Sweet basil
Ocimum basilicum
Herbs & Roots. Western & European and Dr. Sebi's list.
Also called Common basil, Genovese basil, Italian basil, Sabja seeds, Tukmaria
Pinyin: Luó Lè
Spanish: Albahaca
A fragrant culinary herb from the mint family, used fresh in Italian and Southeast Asian dishes, with its seeds used in drinks.
Did you know? The name basil may come from the Greek word basileus, meaning king.
What it may help, and how strong the proof is
- Digestion & gut health. Folk use for stomach upset and gas. No good human trials test basil for digestion.Traditional proof
- Inflammation. Basil extracts reduce inflammation in lab and animal studies. This has not been shown in people.Traditional proof
- Infections. Basil oil slows some bacteria and fungi in lab tests. Human proof is lacking.Traditional proof
Parts of the body
Traditional use
Basil has long flavored Mediterranean and Southeast Asian food, and folk healers used it for stomach upset and colds. Holy basil (tulsi), a different species, is the sacred herb of Ayurveda.
How it is classified
- Herbal actions
- Carminative, Anti-inflammatory, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant. Energy: neutral.
How people take it
Fresh leaves added to food near the end of cooking. Soaked seeds go into drinks in South Asia. No medicine dose is set.
Food and tea.
Where to get it
Grown in gardens and greenhouses worldwide. Sold fresh in produce sections, dried in jars, and as seeds (sabja or tukmaria) in Asian and Indian groceries.
Be careful
Culinary amounts are safe. Basil contains estragole, a natural compound that caused liver tumors in rodents at very high doses, so avoid concentrated basil oil and extracts. Basil is also rich in vitamin K.
Avoid if: pregnancy (concentrated extracts).
Mixing with other things
- Works well together
Tomato and basil are a classic Mediterranean pair.
- Works well together
Common partners in Italian and Thai cooking.
- Works well together
Both are common in Italian tomato sauces.
- Worth knowingBlood thinners (warfarin, Eliquis, Xarelto, Plavix, daily aspirin)
Fresh basil is high in vitamin K. Keep intake steady if you take warfarin, a blood thinner.
The honest take
Basil is a flavorful food herb with useful nutrients. Health claims mostly come from lab studies of its oil or extracts. Dr. Sebi's list includes basil, but his claims that herbs can reverse disease are not supported by good evidence.