Common Name: Musk Basil

General Information

Musk basil is an aromatic, erect, much branched, annual to short-lived perennial herb that grows 40 - 100cm tall[].
The plant is gathered from the wild, mainly for local medicinal use[].

Known Hazards

Some people lack tolerance for the internal use of this plant, and develop sores in the mouth[].

Botanical References

Range

Tropical and south Africa, through the Indian Ocean, tropical and subtropical Asia to Australia.

Habitat

Found as a weed in open waste places, usually in humid soils, such as fallow rice fields, along streams and swampy grasslands[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Annual/Perennial
Height	0.70 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the lowland tropics, where it is usually found at elevations below 600 metres[]. The plant grows best in areas with a distinct dry season[].

Once established, the seedlings grow rapidly[]. They start branching when they have reached a height of about 40cm[].
A shallow rooted plant[].
Plants can be in flower all year round[].

Edible Uses

The leaves are used to flavour food[].

Medicinal

Musk basil leaves are used internally as a tea, and externally in decoction as a lotion. Caution is advised in using this plant since some people lack tolerance for internal use, and develop sores in the mouth[].
The crushed leaves are used as a sedative, and to relieve painful sprains and limbs[]. Decoctions are used for epilepsy, palpitations of the heart, neuralgia, nervous headaches, nervousness after childbirth, rheumatism and convulsions[].

The fresh roots are chewed against cough, or cooked with food to reduce flatulence[].

An infusion of the fruit is taken for parturition in the case of delayed birth[].

The leaf-sap is squeezed into the nostrils of children to cause sneezing, in order to cure headache[].

Other Uses

The plant is burnt indoors as a mosquito and snake repellent[].

The leaves and flowers yield a pale yellow viscous essential oil, of which the main components are: methyl-eugenol (39%), methyl-isoeugenol (8%), limonene (7%), 1,8-cineole (eucalyptol, 5%), 'BETA'-elemene (5%), 'BETA'-caryophyllene (5%), 'BETA'-selinene (4%), citronellal (3.5%), geranyl acetate (2.9%), 'ALFA'-humulene (2.4%), isobornyl acetate (2%) and 'DELTA'-cadinene (2%)[]. Eugenol is toxic in large amounts and can cause contact dermatitis[].

Propagation

Seed -

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