Basil (Sweet) Leaves 100 g, 50 g, 25 g

Basil (Sweet) Leaves – 100 g ($12.99), 50 g ($7.99), 25 g ($5.99)

Benefits:
Antioxidants  Basil leaves are chock full of antioxidants, natural compounds that protect your body’s cells. Your cells get damaged by oxidative stress when they have too many free radicals. “Your body makes free radicals in response to stress and inflammation. Free radicals also come from environmental exposures, like cigarette smoke and ultraviolent (UV) radiation,” explains Culbertson. “But antioxidants act as a shield against free radicals — and the health problems they cause.” Studies have elaborated free radicals as notorious elements that cause significant damage to the cells and put you at an increased risk of many health complications, such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and arthritis.

Left unchecked, oxidative stress can lead to health conditions that include:
– Cancer
– Cardiovascular disease
– Cataracts
– Inflammatory diseases, like arthritis

Cancer  Several studies have demonstrated sweet basil potential to ward off certain cancers. In one lab study, sweet basil prevented the growth of human colon cancer cells in test tubes. In another study, scientists found that leaves from six different types of basil all had anticancer properties. Basil got in the way of the cancer cells’ ability to grow and divide, ultimately destroying them.

“There is a growing body of evidence that basil could be a powerful cancer prevention tool,” says Culbertson. “But researchers need to do more human studies to confirm these promising results and understand how much basil people should consume.”

Sweet basil (what we use in most of our recipes) contains phytochemicals. These are bioactive plant compounds that shield you from various cancers, such as skin cancer, lung cancer, oral cancer, and liver cancer. Basil also slows down the spread and generation of cancerous cells. The American Institute For Cancer Research has conducted several studies to strengthen these claims. Basil has flavonoids, which boost your immune system, slow down the effects of aging, and protect your cellular structure from damage.

Blood Pressure, Cholesterol  Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioners have treated cardiovascular disease with basil for centuries — and with good reason. Nonhuman studies have shown it can reduce high blood pressure and improve cholesterol levels.

“Plus, basil contains eugenol, an oil that may help lower blood pressure by relaxing your blood vessels,” notes Culbertson. “Studies have tested several forms of basil, including extracts, leaves and leaf powders.”

Blood Sugar  Both human and lab studies have shown basil’s special ability to manage blood sugar. For example, scientists observed that basil contributed to significant reductions in blood sugar levels in lab models of diabetes. Another nonhuman study showed similar effects with holy basil.

“Human studies are in the early stages but have shown some exciting potential benefits for blood sugar management and Type 2 diabetes,” says Culbertson. “But we need more research to fully understand the impacts of different types of basil on blood sugar health.”

If you have diabetes, add basil to your diet for sure. It slows down the process of sugar release in the blood while helping you with diabetes management. According to many studies on animals and humans, basil can also help counter the other health complications associated with diabetes, including hyperinsulinemia (high amount of insulin in the blood), excessive body weight, etc.

Cognitive  Research shows that daily basil consumption can influence many aspects of your mental health. In four different human studies, basil was shown to:

• Enhance cognitive function, including short-term memory and attention.
• Improve mood.
• Reduce stress and anxiety.

Another nonhuman study in the lab showed that basil essential oils have the potential to decrease depression and stress- and age-related memory loss. “The results were so positive that researchers concluded it was time to see if basil could improve symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s disease,” says Culbertson. “It will be interesting to better understand basil’s potential after more research is conducted.”

Digestion  Sweet basil contains eugenol. This chemical compound has anti-inflammatory properties that ensure that your digestive tract is healthy. Basil benefits your digestive and nervous system while ensuring that you have optimal digestion and a proper pH balance in your body. Basil also relieves constipation by acting as a bulk-forming laxative.

Skin  Basil contains powerful and healing essential oils that cleanse your skin from deep inside. And, if you have oily skin, it is a saviour for you. Camphene, a constituent in basil, helps it act as a toner and thus helps in removing surplus oil, dead cells, and dirt that blocks the follicles. It even works on intractable blackheads and whiteheads.

It also eliminates free radicals that damage the skin making it look old and tired. All you need to do is make a thick paste with a handful of basil leaves, sandalwood powder, and rose water. Apply this pack to your face and neck, wait for 15 to 20 minutes, and wash it with cold water. If you have an acne problem, the antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties of basil and basil oil will also help you prevent it as shown in this study.

Inflammation  As basil has got potent anti-inflammatory properties and essential oils. It has been empirically proven that oils such as citronellol, linalool, and eugenol help cure a range of health conditions, including inflammatory bowel conditions, heart ailments, and rheumatoid arthritis. Moreover, consuming basil can also help treat headaches, fever, cold and cough, flu, and sore throat. Basil has flavonoids that boost your immune system, slow down the effects of aging, and protect your cellular structure from damage.

Detoxifying  According to studies, basil safeguards our bodies against toxins by boosting antioxidants and increasing the activity of enzymes that clear off and neutralize free radicals. The free-radical scavenging also helps reduce the ageing of the skin and helps maintain the texture and elasticity of the skin.

