Basil
Whether dealing with a chronic lung condition or acute cold symptoms, basil can help cut through mucus and relieve congestion. It contains cinnamic acid which helps you breathe freely by enhancing circulation, breaking up and removing phlegm from your bronchial tubes.
Basil is a good antibacterial herb with anti-inflammatory properties. Like most members of the mint family, basil induces sweating, pushing pathogens out of the body.
Always choose fresh basil over dried where possible, as the dried herb quickly loses its flavor!
Properties
Taste: pungent, bitter
Natural Attributes: light, dry, sharp, mobile
Tissue impact (Vipak): pungent (reducing)
Thermal impact (Virya): warming
Dosha impact: Increases Pitta, decreases Kapha and Vata
Digestive impact (Agni): easy to digest, increases digestive fire
Channels (Srotas): opens
Feces: movesÂ
Urine: diuretic
Strength (Bala):Â Â clears congestion and obstruction
Mind (Manas): Sattva
Effect: expectorant, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, diaphoretic, nervine, appetizer, carminative, antispasmodic, digestive, spleen tonic, hypertensive, bronchodilator, decongestant, galactagogueÂ
Chinese medicine syndromes: eliminates wind and cold, disperses cold moisture, treats Spleen Qi Deficiency accompanied by phlegm in the lungs.
Medicinal propertiesÂ
- Nourishment (rasa): Â weight loss, diabetes, headache caused by cold wind.
- Blood-circulation-liver: heart, blood conditions, stabilize blood sugar, reduces cholesterol
- Bones-joints-tendon-ligaments: rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, inflammatory conditions
- Nervous system: neuropathy
- Immunity: prevention of the flu for kids
- Mental: sharpens memory
- Skin: skin diseases, leprosy,Â
- Kidney-Bladder: dysuria, tonify the kidneys,
- Respiratory system: pain in flanks, chronic lung conditions, acute cold, congestion, phlegm in bronchial tubes, asthma, inflammatory conditions, hiccups
- Digestive system:bloatedness, stomach ache, diarrhea caused by cold, strengthens digestive powers
Harmful: burning sensation, thirst