Besides cooking recipes what other uses are there for fresh basil?

I have tons of fresh basil and spicy basil what other uses besides cooking are there?Besides cooking recipes what other uses are there for fresh basil?
Hey Heidi V,





Basil seeds


When soaked in water the seeds of several basil varieties become gelatinous, and are used in Asian drinks and desserts such as falooda or Sherbet. Such seeds are known variously as sabza, subza, takmaria, tukmaria, falooda, selasih.





Basil also can be sprinkled over salads and sliced tomatoes, either whole or chopped. Actually, don鈥檛 chop the leaves, but tear them instead for the most flavor.





To make oil for salads, pound the fresh leaves and mix with a good salad or vegetable oil. If freezing the leaves, coat them with olive oil first. Leaves also can be dried and stored in salt.





In the landscape, don鈥檛 merely relegate basil to the herb or vegetable garden. Consider planting it in scented gardens, or use it as edging along a bed or path that you'll brush past and release the aroma. Or try mass plantings of basil in a border, plant in decorative outdoor containers, or grow in pots indoors, if you have lots of light. In ancient times, pots of basil on the windowsill were used to deter flies.





Other uses of basil include the cosmetic. Put fresh leaves in a hot bath as an infusion, for example. As a tonic, steep a few leaves in wine for several hours. Or steep in water as a tea to aid digestion. A drop of basil oil on shirtsleeves will help counteract mental fatigue.





1.Application of the juice of the basil leaves mixing with a little amount of honey over the eyes twice daily to treat fresh cases of cataract.


2.Basil improves the efficiency of kidney. Take the mixture of equal amounts of the juice of basil leaves and honey regularly for 6 months for eliminating the stones in kidney.


3.Basil is a good medicine for diabetes. The antioxidants in basil reduce the glucose level in blood. So take a tea spoon of juice of basil leaves daily to keep the diabetes under control.


4.Basil leaves improve memory power. The smell of these leaves is pleasant to us.


5.Basil oil cures earache, while gargling with the decoction made with these leaves reduces throat pain.


6.Taking the mixture of equal parts of the powder of basil roots and ghee can make you romantic.


7.Tea made with the tender leaves of basil prevents Malaria and Dengue. Take the decoction of these leaves with cardamom powder for reducing high body temperature.


8.Basil can reduce heart diseases as it reduces the cholesterol content in the arteries.


9.Mix a tea spoon of honey and ginger juice in a cup of decoction made with basil leaves and take for getting relief from cold, influenza, asthma and bronchitis.


10.The decoction made with the mixture of leaves, roots and flowers of basil acts as anti venom for a snake bite.


11.The Eugenol in these leaves is a good pain killer. Rub the leaves on the wounds for healing and for relief from pain.


12.Place few leaves of basil under the pillow or under the bed sheets to solve the problem of insomnia.


13.Massage with basil oil on the affected limbs to reduce the severity of paralysis.


14.Make a fine powder of basil flower buds. Mix a spoon of powder to a spoon of honey and consume it for relief from migraine.


15.The mixture of equal amounts of yogurt and basil juice with a pinch of cardamom powder is considered to be a cure for venereal diseases.


16.Leaves can be used to treat insect stings and bites.


17.Wash the hair with the decoction of basil to condition the hair.


18.Adding some basil flowers and leaves in bathing water makes the body fresh.Besides cooking recipes what other uses are there for fresh basil?
Chefs and nutritionists alike are often surprised to find out that common culinary herbs have powerful medicinal properties. Basil, one of the most common herbs used as a flavoring agent in cuisine throughout the world, offers a number of important health benefits, in addition to its unique and versatile flavor.





Basil originated in Asia and the Middle East, and after being traded and cultivated for at least five thousand years, there are now hundreds of different varieties. All strains of basil, from the lemon-scented to camphor-like varieties, each possess a unique chemical makeup. However, the base medicinal properties of basil remain constant from strain to strain.





One of the primary medicinal uses of basil comes from BCP, or (E)-beta-caryophyllene, a natural anti-inflammatory compound also found in oregano and medicinal cannabis. BCP found in basil may offer an alternative to medical marijuana, because it offers the same anti-inflammatory effects without the mental and neurological side-effects of illicit drugs. BCP in basil is believed to combat bowel inflammation and rheumatoid arthritis.





In traditional Ayurvedic medicine, a variety of Indian basil has been used to treat many common ailments, and naturopathic physicians may prescribe it in the treatment of diabetes, respiratory disorders, impotence, and allergies, and infertility. These traditional medicinal uses may stem from the fact that basil contains cinnamanic acid, a powerful compound proven to enhance circulation, stabilize blood sugar, and improve respiration.





Basil is also known to have extremely powerful antioxidant properties, especially when it is used in the form of an extract or oil. The natural antioxidants found in basil can protect the body against damage from free radicals, thereby preventing cellular aging, common skin ailments, and even most forms of cancer. Antioxidants are an important part of maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle, and basil may be a safe and effective source of these potent, life-giving compounds.


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