This fragrant member of the mint family has an alluring aroma; so alluring, in fact, it can reduce headaches. All kinds of headaches! Basil has a warming effect on the body and promotes circulation. In some parts of Italy, basil is a love-token.
Basil boasts some incredible nutritional values including:
- Reduce inflammation and swelling – a study presented at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s annual event, revealed that “extracts of O. tenuiflorm (Holy basil) were shown to reduce swelling by up to 73%, 24 hours after treatment”.
- Anti-aging properties – according to research presented at the British Pharmaceutical Conference (BPC) in Manchester, basil has properties that can help prevent the harmful effects of aging. Holy basil extract was effective at killing off harmful molecules and preventing damage caused by some free radicals in the liver, brain and heart.
- Rich in antioxidants – results of a study published in the Journal of Advanced Pharmacy Education & Research showed that ethanol extract Ocimum basilicum had more antioxidant activity than standard antioxidants.