Ingredient Spotlight: Basil

“Semer le basilic’‘ (to sow the basil) ~French idiom

(refers to ranting, origins due to belief in Europe that bail was of the devil and in order to make it grow you had to curse at the ground as you planted it)

About

Scientific Name: Ocimum Basilicum
Origin: origin and domestication in India however, basil took the firmest root in the regions of Liguria, Italy, and Provence, France.
Cultivation: Over 5000 years. Grows best in hot dry climates and has zero frost tolerance. Grows best outside but can be sown in pots indoors. Requires full sun (6 to 8 hours)

Basil’s scientific name is derived from the Greek “to be fragrant” and the Latin for basilisk denoting some of its properties. Basil is a very fragrant plant consisting of strong essential oils and its history says that it is tied to sanity; either making you go mad or saving you from it depending on your source. The word basil itself comes from the Greek for king and along with this is commonly thought to have been used as a royal perfume (going back that “to be fragrant aspect.”)

There are a multitude of different types of basil including, but not limited to, sweet, holy, Thai, lemon and cinnamon. The most commonly used in the kitchen is sweet basil but others are not particularly uncommon either.

There are cultural uses spread across much of the world; some contradict each other but many tow similar lines. For example, basil is tied to the afterlife in parts of Europe, Greece, and India. It is given to the dead (placed in hand or mouth) to provide safe passage or to open the gates of heaven.

Magical

Deities: Tulasi, Vishnu, Erzulie
Correspondences: Masculine/ Yang, Fire, Mars. Steady the mind, happiness, love, peace, money, protection, romance and attraction.
How to Use it: use it in tea, sachets, give as a gift to a suitor (usually in food,) place in your wallet or near your cash register to attract money, use as an offering to deities or spirit.

Mundane

First and foremost, basil is delicious. As far as the science goes it pretty much end there but here are some claims for you to check out:

Has some antibiotic and anti-fungal properties. In this vein it is good for dental health and chewing on fresh basil leaves may help with dental hygiene upkeep.

May aid in digestion and prevent gas or other stomach complaints, specifically those that require a calming effect (ie good for constipation not for diarrhea.)

Basil has a mild sedative effect and therefore is used to help with stress and anxiety reduction as well as headaches caused by these conditions.

Has been used to help treat skin irritations like eczema, psoriasis and acne. The compound ursolic acid may be the reason for this.

May help with mental clarity and memory, improve blood health, protect against some types of cancer and ulcers, and repel some insects (as with most, if not all, plants in the mint family.)

There isn't a huge amount of scientific proof for these claims but you can find some sources over at the Healthline link provided below. This link also provides some warnings of medication interactions especially those tied to circulatory health.

Main Sources used:

Magickal Aspects of Basil – Witchcraft & Pagan Lifestyle Blog, The Magick Kitchen
Basil - The Witchipedia
Basil: Nutrition, Health Benefits, Uses and More (healthline.com)