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AYURVEDIC FOODS

BASIL

Health Benefits & Uses

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How Can This Ayurvedic Food Make You Feel Great?

AYURVEDIC ANALYSIS

Basil's warm and spicy aroma adds a passionate flare to any dish, bringing the heat of the Mediterranean sun to your table. Its bright green color and vigorous flavor is unmistakable in pesto. It adds verve to a home-made tomato sauce, and is a perky addition to any summertime salad.

Powerful Herbs in Your Spice Cabinet

Don't overlook the medicinal power of your spice cabinet! Like many common spices, Basil is a powerful healing herb. Each and every spice has unique healing properties. For this reason, in Ayurveda your spice cabinet is your medicine cabinet. Basil is the spice equivalent of a popular Ayurvedic herb called tulsi, but is a powerful herb in its own right.

Reduce Congestion & Breathe Freely

Whether dealing with a chronic lung condition or acute cold symptoms, basil can help cut through mucus and relieve congestion. It contains cinnamanic acid, which helps you breathe freely by enhancing circulation, breaking up and removing phlegm from your bronchial tubes.

Immune Boost

Basil is a good anti-bacterial herb with anti-inflammatory properties and a walloping punch of vitamin C. So, make a nice cup of basil tea when you feel a cold coming on! Alternatively, make a lemongrass soup heavily garnished with basil. By flushing the surface of your skin, sinuses, and lungs with blood that is rich with immune fighting cells, Basil can help you sweat out the bug! Like most members of the mint family, basil induces profuse sweating because of its aromatic qualities. In this case basil is also pungent and warming.

This concept of "sweating it out," is called releasing the exterior in chinese medicine. When your body realizes it's been exposed to a pathogen, your wei-qi, the part of your immune system responsible for defending your body through circulation and your skin, clamps down and closes your pores. Have you ever noticed that right before you get "really" sick, you get a neck ache, body aches, and a tight, cold chill throughout your body? You are feeling your wei-qi closing your pores and tightening up all the muscles in order to keep out "wind" pathogens.

In order to push the pathogen back out the way it came, Chinese Medicine, like Ayurveda, prescribes diaphoretic herbs to induce therapeutic sweating. As these herbs (like basil and ginger) begin to work, wei-qi relaxes and opens pores back up, you start to sweat, and your neck relaxes.

Use in Diabetes

The benefits of basil point strongly to one disease- diabetes. Basil has been shown to stabilize blood sugar, tonify the kidneys, reduces cholesterol, and aid in weight loss through it's diaphoretic action. Like all members of the mint family, basil is an effective nervine, so has a positive effect on neuropathy. It also sharpens your memory.

Basil for Heart Health

Basil is an excellent source of beta-carotene, a powerful anti-oxidant. Beta-carotene protects the cells that line your blood vessels from free radical damage. It also helps prevent free radicals from oxidizing cholesterol in the blood stream. Cholesterol only builds-up on your blood vessel walls to cause atherosclerosis after its been oxidized. So, incorporating lots of anti-oxidants into your diet can protect you from a heart attack or stroke, extreme end results of severe atherosclerosis. A cup of basil tea daily is excellent for heart health both by tonifying your heart and reducing cholesterol.

Basil is high in magnesium, the mineral responsible for relaxing muscles in your body, including your heart muscle. When your heart is relaxed, blood flow remains smooth and even to your heart, reducing the risk of irregular heart rhythms and stress induced high blood pressure. Basil also contains Omega 3 fatty acids, whose anti-inflammatory properties protect your heart.

Calms Inflammation for Pain Relief & Deep Healing

Basil offers relief from painful inflammation. A chemical in basil's volatile oil called eugenol has been shown to block activity of the same enzyme (cyclooxygenase) that aspirin and ibuprofen block in order to reduce painful inflammation. Basil also contains anti-inflammatory omega 3 fatty acids, while providing strong anti-oxidants in the form of beta-carotene.

Anti-oxidants, as mentioned in depth above, neutralize free radicals which are a contributing factor in disorders of chronic inflammation such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and asthma. A few fresh leaves of basil every day may help manage these disorders and other inflammatory conditions.

BUYING & PREPARATION

Always choose fresh basil over dried where possible, as the dried herb quickly loses its flavor! Choose vibrant, deep green leaves free from dark spots or yellowing. It should look freshly picked. That said, it is nice to keep in your spice cabinet to sprinkle on chicken, beef, or give Italian flare to veggies. Choose organic if possible- irradiating basil greatly diminishes its levels of vitamin C and caratenoids.

