Note: This is a project under development. The articles on this wiki are just being initiated and broadly incomplete. You can Help creating new pages.

Ocimum basilicum - Basil leaves

From Ayurwiki
Jump to: navigation, search
Basil leaves

Basil leaves also called great basil. Ocimum basilicum is a culinary herb of the family Lamiaceae. This medicinal herb can help with flatulence, lack of appetite, cuts, and scrapes. Harvest the young leaves of this annual plant as needed.

Uses

Colic, Constipation, Anxiety, Sleep difficulties, Migraine, Fever, Cold, Arthritis, Cough, Bad breath, Piles, Toothache, Swollen Gums, Dysentery[1]

Parts Used

Seed, Root[1]

Chemical Composition

Concentrations of linalool and methyl chavicol (estragole), in a ratio of about 3:1. Other constituents include.[2]

Common names

Language Common name
Kannada Tulasi
Hindi Ban tulsi, Jangli tulsi
Malayalam Thulasi, Sivathulasi, Krishnathulasi
Tamil Tulaci ilaikal
Telugu Tulasi akulu
Marathi NA
Gujarathi NA
Punjabi NA
Kashmiri NA
Sanskrit Thulasha
English Basilie, Sweet Basil

[1]

Properties

Reference: Dravya - Substance, Rasa - Taste, Guna - Qualities, Veerya - Potency, Vipaka - Post-digesion effect, Karma - Pharmacological activity, Prabhava - Therepeutics.

Dravya

Rasa

Tikta (Bitter), Katu (Pungent)

Guna

Laghu (Light), Ruksha (Dry), Tikshna (Sharp)

Veerya

Ushna (Hot)

Vipaka

Karma

Prabhava

Habit

Shrub

Identification

Leaf

Kind Shape Feature
Simple Silky Fresh basil leaves have a strong and character­istic aroma, not comparable to any other spice, although there is a hint of cloves trace­able

.[3]

Flower

Type Size Color and composition Stamen More information
Unisexual 2-4cm long White 4 Flowers are arranged in a terminal spike. Flowering from September to November

Fruit

Type Size Mass Appearance Seeds More information
Nutlets 5-6 4 with persistent caly x Fruiting from September to November

Other features

List of Ayurvedic medicine in which the herb is used

Where to get the saplings

Mode of Propagation

Seeds, Cuttings.

How to plant/cultivate

Basil grows between 30–130 cm (12–51 in) tall, with opposite, light green, silky leaves 3–11 cm (1.2–4.3 in) long and 1–6 cm (0.39–2.36 in) broad[4]

Commonly seen growing in areas

Tropical area, Medi­terranean region.

Photo Gallery

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 ”Karnataka Medicinal Plants Volume-3” by Dr.M. R. Gurudeva, Page No.277, Published by Divyachandra Prakashana, #6/7, Kaalika Soudha, Balepete cross, Bengaluru
  2. Journal Paper - Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Ocimum basilicum L. (sweet basil) from Western Ghats of North West Karnataka, India
  3. Kappatagudda - A Repertoire of Medicianal Plants of Gadag by Yashpal Kshirasagar and Sonal Vrishni, Page No. 282
  4. Tropical The Ferns Information about cultivation/

External Links