Basil Herb Information-Uses and Benefits

Basil herb is an ancient herb and is derived from a Greek word basileus which means “king”, although in the ancient Greece and Rome people used to believe that the herb was assign of malice and lunacy. The people in those times used to believe that in order to grow basil they had to curse angrily and yell while they were sowing the seeds. Even in French to sow basil means ranting.

Basil HerbIn many other cultures this herb is associated with the rituals of love. People in the Eastern Europe used to believe that a man would have to love the lady from whom he accepted basil. Italians believed that a man should be receptive of a woman’s love if she placed a pot of basil on a balcony.

The consumption of basil leaves after two lovers put it in fire is believed to be harmonious for the relationship. The popping of the basil leaves is believed to lead to quarrelling and if it cracks and fly then it is thought that the relationship is doomed.

Basil HerbBasil is considered to be a good luck gift for new homeowners which is the reason of the modern custom placing basil in the cash register in order to attract customers. Although it is considered to be an integral part of Mediterranean cuisine it is native herb of India and is dedicated to Gods. Basil is very sensitive to cold and is grown indoors in pots.

Basil is considered to be primarily a culinary herb. It has various antibacterial and antiviral properties. It is not considered be a vital herb by modern clinical herbalist but as it is a member of mint family it is considered good as a digestive aid. A cup of basil tea after dinner is a very good aid digestive system of the body. According to the current Richter’s catalogue there 37 varieties of basil and Sweet Basil is the enduring winner in the kitchen.

Basil HerbThe lemon basils are considered great for desserts, tea, soups and for cooking with chicken and fish. Cinnamon basil is not good for cooking, but is considered good for stewed tomatoes. Thai basil is excellent with stir-fish dishes and green curries.

African Blue makes excellent decorative basils and can grow to the shoulder height. It has a strong aroma which makes it unpleasant in food. Opal basil is used for cooking and it goes really

Bacopa Monnieri Information-Uses and Benefits

Bacopa monnieri is herb which is used in the Indian Ayurvedic system as a medicine. In Sanskrit it is known as brahmi. It belongd to the Scrophilariaceae family and is also known as babies tears, bacopa, herpestis monniera and water hyssop. It has a bitter taste and has been used in ayurveda for centuries. It is a herb which is found naturally in India and is used in treating various disorders such as anxiety disorder, poor memory and intellect. Traditionally it has been used for enhancing memory, learning and concentration.

Bacopa MonnieriBrahmi is a small herb and has numerous branches which root at the nodes with many prostrate branches (10-30 cm). The leaves are oblong, sessile, petiole and fleshy. The brahmi flowers are purple in color. It grows naturally in the tropics and India in shallow water marshes and wet soil. It is usually found at an elevation of 4500 feet from the sea level and can be cultivated if enough water is available. The entire plant from its fruits to the leaves has medicinal values. Brahmi is distributed throughout India and in the North Eastern region.

Bacopa MonnieriBrahmi constitutes compounds like alkaloids, saponins and sterols which give the plant its medicinal properties. Many alkaloids such as herpestine and brahmine, hersaponin and saponins d-mannitol, monnierin and acid A were isolated in India. Some other effective constituents include betulic acid, beta sitosterol and bacosides A and B which are reponsilble for its cognitive effects.

Bacopa provides us with many pharmacological properties as it has an ability to enhance nerve impulse transmissiondue to the presence of compounds like tritepenoid saponin. It has an ability to repair the damaged neurons as it can enhance kinase activity, restore synpatic activity and the nerve impulse transmission.

Bacopa MonnieriThere are a lot of benefits of using brahmi. It is used to treat skin problems like psoriasis, abscess, ulceration etc. It can stimulate the growth of hair, skin and nails. It is effective in treating diseases like asthma, bronchitis, arthritis, backache, constipation, fevers, hair loss, digestive problems etc. It is also used for improving confidence, mental clarity and meory in students.

According to an Indian research Brahmi has properties of cardiotonic, antioxidants and anticancer properties. The taste of brahmi is bitter therefore in India it is used in soups, salads, cooked and pickled. It is used to treat stroke and nervous exhaustion in case of nervous defecit.