Basil is a wonder herb for your liver, one of the most vital organs of your body. It detoxifies your liver and plays a crucial role in preventing fat deposition in your liver. Basil benefits your liver while taking care of your overall health as well.  It removes toxins from the blood and purifies it.

Heart  You already know that basil contains eugenol. Various studies show that this chemical compound aids in blocking the calcium channels, thus lowering your blood pressure. The essential oils in basil reduce the level of triglycerides and cholesterol in your body. You will also find magnesium in this herb that improves blood circulation and allows your blood vessels and muscles to relax, preventing muscle cramps.

Infection  Apart from all the goodness basil possesses, its antibacterial properties are among the most noted ones. It helps fight a range of infections, including skin allergies, urinary infections, and respiratory and abdominal infections. This research reinforces these assertions.

Botanical Name: Ocimum basilicum
English: Sweet Basil
Also, known as: Basilque, Basilikum, His ang-ts’ ai, Malayan, Bassilico, Albahaca
Habitat: Native to Mediterranean region
Origin: Egypt
Harvested: Cultivated
Parts Used: Leaves

General Information:
Ocimum basilicum is one of several varieties of basil known not only for its ability to add flavor but the medicinal aspect as well. Basil or Sweet Basil is a favorite herb and spice found in Italian, Thai, and some middle eastern dishes. In these regions, the basil plant has not only been used in cooking but also in healing for centuries.

The plant is lush green with smooth rounded edges and pointing tip leaves. The leaves resemble Peppermint leaves, as the two plants are closely related. Sweet basil is the most common form of garden basil and can be found dried in the spice aisle, fresh in the produced aisle. The name is derived from the Greek word basilikohn which means “Royal”.

Note: Sweet basil is different from Holy Basil (Tulsi Leaves), which you can find here https://www.herbscrafters.com/shop/herbs/tulsi-leaves-holy-basil-100-g/ .

 

How to use:
We make these suggestions to help you get the best benefit from the herbs that you’re choosing to improve your health. Also we make these ideas and recommendations so that consuming them easier and better fit into your lifestyle by adding them to the food that you already eat.
For the full health benefit, it is best to consume (or use the whole herb in poultices) the whole herb. All of the compounds in the herb act best together, as nature intends. Extracts draw out the most prominent beneficial compounds and may concentrate them. What is not extracted can be helpful in ways that we do not yet understand.

Cut Pieces or Powdered Herb:
There are different ways to use cut pieces or powdered herb.
Food Preparation: You can add powdered or pieces of herb (if the pieces you buy are bigger than you like, a coffee or herb grinder will quickly reduce) to any yogurt, smoothie, apple or other sauces, spreads, salads or other foods more familiar to you that don’t use heat. Heat can be damaging to the beneficial compounds in the herb. Other options like oatmeal, scrambled eggs, pasta sauce, soup, cookies and anything else that fits your lifestyle, but minimizing (by adding near the end of cooking) the heat is helpful.
Also, for children, you can mix powdered herb with honey or glycerin to make paste. The thicker the paste, the more potent and herbal in taste. The sweet taste of honey and glycerin will help medicine go down. The resulting liquid is called an electuary.
For seeds in general, but especially small seeds, it’s best to grind these to break the protective hulls a short time before consumption. This makes all the benefits available, rather than some remaining locked inside the hulls that are unbroken by insufficient chewing.
To make adding herbs even easier, you could add a week’s worth of your chosen herb(s) to an amount of, for example, yogurt that you would eat in a week. Mix thoroughly and eat this each day of the week. So you make once /week and just eat each other day.
Hot Infusion: The basic method for dried herbs and flower is, take 2-3 tablespoons of dried herb in a cup or teapot. Pour hot water over it and cover it with lid for 10-30 minutes. The heat from making tea can degrade some of the beneficial compounds in the herb. This method minimizes this effect. For the full health benefit, it is recommended to consume what is left over after making tea.
Decoctions: Decoctions are suitable for roots, barks, large seeds & berries, and other dense material. The simple way to make decoction is, in a saucepan, add 1 tablespoon of dried herbs to 1 cup of water, Bring the water to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 30-60 minutes with the pot covered. Squeeze out as much as liquid as possible. Best practice is to drink the liquid and also consume the solid material that remains. Herb pieces can also be used.
Powdered Herb:
There are different ways to use powdered herb.
Capsules: HerbsCrafters makes capsules guaranteed to be filled with the pure herb with no filler or any other products. You can also use powdered herb to make your own capsules at home. These capsules are best taken with liquid to aid in digestion and absorption and to ensure it doesn’t stick in your throat.
Poultice: Poultice can be made with an herbal powder and liquid (mostly water) to form a paste which is then applied to the skin. This method is very helpful for skin conditions.
Herbal shot: Powdered herb can be mixed with water, fruit juice or other liquid to make herbal shot.

Tips:
You can sweeten your herbal decoctions with bit of honey, natural fruit juice, stevia leaves powder or licorice root powder.

Precautions:
You should consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using any herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.
All information on this website is for educational purpose ONLY.
This information has not been evaluated by Health Canada.
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.