Basil: Aphrodisiac?

Originating in India, where it was considered a sacred herb, basil (Ocimum basilicum) has spread West across the world. When the Greeks got ahold of it they dubbed it “basileus,” which means “king,” and it has been largely considered the king of herbs ever since. To Italians it is a sign of love, and Haitian legend says it came from the love goddess Erzulie.

Basil
Basil

 Historically, women who worried that their husbands might be straying powdered their breasts with powdered basil. It’s also an occasional ingredient in old love potions.

The rich, minty fragrance of fresh basil is certainly enchanting, though conventional medicine, to my knowledge, has found nothing particularly aphrodisiac about the plant. Practitioners of alternative medicine sometimes use its essential oil to treat the Madonna/whore complex, but that seems to be the extent of it.

Now, I personally find basil to enhance any number of culinary items, from main dishes to caprese salad to the occasional beverage! Even if it’s nothing like a proper aphrodisiac, it has its romantic uses.

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