Information on Holy Basil

Holy basil is popularly used in both Indian and Thai cooking. It also has a long history as an Ayurvedic medicinal herb. The scientific name for holy basil is Ocimum sanctum L. In English, common names include holy basil and sacred basil. The fresh and dry leaves are an ingredient in cooking, and the oil extracted from the leaf and seed are employed medicinally.

India

Holy basil has a long history of use in Indian Ayurvedic medicine to increase the body's resistance to disease and stress. Traditional medicinal use cited in the comprehensive herb book "Indian Materia Medica" says preparations of holy basil treated bronchitis and rheumatism. It is also a common ingredient in the Ayurvedic cooking tradition called Tulsi and is sometimes referred to as the "queen of herbs."

Thai Cooking

Holy basil, called bai gkaprow in Thai, is an integral ingredient to coconut milk curry and other classic Thai dishes. Different from the tender foliage of the wide leaf, sweet basil commonly used in the United States, it has stronger, hairy, slender leaves with a spicy flavor and an undertone of black licorice.

Phytochemical Constituents

The Department of Plant Biology and Plant Biotechnology at St. Joseph's College in India performed a preliminary phytochemical study to determine the constituents of holy basil. The results found that it contains phenols, tannins, flavonoids, glycosides, steroids, carbohydrates, amino acids, saponin, fixed oils and possible resin.

Antibacterial

Holy basil fixed oil showed positive antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus pumilus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, according to a study conducted by the University of Delhi Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research. A fixed oil is commonly of vegetable origin and does not evaporate. Results published in the Indian Journal of Experimental Biology conclude that holy basil fixed oil contains antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties and it could be useful for inflammation due to staphylococcal infection.

Dosing

When self-medicating with holy basil, follow the directions given on the label of the product. The University of Michigan Health Center provides dosing guidelines based on amounts used in clinical trials. It suggests taking 1,000mg to 2,500mg per day of dried or powdered leaf. Divide this amount into two or three smaller portions, or take it all at once.