11 Amazing Benefits of Growing Basil You Need to Know
When growing basil, you may find it easier to get it started indoors. This herb is a beautiful plant that can add color to any home.
Whether you grow it as an annual or you just want to experiment growing the herb in your garden for adding flavor to foods, medicinal or decorative purposes. Read the article to discover 11 benefits of growing basil you need to know.
11 Benefits of Growing Basil
Anti-inflammatory Properties
You may be wondering if Basil’s anti-inflammatory properties could help with arthritis pain, or other ailments associated with it. Many people suffering from arthritis report being treated with a hot water treatment using half a cup of fresh Holy Basil per day.
This is an excellent treatment that will alleviate some of the discomfort associated with arthritis pain. The hot water provides heat to the affected area, thus relieving the irritation from arthritis and reducing swelling.
However, the best thing you can do is to use Basil as directed on the label to treat your pain. It is said that it can minimize joint swelling or joint pain.
Arthritis Tea Remedy
- Heat up some water in a pot.
- Add 4 teaspoons of fresh or dried up leaves.
- Let it stay for 4 – 5 minutes.
- Get your tea and strain it into a cup.
- Enjoy
Depression
Basil is often used in treating depression. How can Basal be good for depression? It works to increase the production of serotonin in the brain.
Serotonin is a chemical that helps to regulate your mood and emotions and is also associated with mood swings and the ability to sleep.
When you are depressed, your serotonin levels can start to drop to low levels, which can affect your ability to sleep and to function normally.
The best thing about Basil for treating depression is that it is known to help with these levels naturally, without the need for medication.
Free Radicals
What is really more interesting is that when you try to look at the benefits of is basil a good antioxidant, you will discover that it has all the things that you would want to make your life more healthy and to protect your body from the many harmful elements of the environment.
Skin Benefits
Basil is one of the oldest and most common herbs that are used for skin care. It has been used for hundreds of years to heal wounds and also used as a treatment for various skin conditions.
In fact it is the herb that can be found in the form of juice and the extract from this herb is very effective in fighting skin irritations, which is why it is used for skin care.
Basil is not only used for skin care but it also helps to prevent skin cancer and other such ailments.
Good for Digestion
When the stomach is working properly it takes care of the digestive system. The stomach then helps to keep the intestines clean as well as the rest of the body.
It is during this time that many digestive problems arise because of the buildup of toxins that can get trapped in the intestinal tract and the stomach.
Basil has been used in Europe for centuries to help with digestion because it can kill the harmful bacteria in the gut and helps to break down the food into its proper forms.
It can also help to prevent some of the issues that occur in the digestive system because of parasites.
Promotes a Healthy Flora
Another function of basil is to help maintain the health of the stomach and the intestines. When the stomach is full, it will take care of the digestive process while the bacteria within it, which is called probiotics, kill any infection in the digestive tract.
These bacteria can work in conjunction with the digestion process to help keep the intestines and the stomach healthy. If your stomach is full all of the time, it can lead to irritability and other digestive issues.
One of the main reasons why people may have digestive issues is because they are not eating enough in their diet. Eating more vegetables and fruits can help to keep the stomach full and therefore, the digestive process will operate more efficiently.
Helps Detoxify
While Basil is not an excellent choice for detoxification, it is one of the more popular and commonly available herbs. Basil is a popular herb for detoxification due to its many positive effects on the body.
It detoxifies the liver and helps with diarrhea. It also helps with muscle spasms, cramps and headaches. Basil has also been shown to reduce the symptoms of asthma and bronchitis, and is beneficial to the digestive system.
This herb has also proven very beneficial to help with colon cleansing. As long as you do not take too much Basil it should be fine, but if you want to reduce any negative effects on the body, you may want to reduce the amount of Basil you use.
Good for Tummy Problems
Basil has a reputation for being an effective laxative. It works by encouraging the stomach to move away from its natural functions and allow itself to empty of unwanted waste. So, if you’re trying to lose weight or relieve constipation it can make a great substitute.
Diabetes
Many of us who suffer from diabetes are often asked the question, “Is Basil good for diabetes?” The answer to this question is yes. Basil is one of the many types of herbs that can be used to treat diabetes. Here is why.
Basil contains diabetogenic compounds that work to reduce the amount of insulin needed by the body to handle the levels of glucose in the blood. These diabetogenic compounds have been shown to improve the ability of the body to handle and control the amount of insulin in the blood stream.
It also helps the liver to process and eliminate the excess sugar that is in the blood. All of this is important because when a person has high levels of sugar in their blood by the liver can begin to produce more of the sugar called glycogen in order to take up the extra job of storing the sugar.
When the level of glycogen in the blood increases the insulin that is in the blood stream does not work properly. This can cause a number of problems, including having to deal with high blood pressure and even organ damage.
Basil can help to combat the effects of these problems by acting as a diuretic which flushes out the toxins in the blood that have accumulated in the liver.
It also helps to increase the production of glucose in the blood so that the body will not become sluggish after consuming a large amount of sugar.
This helps to prevent the high blood pressure and organ damage caused by having high levels of sugar in the bloodstream.
Boosts your Immune System
The benefits of Basil will include the ability to boost your body’s natural defenses against viruses and bacteria, increase the production of antibodies, and help prevent diseases and infections.
The use of Basil for immune system enhancement can help treat a wide range of illnesses and conditions. This powerful herb is a great way to strengthen your immune system so that you can have stronger immunity and better health.
Basil will also increase the growth of new cells throughout your body, which helps to fight off infection and keeps your immune system strong.
Repels Pests
Basil is well known for being very aromatic, so is a great choice for a repellant for any area of the house that needs to be kept safe from pesky bugs and insects. If you’re thinking of using basil to keep them out then you can certainly do this in the kitchen, but you can also use it in many other ways, making it a very versatile herb.
Getting Started Growing Basil
How to Grow Basil
If you plan on using the leaves for cooking purposes, choose an indoor growing plan. The roots of the herb can also be sowed indoors.
You can even be growing it outdoors at an appropriate time later on. If you choose to do that, make sure the herb needs sufficient sun or light, preferably from a man-made solution like fluorescent lighting.
How to Get Started Growing
In order to properly start growing the basil plants, you should know where to get them from. The best place to find basil is from a reputable nursery or even a friend that grows it.
You should also check out local gardening stores and see if they carry any special varieties. Another option is starting them from seeds.
Basil grows fast. Use pots or containers that are three to four gallons. The pots must have holes in the bottom for drainage, to prevent root rot. The soil to use is a well-draining light potting soil that contains some organic matter.
How to Plant
If you want to learn how to grow basil for the most part indoors, you have to know what type of basil you’re looking for. This type of basil tends to be quite delicate and will need very little care after the initial planting.
It’s also a very fast-growing plant that will bloom as soon as possible, making it perfect for the holidays. They also tend to grow very well in containers.
How to Prune
Once you’ve got your plants set up, learning how to grow basil for decorating purposes indoors takes a little more effort than it would for an outdoor garden. When pruning the plants, make sure to use a sharp pruning blade.
It’s also wise to cut the plants short. As the basil tree gets older it will become a larger plant, and it will take longer to grow and thus you will have to prune more often.
How to Store
You can then put the basil leaves in resealable bags and, place them in your refrigerator to store until you’re ready to use them.
