Hi, my loves and welcome to WiccaNow. Recently I’ve been sharing guides to all my favourite magickal herbs and plants, like this post all about the magickal properties of hibiscus. I’ve also shared a post about lemons, another about patchouli, a post all about yarrow and most recently a guide to the magickal properties of sunflowers. Today I want to continue with this by sharing a guide to one of my favourite herbs, today’s guide is all about the magickal properties of basil.
Basil is an ancient healing herb used for centuries in Ayuverdic medicine to treat everything from snakebites to inflammation. Originally from Asia, basil is now found in various cultivars all over the world. The magickal properties of Basil include luck, prosperity, abundance, protection and harmony among many others.
Disclaimer: Any medicinal benefits given here are a product of my own research and as such should not be taken over the advice of trained medical professionals. If you are ill, please go and see a doctor. Always make sure that anything you consume is 100% safe. If you are pregnant, consult your doctor or midwife before consuming something you haven’t tried before.
History of Basil
Basil, also known as Ocimum Basilicum, is a member of the wide-reaching Lamiaceae family. The Lamiaceae family also contains mint, sage, rosemary and lavender.
Basil is thought to have originated in India and it’s been cultivated for over 5,000 years during which time it’s spread to all corners of the earth. Its exact origins are a little unclear as there is some evidence, in the form of ancient records from 807AD, which suggest that it might have originated in the Hunan region of China rather than in India.
From India, basil was carried to the Middle East where the Ancient Egyptians used it as part of their mummification process (maybe due to its strong anti-fungal effects). Traces of it have been found in plenty of ancient Egyptian mummies. Due to its use in burials, it became known as a mourning herb.
By 350BC it had made it’s way to Greece and Italy via spice trading routes from where it spread all over Europe. It quickly became a common culinary, medicinal and religious herb.
Interestingly, during medieval times, people assumed that basil was poisonous. This was due to the fact that basil and rue don’t like to grow next to each other, and as rue was considered to be an antidote to many poisons, basil was thought to be toxic.
In the 1500s, some “physicians” thought that scorpions would grow in your brain if you smelled basil. This is due to one English gentleman in Italy who wrote that leaving a basil leaf in a damp place ensured that a scorpion would appear there 2 days later. There are even anecdotal references by other physicians to patients dying from scorpion infestations due to smelling basil too often. Obviously this wasn’t something that actually happened.
Basils journey through Europe brought it to England by the 1600s, and from there it was brought to the Americas. Today there are over 150 different cultivars of basil and it’s found all over the world.
Fun Facts about Basil
- Basil was a disliked plant in Ancient Greece, where it represented hate and was thought to be a symbol of Satan.
- There is a form of basil which is revered in Hinduism. This basil is called “holy basil” or “tulsi”.
- The French sometimes refer to basil as L’herbe royale or “royal herb”.
- Jewish folklore suggests that consuming basil (presumably an infusion of basil in water) while fasting will make you feel stronger.
- In the Greek Orthodox Church, basil leaves are used to sprinkle holy water. There are a lot of Eastern European Orthodox Churches who do the same thing, and basil is often placed on, next to or below the church altar.
- In Europe, placing basil leaves in the hands of a deceased person is meant to ensure safe passage into the next life. In India placing a basil lead into the mouth of someone who is dying ensures that they make their way to god.
- Ancient Egyptians and Ancient Greeks thought that basil would ensure that the heavenly gates remained open for recently deceased souls. Funny since other ancient Greeks believed that Basil represented Satan.
- There are quite a few varieties of basil seeds which will absorb quite a bit of water and become gelatinous. These seeds are often used in Asian drinks and desserts.
- Basil is a traditional herb used in traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine.
- Basil was once used to see if a woman was “pure” or not. She was given basil and if it withered in her hands she was considered “impure”.
- The name “Ocimum” comes from Greek mythology where a warrior named Ocimus was killed by a gladiator. Where he died, basil sprung up. It’s also equally possible…
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