THE MAGIC KITCHEN

BY CELLI LAUGHING COYOTE

Most of use who cook could not do without Basil. Well there are alot of other things that can be done with Basil also. Read on!

OCIMUM BASILICUM

It is sacred to the deities Vishnus and Erzulie. It is masculine or active in nature, belongs to the element of Fire, is ruled by the planet Mars. Also is said to help the conscious mind, to bring happiness, protection and peace, to attract money.

In folklore Basil also had prominence as both good and evil. In some lands it was associated with the mythical Basilisk, whose breath and glance could kill. The ancient Greeks believed that Basil would only grow if gardeners slandered it will sowing it. Peoples in other countries cherished it as a protection against witchcraft and as a symbol of love. In Haiti the herb is associated with the goddess of love, Erzulie.

Haitian store-owners believes that if you one soak a half a cup of Basil in a pint of water for three days, then sprinkle the water at the entrance and in the aisles of a place of business to attract trade and customers, and to keep away thieves and vandals.

In New Mexico, carrying Basil in your pockets is supposed to attract money into them. It is also believed that if your husband has a "wandering eye" that if you put powered Basil on your upper body, but especially the heart, that your husband will then become a faithful and loving spouse.

The Hindus consider this a holy herb and believe that placing a bit in each room of the home brings certain protection for the family. For protection when you are in a crowd of people, particularly if there are those there you do not trust, rub some powered Basil on your forehead.

To dispel melancholy keep Basil in an open bowl in the room. It tends to make occupants happy and cheerful.

Both the essential oil, leaves, seeds, flowers, and roots of Ocimum spp. are used as medicines. The essential oil has been shown in vitro to have antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella enteritidis and Escherichia coli, antiseptic activity against Proteus vulgaris, Bacillus subtilis, and Salmonella paratyph, and antifungal activity against Candida albicans, Penicillium notatum, and Microsporeum gyseum.

Oils from some Ocimum spp. have been shown to repel insects and have larvicidal activity against houseflies, blue bottle flies, and mosquitoes. The effective concentration of the oil to kill 90% of the larva ranged from 113-283 ppm. Camphor, d-limonene, myrcene, and thymol are some of the compounds in the oil that may provide the repellent properties. Eugenol and methylchavicol may be responsible for the larvicidal activity.

Little published information can be found about the use of oil from Ocimum and fresh plant materials in the treatment of animals. Therefore, efficacious doses are not known. However, O. basilicum has been used as an expectorant in animals. Also, O. micranthum has been combined with Chenopodium ambrosioides to treat stomach pain and colic in animals. It also has been used as a paste to massage the udder of livestock.

Some Uses in Humans:

  • Alcoholism -- India
  • Aphrodisiac -- India, Philippines
  • Bites (dog, bug, snake) -- China
  • Circulation -- China
  • Collapse, convulsion, and delirium -- India
  • Croup -- Iraq
  • Depression -- Greece
  • Diarrhea -- Honduras, Iraq, Kurdistan, Philippines
  • Diuretic -- Sudan, Turkey
  • Ear ache, deafness -- India, Panama, Philippines, Salvador
  • Fever -- Honduras, India, Mexico
  • Fungicide -- Philippines
  • Halitosis
  • Headache -- Honduras, India, Panama, Salvador
  • Infection, inflammation -- China, Philippines
  • Kidney -- China, India, Turkey
  • Labor, parturition -- China, India
  • Medicine -- Samoa
  • Regular menstrual flow -- Honduras, Philippines, Salvador
  • Nerves -- Honduras, Salvador
  • Repellent -- Tanzania
  • Spasm -- China, Haiti, India, Spain, Turkey
  • Stimulant -- Philippines, Sudan, Turkey
  • Stomach (carminative, pain, cancer, diaphragm tumors, colic) -- Algeria, Cambodia, China, Europe,
  • Haiti, Laos, Philippines, Salvador, Turkey, Venezuela, Vietnam
  • Throat and toothache
  • Wart -- Greece

 

This recipe for a negativity cleansing / protection bath sound good. I have not tried it yet but if you try it let me know c/o the newsletter.

CLEANSING / PROTECTION BATH MIX

Rosemary - 7 parts, Lavender - 7 parts, Basil - 4 1/2 parts, Vervain or Lemon Verbena - 2 parts, Hyssop 1 part, Valerian - 1 part, Sage - 1/2 part, fennel - 1/2 part

To these herbs, add half again as much table salt. When you wish to bathe, after tying up a handful of your mixture in a small muslin bag, cast it into the water chanting such words as you use for your water consecrations, or the following - "He who would govern the works of fire must first bathe with water of the loud resounding sea".

This popular herb has been alternately praised and condemned during the course of herbal medical history. Some ancient herbalists asserted that Basil caused the spontaneous generation of worms, lice and scorpions. Other writers argued that Basil did none of these things, but was good as a condiment and for a variety of medicinal purposes. These opposing viewpoints were argued in herbal medicine through the centuries. The first century A.D. naturalist Pliny, (ancient Roman who compiled a 37 volumes on natural history), Basil helps strengthen horses and donkeys reproduction urges. He also reported that Basil relieves gas and this claim is upheld by modern research.

The Herb Book by John Lust states that "Basil is an antispasmodic (relieves cramps or spasms), appetizer (excites the appetite), carminative (has a mild sedative effect), gaglactagogue (increases the secretion of milk), and stomachic (strengthens, stimulates or tones the stomach). Its usefulness is generally associated with the stomach and its related organs. It can be used for stomach cramps, gastric catarrh, vomiting, intestinal catarrh, constipation and enteritis. As an antispasmodic, it has sometimes been used for whooping cough. Basil has also been recommended for headache."

Many Cooks would find it hard to do without Basil - spicy when fresh, sweeter when dried. It is used in tomato dishes, salads, sauces, veggies and just about all the Italian dishes. Here is a great recipe if you would like to add that "special touch" to dinner.

COLD MARINATED VEGGIES WITH THYME, PARSLEY AND BASIL

3 cups beef or chicken broth

1 cup dry white wine

1 cup vegetable or olive oil

1/4 cup lemon juice

1/4 cup vinegar

1 tablespoon fresh chopped or 2 teaspoon dried Basil

1 tablespoon fresh chopped or 1 teaspoon dried thyme

2 tablespoon fresh chopped or 1 tablespoon dried parsley

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground pepper

Combine all marinade ingredients in a heavy saucepan and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer for 30 min. Strain the marinade into a large bowl or pitcher. Return it to the pan and bring it again to a simmer.

This recipe works well with almost any combination of fresh veggies. Cook veggies in this marinate until crisp-tender(carrots, beans, zucchini) then add any fresh veggies ( celery, cucumber, tomatoes). Drain the veggies, keeping some of the marinate with the veggies, refrigerate overnight.