The basil tea is made from leaves of the herb Ocimum basilicum , which also is known as basil and is native to tropical Asia, where it is cultivated for thousands of years because of its healing properties. Today this herb is cultivated in many places, as its properties continue to be exploited.
Basil tea is used to relieve nerves, fight the flu, improve digestion, treat memory-related problems, relieve headaches, reduce fever, and combat fatigue. It is worth mentioning that despite not suffering from any of the aforementioned ailments, it is advisable to ingest basil tea, since it has properties that help strengthen the immune system and therefore help prevent diseases.
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Basil tea benefits
As a result of all the healing properties that the herb basil possesses, great benefits can be obtained when preparing it in tea, among which the following stand out:
Improve memory
By drinking basil tea daily, better brain oxygenation can be achieved, since its properties help to improve blood circulation, which is why it helps neurons work better and therefore, a healthier memory is obtained. Also, due to the benefits mentioned above, this tea is recommended for people suffering from Alzheimer’s.
Helps control nerves, stress and insomnia
Basil tea has natural sedatives so it is ideal to take it during situations of stress, nerves, anxiety or insomnia. It is worth mentioning that its effects can only be noticed, if the amount of stress is not so high, since its sedative effects are in very low amount.
Fight the flu
This powerful tea attacks the flu that is accompanied by phlegm, helping to eliminate all the mucus that is attached to the bronchial walls, also acting as an expectorant.
Increase kidney function
Basil tea activates the function of the kidneys by increasing urination, it is also responsible for destroying the possible stones that the affected person may have by eliminating them through the urine, it is important to mention that its consumption should be accompanied with plenty of water to increase the urination.
Relieves headache
Since basil has sedative properties, it can ease a headache in no time, plus it will help you feel more relaxed, not to mention stress-busting, as mentioned above.
Strengthens the immune system
One of the things that stands out most about basil tea is its ability to generate antibodies that increase human defenses, which helps prevent low-risk diseases, such as the flu, cough, among other things.
Improves digestion
It fights the inflammation caused in the abdomen by poor digestion and therefore helps to eliminate flatulence, also relieves pain caused by gastritis and ulcers, therefore its moderate consumption will bring excellent results for this type of conditions.
Fight fatigue
By helping blood circulation by keeping the brain oxygenated, this herb is able to combat both physical and mental fatigue, making the person feel more active and less exhausted.
Removes impurities from the skin
Due to its ability to control bacteria, this tea helps remove impurities from the skin, such as: blackheads, pimples and small blemishes. It is worth mentioning that its effects in this aspect are considerably reduced, because these effects are more noticeable when applied directly to the skin by means of creams that are made with basil leaves.
Basil tea properties
Basil has essential oils such as cineole, estragole and eugenol, it also contains tannins, flavonoids and antioxidants. Also, this herb has great healing properties that promote the health of people such as:
- Antispasmodic.
- Antibacterial.
- Sedative.
- Anticoagulant.
- Anti-inflammatory.
- Stimulating
- Aphrodisiac.
- Healing.
How to prepare basil tea? The most common recipe to exploit its properties
There are many ways to prepare basil tea , however, if what you are looking for is to obtain all its properties, the following steps should be followed:
- Place 30 grams of basil in a container (it is recommended that they be fresh leaves, to take full advantage of the properties).
- Pour boiling water into the container where the leaves are.
- Let steep for 5 minutes or more, in case a stronger and less hot tea is preferred.
- Remove the leaves or strain it (it all depends on whether the consumer wants traces of the leaves or prefers it to be a totally clean tea).
- Use a natural sweetener, in case you want to obtain a more pleasant flavor.
Once all these steps have been carried out, you can enjoy the tea in peace.
How to drink basil tea to exploit its properties?
You can ingest this infusion in times of stress if you want to rest and regulate the anxiety caused by stress. In case you want to sleep better, you should drink the tea before going to bed and if you want to treat digestive problems, it is best to consume it after breakfast, lunch and dinner.
It should be borne in mind that you should not take more than three cups a day, because you would be exceeding the recommended amount.
Contraindications of drinking basil tea
Despite its great benefits, basil cannot be consumed in excess, since it can cause allergies, poisoning, dizziness, vomiting or diarrhea, in addition, special care must be taken in its consumption because it has anticoagulant properties.
It should not be consumed by children under 5 years of age and it is recommended that pregnant women also do not ingest it, unless it is under the control of a doctor; on the other hand, women who are breastfeeding should not ingest this tea either.
It should also be borne in mind that due to its sedative properties this infusion can generate sleep after consumption, therefore, it is advisable to avoid taking it during working hours to prevent accidents.
Basil tea provides many benefits to its consumer , however, its consumption must be regulated, because excessive consumption can generate the aforementioned symptoms. If you notice irregularities after drinking this tea, it is best to leave it and if you continue to notice irregularities, you should attend the doctor as soon as possible, to rule out any abnormality.
Is basil tea really worth drinking?
The consumption of basil tea can be beneficial as long as it is done frequently and in a controlled way, because as mentioned above, excessive consumption of this tea can cause side effects. Finally, it should be borne in mind that this tea and no other, can replace current medicine and in case of suffering a serious illness, it is best to ask a trusted doctor about the negative and positive effects that tea can produce, all this in order to improve the disease and not make it worse.
Dr. Samantha Robson ( CRN: 0510146-5) is a nutritionist and website content reviewer related to her area of expertise. With a postgraduate degree in Nutrition from The University of Arizona, she is a specialist in Sports Nutrition from Oxford University and is also a member of the International Society of Sports Nutrition.