaning royal, is the derivative of what we now call basil. It reflected an attitude of nobility and a desire to extend hospitality, friendship, and honor whenever it was served.

There are actually some significant botanical differences between the more than 150 types of basil plants. Some non-edible kinds are cultivated for ornamental purposes or to ward off garden pests, but basil carries powerful medicinal properties that goes far beyond its known culinary value. Some of the many species of basil include:

Sweet basil (a strong licorice flavor)
Lemon basil
Italian or curly basil
Genovese Basil, (has a spicy and intense) is used for authentic pesto but can be used to help reduce itching from insect bites. Eleanora Basil, Sweet Mammoth Basil, and Nufar Basil are other great basils for Pesto.
Holy basil (India’s most important herb and known as Tulsi in Hindu and means “The Incomparable One” or “The Queen of Herbs”. It has a peppery clove like flavor that is much spicier than the sweet flavor of other basils. It is considered the Mother Medicine of Nature. It is an adaptogen which stabilizes the body’s natural processes and help in maintaining that balance when faced with stress.
Thai basil and lettuce-leaf basil. (The flavor is described as both mint and licorice.) Thai basil is the basil of choice in curries it also goes well with seafood, pork, or chicken.
Spice Glove Basil and Boxwood Basil are good for small spaces but have great flavor
Watch this video for basil varieties and their uses and other useful information in how to care for them.

Basil is prepared as a tea or sometimes as a topical treatment to speed wound healing. Basil’s natural compounds defend the herb from hungry insects and invasive bacteria and fungi. It is no surprise, then, that they can help protect us as well. Basil is incredibly good for balancing the mind, body and spirit.

What health benefits does the herb Basil provide?

First, lets take a look at its top vitamin and mineral contents: ½ cup of fresh chopped basil (or about eight tablespoons) has roughly:

Fiber – Fiber is a part of the structure of plants and helps build plant molecules, including cellulose, lignin’s, and pectin. Soluble fiber is the type that helps with weight loss because it slows the process of food emptying from your stomach and makes you feel full for longer after eating. Insoluble fiber tends to speed up digestion by adding bulk to stool(basically helping relieve constipation. Fiber actually contains zero calories but is necessary for our digestive system. It also transports toxins, waste, fat and cholesterol particles out of the gut.
Vitamin A (175%) is a fat-soluble vitamin that also acts as a powerful antioxidant in the body. The Vitamin A has is beta-carotene from colorful fruits and vegetables, is in the form of provitamin carotenoids.
Vitamin K (345%) is an essential fat-soluble vitamin. It is an “anticalcification, anticancer, bone-forming and insulin-sensitising molecule. Vitamin K1 is mostly found in vegetables.
Manganese (57%) a coenzyme essential nutrient involved in many chemical processes in the body, including processing of cholesterol, carbohydrates, and protein. It might also be involved in bone formation, calcium absorption, thyroid function, formation of connective tissues, seizures, infertility, weakness, and more.
*Vitamin C (30%) It has been linked to many impressive health benefits and the assimilation of other nutrients. It is purported as the most powerful vitamin available for consumption.
*Magnesium (16%) daily can reduce and prevent the frequency of migraine headaches by up to 42 percent. Magnesium is arguably the most important mineral in the body, which is why magnesium deficiency can be such an issue. Magnesium – If your blood pressure is high, it could be a result of magnesium deficiency. It plays a role in over 300 enzymatic reactions in the body.
Iron (40%) – It is responsible to promote the production of red blood cells. It is also necessary to provide oxygen to each of the body’s organs. Hemoglobin in iron transports oxygen to all the tissues from the lungs. Myoglobin in iron is found in muscle cells releasing oxygen to the organs.
Copper (43%) – The health benefits of copper are crucial for an overall healthy existence, as this mineral enables a normal metabolic process in association with amino acids and vitamins (vital amino acids [vita ‘life’]). It cannot be produced by the body and therefore needs to be added from external food sources. It is the third (3rd) most prevalent mineral in the body and is mostly carried by the blood plasma protein.

*On a quick side note: Here is a video of scientist translating the elemental chart into Music Elemonics.

*Vitamin C (ascorbate) 8:45 *Magnesium oxide 11:55 in video

This incomparable herb has an anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-oxidant and anti-cancer activity. You will be amazed at all it has to offer for your health.

Anti-inflammatory (magnesium benefit)

Eugenol, citronellol and linalool are all enzyme-inhibiting oils that are in Basil that help lower inflammation. Inflammation is the body’s first defense against infection, but when it goes awry, it can lead to the root of most diseases.

…Basil contains large quantities of E-Beta-CaryoPhyllene (BCP) which may be useful in treating arthritis or bowel diseases by blocking the signals that lead to inflammation associated with arthritis.

