Basil is delicious, simple as that.
When I first learned to cook I attempted a chicken Alfredo recipe that involved basil. Not knowing what the herb was, I took a few minutes to research the ingredient, and then I visited my local market to pick up some fresh basil leaves. I would soon discover the delicious annual herb would become a favorite of mine to not only grow in my garden and cook with but to also use for many other various benefits in my life.
For first time growers, like I was, basil is a great herb to start your garden with. If you don’t have room for a garden, basil can thrive in containers or even on a south-facing windowsill indoors. For your garden, you will want to wait after the last frost date in your area to plant basil for the first time that season. Wherever you grow the herb, the main ingredient is to give the plant plenty of sun and moist, well-drained soil.
As I mentioned before, basil is not only for cooking delicious meals with but for many other uses in life as well.
Here are five ways to use basil:
Spider bites: Rub a pinch of dried basil into the wound until it resembles fine sand to relieve the itching and swelling of spider bites.
Stress reduction: Adding 2 cups of strong Basil Leaf tea to a warm bath helps reduce stress and accelerate relaxation.
Headache: A facial steam with dried basil leaves can help alleviate a headache. Add a tablespoon of dried basil leaves to 2 cups of boiling water in a large pot. Carefully lean over the pot, cover your head with a towel and breathe in the steam for 5-10 minutes until your headache starts to subside.
Blood sugar: Basil leaves have been shown to help level out blood sugar levels if consumed regularly and drank as a juice or tea.
Infection: Smelling or keeping holy basil planted in a pot indoors can protect the whole family from infections, coughs, colds and other viral infections. Plus, a tea made with leaves of holy basil is a common remedy for cold, cough and mild indigestion.
Whether you’re cooking chicken Alfredo or treating a spider bite, there are many benefits to using the herb. So grab some basil seeds and start growing!
