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Botanical name: Ocimum Basilicum
Botanical family: Labiatae
Part of plant used: Leaves
Origin: Originally comes from Asia, basil is found in both the northern and southern hemispheres.
Description: Very clear, sweet and slightly spicy.
History: Ancient plant used in Ayurvedic medicine. Used a lot in India and grown for luck in many homes. There is an ancient myth about a jealous father who chopped off his daughter's lover's head and buried it. The daughter found the buried head with a basil bush growing on it. (Poem by Keats)
Properties and Indications:
* Digestion - activates peristalsis, enzymes, detergent for poor indigestion
* Can clear blockages (mucous, psychological)
* Restorative, stimulant, especially for the nervous system
* Good for post ops - it can stimulate if the person is very low
* Extremely euphoric, high, giddy feeling
* Sharpens the senses, makes more alert
* Helpful for people coming off tranquillizers and drugs
* Wasp stings, snake bites
Personality:
* Brings out repressed anger for people who cannot express anger
* Expels melancholic vapors from the heart - depression
* For people who are too laid back, cannot make a decision and people who procrastinate too much
* Useful to connect a person, ie. for backwardness
* Can move someone who has too much water, earth or air
Contra-indications:
* Not to be used in pregnancy
* Never use at night
* Avoid on epileptics
* Not to be used on people who are restless, irritable, strong willed, domineering, forceful, angry or burnt out
* Not usually good for Fire signs unless they are depleted
Blending:
* Bergamot, Black Pepper, Caraway, Clary Sage, Clove, Geranium, Hyssop, Lavender, Melissa, Rosemary, Verbena
* Not to be used with Marjoram
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