August 14, 2020 · By Monisha Dajee

THE KING OF HERBS

As mentioned in my past couple of posts, this week I have been exploring the power of the Basil plant. Aside from using the seeds, it has not really been a fundamental part of my wellbeing until recently. By taking the time to study this botanic, I have truly grown to appreciate its gifts. Today I wanted to share a few of the holistic and healing powers that can be obtained from the leaves of this well-rounded herb.

Basil is a diverse herb and a popular remedy for various ailments in different cultures. Like the flower and seeds, it has been known to help countless conditions for thousands of years. This well-rounded herb is widely utilised Ayurvedic medicine and other holistic medicine systems for its numerous healing powers.

This emerald-green herb is known to aid in matters of luck, money, purification, banishment, love and a number of other magical uses.

In India, both Basil and Holy Basil are used for their medicinal properties. They are also considered sacred herbs and have spiritual connotations to Vishnu and Krishna. It is commonly kept in the home or grown in the garden to protect against forces of Evil.

I wanted a way to preserve and utilise this miracle herb for future use in a quick and convenient way. Most people say ‘Just make a pesto’...well I dislike pesto, so no. I decided to make a basil infused pink himalyan salt as it was something I can easily and readily use on a regular basis.

I simply pulverised some fresh basil leaves with pink salt in my pestle and mortar and let it dry in the sun. I have never made an infused herbal salt before, but the result exceeded my expectations. The perfect seasoning to sprinkle over my nearly ripened tomatoes.

In my culture and household, your spice cabinet is essentially your medicine cabinet. This Basil salt will definitely be a permanent fixture amongst my little bottle and jars of earthly magick.

Moni Dajee, founder of The London Alchemists - artist, creator, explorer, beekeeper and avid practitioner of natural alchemy.

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