Herbs Store

Basil

Basil’s leaves are harvested and crushed for use fresh or dried. It contains estragole (70% to 85% of essential oil) as a major component and smaller amounts of safrole. Estragole may possess mutagenic effects if taken internally in massive quantities. It’s available as an oil and a spice.

Benefits And Uses of Basil

Basil is used as an antiseptic, antimicrobial, diuretic, insect repellent, and antihypertensive. It’s also used to stimulate digestion and treat halitosis, as a cure for warts, and as an appetite stimulant. Basil is a key seasoning in many foods.

Administration

• As insect repellent: Oil rubbed on exposed areas before going outdoors.

Side Effects of Basil

Adverse effects associated with basil include dizziness, confusion, headache, trembling, palpitations, hepatocarcinoma, hypoglycemia, and diaphoresis.

Basil may cause hypotension when used in conjunction with antihypertensives, and hypoglycemia when used along with insulin or oral antidiabetics. Patients should use caution to avoid additive effects.

Pregnant or breast-feeding women, infants, and young children should avoid use.

Clinical considerations

• Estragole and safrole are procarcinogens with weak carcinogenic effects in the liver. Although the risk of developing cancer from use of basil is minimal, long term or high-dose therapy isn’t recommended.
• If patient is taking an antihypertensive, inform him that basil may also lower blood pressure, causing an additive effect. If he’s taking both and his blood pressure stabilizes, the dosage of the conventional antihypertensive may need to be adjusted when he stops taking basil.
• Taking medicinal doses of basil may disrupt a previously stable antidiabetic regimen.
• Monitor patient for signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia, such as dizziness, weakness, sweating, tachycardia, headache, confusion, and trembling.
• Advise patient that the herb isn’t recommended for use in large quantities because it may cause cancer; however, the amounts used in cooking appear to be safe.
• Advise female patient who is pregnant or breast-feeding to avoid medicinal use of basil.
• Use in infants and children isn’t recommended.
• Tell patient to remind prescriber and pharmacist of any herbal or dietary supplement that he’s taking when obtaining a new prescription.
• Advise patient to consult his health care provider before using an herbal preparation because a treatment with proven efficacy may be available.

Research summary

Few human studies have examined the effectiveness of basil for medicinal purposes. In vitro, basil is antimicrobial.

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