Wholesale Basil Leaf (Organic)

Bulk Herbs: Basil Leaf, Organic Ocimum basilicum Format: C/S Size: 1 oz package Also Known As: Ocimum basilicum, Sweet Basil, Garden Basil, American Dittany, St. Joseph's wort, Witches Herb, Balanoi, Feslien, Njilika, Albahaca, "Our Herb", and Common Basil. Not to be confused with holy basil (tulsi) used in Ayurvedic medicine. Farming Type: Organic Origin: USA Fresh basil leaves have a unique aroma that no other herb can approximate, making them an essential ingredient in the cuisines of countries all over the world. There are hundreds of species and their hybrids marketed as basil. Still, the herb most commonly used in herbal medicine is the Mediterranean or "sweet" basil (though Thai basil is arguably sweeter). Basil produces its essential oils in glands in its leaves, which are activated by UV-B rays from the sun; the best-quality basil is grown in hot, sunny climates. Basil is used as a fragrance ingredient in perfumes, soaps, shampoos, and other body care products. Reportedly, it has been used in the Far East for centuries to treat a variety of ailments, including head colds, warts, and worms, as well as to stimulate appetite, act as a carminative, and serve as a diuretic. While most of us are familiar with basil as a culinary herb, the applications of basil in natural health are not as well-known. It was first described in a Chinese herbal around 1060 C.E, and has been used for stomach spasms and kidney ailments there ever since. The Chinese have also used it to treat snakebites and insect bites. The essential oil is antibacterial, and drops of basil oil may relieve ear infections. European scientists are investigating the use of basil oil as a treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections with Staphylococcus, Enterococcus, and Pseudomonas. There are some indications that basil oil may help restore immune function damaged by stress. Basil oil also helps the active ingredients of other herbs penetrate the skin more readily when added to ointments, liniments, and salves. Dried basil leaves can be added directly to food or made into a tea (1/2 teaspoon of dried herb steeped for 10 minutes in 1 cup of boiling water in a closed container) to relieve flatulence and fullness. Note: The German Commission E advised caution in the use of basil due to the presence of estragole in its essential oil, a compound suspected of causing cancer. However, further testing indicated that an increase in cancer would occur only in persons who ate approximately 1,000 kilograms of basil daily, equivalent to over 1 ton of the herb.