Store fresh basil in the refrigerator wrapped in a slightly damp paper towel. Or simply place your bunch in a wide mouthed glass with an inch or two of water in the bottom. Basil comes in many varieties, such as Italian sweet basil. Purple basil, used in Asian countries, is more bitter. Other varieties include lemon basil, and the famous Ayurvedic herb Tulsi, also called Holy Basil.

COOKING BASIL

Browse Recipes Since the oils in basil are highly volatile, it is best to add the herb at the very end of cooking as a garnish. Basil loses it's flavor quickly when exposed to heat.

Basil is most famous as an ingredient in tomato sauce and classic pesto. It is nearly synonymous with Italian cooking. Basil's appeal reaches beyond the Mediterranean. Across the world it plays a prominent role in thai coconut curries and Vietnamese noodle soups. At home, try chopping fresh basil and sprinkling it on chicken.

You might not think of Basil as a dessert spice, yet it appears as a classy garnish atop exotic desserts like strawberry & balsamic ice cream, on a creme-brulee, or atop your favorite key lime pie. Basil can be a tasty bitter accent in sweet watermelon smoothies.

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WHY EAT AN AYURVEDIC DIET?

Eating Ayurvedically makes you feel nourished and energized. An Ayurvedic diet is tailored to your individual body type and the specific imbalances you are working with at any given time. Ayurveda shows you your specific body type’s needs and what should be favored in your Ayurvedic menu. Watch as you eat less but feel more satisfied because what you are eating truly nourishes you. Since Ayurveda believes all disease begins in the digestive tract, food is your first medicine. By eating a healthy diet that’s ideal for your body, you experience optimal health.

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When I Eat Basil:

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I FEEL BETTER I FEEL WORSE I FEEL THE SAME

Find foods that help me.

Is Basil Good for My Ayurvedic Diet?

Find out by taking this free, easy quiz. You'll learn your body type, and whether Basil is a good fit for your body type. Time to complete: approximately 1 minute.

SERVING SIZE: 1 tbsp

SPECIES: Ocimum basilicum

FAMILY: Lamiaceae

EAT IN: SPRING

AYURVEDIC MEDICINAL BIOCHARACTERISTICS

What is the biocharacteristic theory of medicine?

INCREASES

Increases These Biocharacteristics (Gunas)

Functional Ayurveda helps you assess imbalances through 20 main biocharacteristics (gunas). Aggravating these characteristics weakens your body and causes imbalance. By knowing which characteristics are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct imbalances before you get sick. Every characteristic has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold). You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite characteristic.

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CLEAR

ABOUT CLEAR BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Clear refers to anything that cleanses or flushes out wastes, or that digests ama.

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LIQUEFIED

ABOUT LIQUEFIED BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Substances that thin fluids (lower viscosity of blood plasma). These may include blood thinners or mucolytic herbs.

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MOBILE

ABOUT MOBILE BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Mobile refers to anything that stimulates the nervous system, muscles, or activity.

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DRY

ABOUT DRY BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Dry is identified by lack of moisture, lack of fat, or anything that causes diuresis.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DRY

EASY

ABOUT EASY BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Easy refers to anything easy to digest, or digests quickly.

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HOT

ABOUT HOT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Hot is identified by increased body temperature, metabolism, or inflammation.

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LIGHT

ABOUT LIGHT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Lightness is identified by reduced weight.

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TASTES

The 6 Tastes

Taste is used to sense the most basic properties and effects of food. Each taste has a specific medicinal effect on your body. Cravings for food with certain tastes indicate your body is craving specific medicinal results from food. Taste is experienced on the tongue and represents your body's reaction to foods. Sweet taste causes physical satisfaction and attraction whereas bitter taste causes discomfort and aversion. Kapha should use less sweet taste while Vata and Pitta would benefit from using more sweet taste. One of the first signs of illness is that your taste and appetite for food changes. The six tastes are sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent. Do you crave foods with any of the tastes below?

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BITTER

ABOUT BITTER BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Bitter is disagreeable and stimulating rejection, and a strong taste often associated with black coffee, dark chocolate, and most salad greens.

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PUNGENT

ABOUT PUNGENT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Pungency is characterized by irritation, or sharp, spicy foods that irritate the mouth such as black pepper.

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DOSHAS

The Three Doshas / Body Types

According to the biocharacteristic theory of medicine, people tend to get sick, over and over again, due to habitual causes and imbalances that are unique to the person. Your body type summarizes this tendency, showing you the 'type' of conditions and imbalances that frequently challenge your health & wellness. Using body type, you can also identify remedies likely to improve your strength and resiliency. Your body type identifies physical and mental characteristics as well as your personal strengths and weaknesses. The calculation of your body type is based on your medical history.

