| Happy Saturday! | | | | interactions with basil. |
| | | | | Growing Your Own Basil: |
| Today we want to talk a very powerful and common | | | | Basil is a simple plant to grow, its only major |
| household herb called Basil. Most people have heard of | | | | requirements being full sun and frequent water. Its |
| and do have Basil in their spice cabinet but did you | | | | attractive scent and flavor has made it the most |
| know that Basil can help with digestion and | | | | useful herb in my summer kitchen. Although most |
| constipation? We sell more organic Basil cooking spice | | | | varieties are grown for their culinary uses, several |
| than most stores around and wish to share its little | | | | varieties have compact habits or purple foliage and |
| known secrets with you. If you want to try our fresh | | | | are useful as ornamental plants, too. Most garden |
| basil leaf then please navigate to our main stores at | | | | centers sell transplants of basil (typically the Italian |
| the | | | | varieties bred for culinary use) in the spring. But to get |
| Did you know? | | | | the most interesting varieties, I start mine from seed |
| In India Basil seeds were used to help with diarrhea, | | | | indoors, four to six weeks before I plan to transplant |
| mucous discharges, constipation, and as a general | | | | them into the garden. I sprinkle the seeds on the |
| demulcent (soothes mucous membranes). The leaves | | | | surface of a soil less medium in small flats or |
| were used for digestion support and skin disorders. In | | | | seed-starting pans and cover them with plastic wrap. I |
| traditional Thai herbalism, the plant is used for coughs, | | | | keep the flats warm but out of direct sun. When the |
| skin disorders, and intestinal problems. The seed is | | | | first seed sprouts, I remove the plastic and place the |
| used as a bulk-forming laxative and diuretic. | | | | flat either in direct light or 2 to 3 inches below grow |
| | | | | lights. Since basil seedlings cannot tolerate over |
| How much basil is usually taken? | | | | watering, I don't water them the first day after |
| A tea can be made by steeping 1 teaspoon of basil | | | | removing the plastic, and I'm careful to allow the |
| leaves in one cup of water for ten minutes. Three | | | | growing medium to almost dry out between watering's. |
| cups of this tea can be drunk per day. Capsules of | | | | As the plants grow, feed them with a liquid fertilizer |
| basil can be taken in the amount of 2.5 grams per day. | | | | once a week. When the seedlings have developed |
| The volatile oil can be taken internally in the amount of | | | | their first set of true leaves, usually two to three |
| 2 to 5 drops three times per day. | | | | weeks after germination, I transplant them into 2- or 2-1 |
| Are there any side effects or interactions with basil? | | | | 2-inch pots. Two to three weeks later, I begin |
| Although concerns have been raised about the | | | | hardening off the plants, which means putting them |
| possible cancer-causing effects of estragole, a | | | | outside during the day when temperatures are |
| component found in variable amounts in basil volatile oil, | | | | warmest to get them used to outdoor temperatures |
| small amounts of basil would not seem to pose a | | | | and weather. Eventually I will leave them outside |
| significant threat. However, because some herbal | | | | overnight, but only when I'm sure there won't be any |
| books suggest that estragole may be potentially | | | | frost. Try some fresh organic BASIL LEAF today on |
| carcinogenic and has been thought to stimulate uterine | | | | sale at our Florida herb store today! Have a healthy |
| contractions, some herbal experts feel it may be best | | | | day! |
| for pregnant or breast-feeding women to avoid use of | | | | |
| the herb, especially the volatile oil. People with serious | | | | Sincerely, |
| kidney or liver damage should not use basil volatile oil | | | | |
| internally, as they could theoretically have trouble | | | | Stephen C. Sharp |
| eliminating it from their bodies. However, use of basil as | | | | |
| a seasoning in food is unlikely to be of concern. At the | | | | - FloridaHerbHouse. |
| time of writing, there were no well-known drug | | | | |