Ocimum basilicum
Sweet Basil
a perennial member of the Ocimum genus in the family Labiatae.
Taxonomy and growth
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Leaves and flowers - raw or cooked[21][13][20]. Used as a flavouring or as a spinach[4][25], they are used especially with tomato dishes, pasta sauces, beans, peppers and aubergines[16]. The leaves are normally used fresh but can also be dried for winter use[13]. A very pleasant addition to salads[K], the leaves have a delightful scent of cloves[21]. Use the leaves sparingly in cooking because the heat concentrates the flavour[18]. A refreshing tea is made from the leaves[13]. The seed can be eaten on its own or added to bread dough as a flavouring[9]. When soaked in water it becomes mucilaginous and can be made into a refreshing beverage called 'sherbet tokhum' in the Mediterranean[9]. An essential oil obtained from the plant is used as a food flavouring in mustards, sauces, vinegars etc[24][2][9]
- Product or use
- Condiment
- Product or use
- Drink
- Product or use
- Tea
- Plant part
- Leaves
- Plant part
- Seed
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Sweet basil has been used for thousands of years as a culinary and medicinal herb. It acts principally on the digestive and nervous systems, easing flatulence, stomach cramps, colic and indigestion[19]. The leaves and flowering tops are antispasmodic, aromatic, carminative, digestive, galactogogue, stomachic and tonic[26][4][13][7][15]. They are taken internally in the treatment of feverish illnesses (especially colds and influenza), poor digestion, nausea, abdominal cramps, gastro-enteritis, migraine, insomnia, depression and exhaustion[16]. Externally, they are used to treat acne, loss of smell, insect stings, snake bites and skin infections[16]. The leaves can be harvested throughout the growing season and are used fresh or dried[16]. The mucilaginous seed is given in infusion in the treatment of gonorrhoea, dysentery and chronic diarrhoea[17]. It is said to remove film and opacity from the eyes[15]. The root is used in the treatment of bowel complaints in children[17]. Extracts from the plant are bactericidal and are also effective against internal parasites[15][16]. The essential oil is used in aromatherapy. Its keyword is 'Clearing'[14].
- Product or use
- Antibacterial
- Product or use
- Antispasmodic
- Product or use
- Aromatherapy
- Product or use
- Aromatic
- Product or use
- Carminative
- Product or use
- Digestive
- Product or use
- Galactogogue
- Product or use
- Ophthalmic
- Product or use
- Stomachic
- Product or use
- Tonic
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
An essential oil obtained from the whole plant is used as a food flavouring and in perfumery, dental applications etc[22][24][25][2][6][16]. An average yield of 1.5% essential oil is obtained from the flowering tops[26]. When applied to the skin it makes a good mosquito repellent[26]. The growing or dried plant is an effective insect repellent. It is a good plant to grow in the home, where it repels flies, or in the greenhouse where it can keep all manner of insect pests away from nearby plants[14, 20, K]. It has been used in the past as a strewing herb[12].
- Product or use
- Essential
- Product or use
- Repellent
- Product or use
- Strewing
Environment
- Range
- Tropical Asia?
- Habitat
- Long cultivated, its original habitat is obscure[3].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 10+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - sow mid to late spring in a greenhouse and only just cover the seed. Germination is usually free and quick, prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle. If growing basil outdoors, plant out after the last expected frosts.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Prefers a rich light well-drained to dry soil[1][20][16]. Requires a sunny sheltered position if grown outdoors[23]. Tolerates a pH in the range 5 to 8[16]. Sweet basil is commonly grown as an aromatic culinary and medicinal herb in warm temperate and tropical climates. There are a number of different constituents that make up the essential oil in basil, and the proportions of these vary considerably between plants growing in different regions of the world[16]. From this variety many named varieties with differing flavour characteristics have been developed[22][16]. Basil is a perennial plant in the tropics, but it is frost tender and needs to be grown as a half-hardy annual in temperate zones[5]. It is a very good companion plant to grow in the house or greenhouse, its aromatic foliage helping to reduce problems caused by insect pests[K]. It requires a good hot summer in Britain if it is to do well outdoors[K]. Sweet basil is a good companion plant for tomatoes but it grows badly with rue and sage[4][8][10][12]. When grown near raspberries it can retard their fruiting[12].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00
Bianchini. F., Corbetta. F. and Pistoia. M. Fruits of the Earth.
Holtom. J. and Hylton. W. Complete Guide to Herbs. Rodale Press 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-87857-262-7
Brouk. B. Plants Consumed by Man. Academic Press 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-12-136450-x
Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press 1952-00-00
Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre
Philbrick H. and Gregg R. B. Companion Plants. Watkins 1979-00-00
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. 1978-00-00 ISBN 0-88266-064-0
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Allardice.P. A - Z of Companion Planting. Cassell Publishers Ltd. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-304-34324-2
Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2
Westwood. C. Aromatherapy - A guide for home use. Amberwood Publishing Ltd 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-9517723-0-9
Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4
Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31
Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00
Phillips. R. & Foy. N. Herbs Pan Books Ltd. London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30725-8
Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148
Vilmorin. A. The Vegetable Garden. Ten Speed Press ISBN 0-89815-041-8
Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9
Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00
Larkcom. J. Salads all the Year Round. Hamlyn 1980-00-00
Schery. R. W. Plants for Man.
Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202
Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5