…Inhibits the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines (direct cell-to-cell communication) and nitric oxide (mediate cell-signalling reactions).

…Eugenol Eugenol is an important essential oil in basil that is found to have an anti-inflammatory function.

These “inflammatory cascades” put stress on the organs and slows down blood circulation, hormone regulation and cognitive processes. Reducing inflammation places your body in a state that is conducive to healing. Basil disrupts this cascading effect.

Dr. Andrew Weil has created a food pyramid of anti-inflammatory foods.

Antioxidants are extremely necessary for the body to strengthen it’s immune system and fight off free radical stress. It has the ability to inhibit cancer is the most heavily researched and probably the most interesting. Vitamin A plays a critical role in maintaining vision, neurological function, healthy skin and more. Like all antioxidants, it’s also involved in reducing inflammation. Water-Soluable Vitamin C an antioxidant that can strengthen your body’s natural defensesplays a role in maintaining the health of the body’s connective tissue, help protect the health of your heart, repair and restore tissues and boost the absorption of other nutrients in the body.

…Basil increases antioxidant activity

…Alters gene expressions positively

…Basil Induce death of harmful cells

…Stops cancerous tumors from spreading

…Selectively protects normal tissues and cells from the negative effects of cancer treatments like radiation or chemotherapy.

Antimicrobial Properties – precision nutrition (click link to appreciate full view)

…Basil helps in inhibiting resistant strains of bacteria that don’t respond to antibiotic treatments.

…It may improve the body’s immunity by the production of infection-fighting antibodies by up to 20 percent. Fresh Basil is better than dried Basil.

…Basil essential oil fights against a wide range of bacteria, yeasts, molds, viruses, and candida.

…Protects against various forms of skin irritations

European scientists are investigating the use of basil oil as treatment for antibiotic resistant infections with Staphylococcus, Enterococcus, and Pseudomonas.

Anti-Depression (magnesium benefit)

Basil stimulates neurotransmitters that regulate hormones that lifts your mood and makes you happy.

Anti-stress – The Adaptogenic SuperStar

…Basil helps the body adapt to stress.

…Basil helps keep stable cortisol levels that result in improved mental clarity and memory. The individual feels as though they are less agitated and anxious and therefore able to perform better and have higher quality of life.

Cells in stress mode cause us to crave things that can sabotage our health, including junk foods. It can also cause depression, anger, and lead to drug and alcohol abuse.

Stress keeps the cell from absorbing nutrition, oxygenation, and hydration. In order to succeed and find happiness and health, you need to change your cellular programming from fear (or stress) to love, which triggers a natural chemical reaction that fuels you for success. Fuel with the right foods and meditate on God’s promises.

Chewing 10 to 12 leaves of basil, twice a day, to prevent feeling stressed and developing stress related disorders.

Chewing the leaves daily can also help purify your blood and a significant decrease in blood sugar levels

Antiseptic – When basil leaves are rubbed onto bug bites they can help reduce itching.

It is as an insect repellent: Basil + Lemon = 2 cups water, 5 drops lemon essential oil, 10 drops basil essential oil, 20 drops citronella essential oil.

Adjust Your Circadian Rhythm to Sleep Better – Sleep affects every aspect of our lives and should be taken more seriously. Lack of sleep affects our mental health, our emotions, and our physical performance as well. Sleep is just as important for our health as nutrition and exercise and should be taken more seriously. Lack of sleep affects our mental health, our emotions, and our physical performance as well. Plenty of sunshine helps to produce quality melatonin, a hormone that helps to induce sleep.

Reduce screen time before bed – cell phone screens, television screens, computer screens, and even reading our books on screens two hours before bedtime. Blue light from these screens tricks our bodies into staying awake, and this makes it difficult to get quality sleep.

Take a warm bath, reading a book, or doing some gentle stretching.

Make sure the room you sleep in is as dark as possible. Avoid the use of nightlights, as any light can interfere with your precious sleep cycle.

Eat magnesium rich foods.

Bone Health – Vitamin K increases the amount of a specific protein required to maintain positive affects of calcium balance in the body, and calcium is a key mineral in bone calcium playing an important role in bone mineralization for bone density. K2 is more effective than vitamin K1 at preventing and reversing arterial calcifications that lead to heart-related problems. K2 can be obtained from fermented foods. Vitamin K is one nutrient that works with other minerals and vitamins to kill bacteria that destroy tooth enamel resulting in tooth decay, and also provides teeth with the proper minerals they need to remain strong. While Calcium is considered the most important mineral for bone health, that’s half true, it’s also half wrong. Magnesium is just as important for our bones. In order for calcium to perform the job it needs magnesiums help to cross through cell walls in the body. Manganese is essential for Calcium absorption. Copper is essential in the production of red blood cells (RBC), hemoglobin, and bone matter. This is because it is partially responsible for the efficient uptake of iron from food sources.

