Basil has been used in ancient Egypt mixed with myrrh and incense for embalming. In Greece, it is a perfume in baths and during massage. In India, its meaning covers protection of the soul of human.
==Special Precautions of Basil==
* Basil is safe in food amounts, and it seems to be safe in medicinal amounts when used by adults short-term. In some people basil can cause low blood sugar.* Basil might be UNSAFE when used long-term. It contains estragole, a chemical that might increase the risk of getting liver cancer.* Don't use basil oil. It is UNSAFE due to the estragole content.*Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Basil seems to be safe for pregnant and breast-feeding women in food amounts. But larger medicinal amounts might be UNSAFE. Basil contains a chemical, estragole, which has caused livercancer in laboratory mice.* Children: Basil seems to be safe for children in food amounts. But larger medicinal amounts might be UNSAFE. Basil contains a chemical, estragole, which has caused liver cancer in laboratory mice.* There are indications that if basil is being overused, it has an opposite effect of causing depression. So use basil with caution.
==The benefits of Basil are==