Indigenous medicinal practices of Ocimum basilicum L. in rural Kashmir

The plant Ocimum basilicum is also called as Sweet basil, Royal herb, King of herbs, Tukh malanga, etc., locally it is called Babr or Babri kul in Kashmiri. This herb is cultivated by different people of different communities for their local use and also for sale purposes. The present study was undertaken by conducting a detailed survey of two districts of Kashmir valley viz., Srinagar and Ganderbal during the year 2018-2019. During the survey in the above mentioned districts, discussions with the various herbal heelers viz., Hakeem’s and Bhoris, it was found that many ailments were found to be treated by Ocimum basilicum. The main ailment categories that are treated include gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, respiratory diseases, skin diseases, renal/urinary disorders, mental problems, muscular/skeletal disorders, eye diseases, oral infections, worm infections, and gynecological disorders, ENT, fever, snake and insect bites, cancer and others. It was found that 46% of the seeds followed by 26% of leaves, 19% of whole plant, 3% of flowers, and 2% of stem and roots are used for treatment of different diseases under traditional systems of medicine. Modes of utilization or preparations were entire seed, powder, decoction, juice, paste, tea and extract. Most commonly used preparation were seed soaked in water followed by powder decoction, paste, tea and extract. Seed soaked in water was found to be most common mode of utilization. Majority of the gastrointestinal diseases (22%) followed by skin diseases (17%), respiratory diseases (12%), mental and cardiovascular diseases (10%), urinary/renal (8%), eye diseases, oral infections and ENT (7%), muscular/skeletal, gynecological and worm infections (5%), Snake and insect bites (3%) and others (1%) were treated by using different parts of Ocimum basilicum after proper processing and at prescribed treatment procedure by the concerned Hakeems and Bhoris.