Brain – Vitamin K participates in the nervous system through its involvement in sphingolipid metabolism, a class of naturally occurring molecules known for their structural role in building and supporting the brain. Growing evidence that vitamin K has anti-inflammatory activity and can protect your brain against oxidative stress caused by free radical damage. Copper is widely known as a brain stimulant, which is why foods rich in this element are often classified as “Brain Foods”.

Cardiovascular Health

…Basil can help the muscles that control blood vessel function to contract and relax those muscles. Magnesium can help keep your heart beat regular.

…Basil’s Vitamin A a powerful antioxidant protecting the cells lining a number of numerous body structures, including the blood vessels, from free radical damage. This helps prevent cholesterol in blood from oxidizing, helping to prevent atherosclerosis, heart attacks, and stroke.

…Basil helps prevent dangerous blood platelets from forming and clotting. VK facilitates in blood clotting and plays an important role in helping to heal bruises fast and also heal cuts. Copper is a vital part of the healing process and ensures better wound healing and lowers the chances of cardiovascular diseases like atherosclerosis, heart attack, and stroke.

Detoxification – Magnesium aids your detox by flushing out heavy metals and pesticides from your food, along with a wide range of other toxins. Then, by drinking more water, the toxins that the magnesium gets rid of can be more quickly flushed out.

Diabetes (magnesium, manganese)

Basil prevents and control the level of sugar in the blood, increases and stabilizes the insulin production, thus putting diabetes in check. It does this by helping the liver and muscle cells absorb sugar and help you manage your insulin resistance.

A study out of the Indian Journal of Clinical Biochemistry indicated that holy basil may reverse some of the damaging effects of diabetes such as neuropathy and retinopathy.

Digestive System drink basil tea to treat other common stomach problems such as constipation, indigestion, piles, and acidity. Magnesium helps nutrients and minerals pass through cell walls, and it also helps your body produce hydrochloric acid. This is the acid used by the stomach to break down your food.

Energy – when we have enough Copper in our bodies, we will have enough functional and accessible energy.

Fever-reducer

A fever is basically a symptom of another condition or illness. A fever can occur when your body is fighting an infection, such as the flu. A fever is a good thing and usually will go away within a few days. But if a fever is making you uncomfortable, you can try some simple and easy home remedies to cool the body down and make you feel better. The healing properties in Basil will help reduce fever very quickly.

Boil together 20 basil leaves and one teaspoon of crushed ginger in one cup water, until the solution gets reduced to half. Add a little honey and drink this tea two or three times a day for three days.

Gene maintenance: Helps create and repair DNA and RNA -with Basil’s protecting flavonoids. with antibacterial properties. They including estragole, linalool, cineole, eugenol, sabinene, myrcene, and limonene, all capable of restricting the growth of numerous harmful bacteria, including listeria, staphylococcus, E. coli, yersinia enterocolitica, and pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Insomnia – Magnesium helps with anxiety, hyperactivity and restlessness.

Pain-reducer (analgesic) works as a muscle relaxant. (magnesium benefits muscle Pain/Fibromyalgia)

…Drink basil tea twice a day.

…Put some fresh basil leaves in a cup of boiling water and allow it to sit for a few minutes. Sip the tea slowly and your headache will vanish away gently.

…helps to relieve symptoms of Influenza, the common cold. It is a natural expectorant.

(Expectorant) Basil & Honey – Basil juice + 1 Tbsp. Honey = Crush some Basil leaves to extract juice. Take one teaspoon and drink it slowly. Drink it regularly on an empty stomach in the morning. Take twice daily. (See more useful remedies here.)

Kidney Basil strengthens Kidney function. With five to six fresh basil leaves with water on an empty stomach.

Liver Basil protects liver from damage.

Protect against nerve troubles – Magnesium plays a part in maintain healthy nerves and a central nervous system. These nerve disturbances tend to cause foot and leg cramps, stomach cramps, aches and headaches.

Skin: Copper plays a significant role in the synthesis of hemoglobin, myelin, body pigment melanin (imparts coloration to the skin, hair, and eyes), and collagen.

Thyroid – an excess amount is also a major cause of thyroid malfunction, so you need a very balanced level of copper in the blood or else hormonal activity will be imbalanced.

Treat Preeclampsia – Magnesium is able to stop this from happening. Women who have this sharp increase in blood pressure are given magnesium intravenously.

Basil Pesto:

2 cups fresh basil

1/2 cup raw almonds or pine nuts

1/4 cup olive oil

2 cloves garlic

Fresh basil, dried basil and oil-infused basil are all ways to add basil flavor to dishes and experience the benefits of basil.

Fresh sweet basil do better at room temperatures

Dried basil should be kept in a tightly sealed glass container, in a cool, dark, and dry place where it will stay fresh for up to six months.

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