The 3 functional body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha). Catabolic individuals tend to break down body mass into energy. Metabolic individuals tend to burn or use energy. Anabolic individuals tend to store energy as body mass. Catabolic people tend to be easily stimulated, hyperactive, underweight and dry. Metabolic people tend to be rosy-cheeked, easily irritated, focused, driven, and easily inflamed. Anabolic people are heavy, stable and grounded, but if they store too much energy, they could gain weight easily and have congestion.

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PACIFIES	AGGRAVATES

HAS THE FOLLOWING

Subtaste:

Aromatic

AROMATIC

Herbs or spices with volatile essential oils that present strong aromas. Aromatic oils shock, refresh and numb tissue, with the end result of relaxing, opening and clearing stagnant fluids in tissues.

SEE ALL 'AROMATIC' FOODS / HERBS

Moves Energy:

Outward

OUTWARD

Outward-moving substances stimulate circulation, push heat towards the skin, or are stimulating.

SEE ALL 'OUTWARD' FOODS / HERBS

Upward

UPWARD

Upward-moving substances (Urdvha Gati Marga) include anything stimulating or activating, or that move upward in the body.

SEE ALL 'UPWARD' FOODS / HERBS

Tissue (dhatu):

Nerves

NERVES

Marrow tissue (Majja Dhatu) includes bone marrow and nervous tissue.

SEE ALL 'NERVES' FOODS / HERBS

Affinity:
Respiratory Health
Family:
Lamiaceae

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES

Experiences are Personal

Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary. The list of herbal-actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.

Here are the herbal actions of Basil:

Digestion:

Appetizer

APPETIZER

Herbs that cleanse the palate & stimulate hunger or desire to eat.

SEE ALL 'APPETIZER' FOODS / HERBS

Carminative

CARMINATIVE

Stimulates the release of gas. Helpful for bloating or cramping abdominal pain. Propels food downward. Carminatives typically expel gas by relaxing the muscles of the intestines.

SEE ALL 'CARMINATIVE' FOODS / HERBS

Digestive

DIGESTIVE

Herbs that encourage healthy digestion.

SEE ALL 'DIGESTIVE' FOODS / HERBS

Spleen Tonic

SPLEEN-TONIC

An herb that strengthens spleen function by improving strength of the blood. Spleen tonics Builds agni, brighten the person's appearances & firms up tissues.

SEE ALL 'SPLEEN-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

Cleanse & Detox:

Burns Toxins

BURNS-TOXINS

An herb that detoxifies by helping your body metabolize toxins, as opposed to eliminating them.

SEE ALL 'BURNS-TOXINS' FOODS / HERBS

Detoxicant

DETOXICANT

An herb that decongests, dislodges or improves metabolization of toxins from the body, transforming or altering fluids to a more healthy state.

SEE ALL 'DETOXICANT' FOODS / HERBS

Mind, Stress & Sleep:

Nervine

NERVINE

Herbs that specifically go to the nervous system and brain. They can help with stress, memory, early alzheimer's, even chronic pain.

SEE ALL 'NERVINE' FOODS / HERBS

Skin Care & Beauty:

Diaphoretic

DIAPHORETIC

An herb that induces sweating, often by dilating blood vessels close to the skin.

SEE ALL 'DIAPHORETIC' FOODS / HERBS

Respiratory-Health:

Bronchodilator

STRONG BRONCHODILATOR

An herb that encourages the widening or opening of the lung airways. They are helpful in wheezing and asthma.

SEE ALL 'BRONCHODILATOR' FOODS / HERBS

Decongestant

DECONGESTANT

An herb that reduces mucus production often by restricting blood flow to mucus membranes.

SEE ALL 'DECONGESTANT' FOODS / HERBS

Lung Tonic

LUNG-TONIC

Strengthens the lungs. Lung tonics include antifibrotic, vessel tonic, or nourishing herbs with an affinity for the lungs. They aid recovery in acute or chronic lung conditions.

SEE ALL 'LUNG-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

Immune System:

Anti Inflammatory

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY

Reduces inflammation in the body. Different herbs and carriers target different body systems.

SEE ALL 'ANTI-INFLAMMATORY' FOODS / HERBS

Antibacterial

ANTIBACTERIAL

Herbs that kill bacteria or slow their growth.

SEE ALL 'ANTIBACTERIAL' FOODS / HERBS

Immune Calming

IMMUNE-CALMING

Herbs that interrupt an allergic reaction or calm the immune system, useful in allergies and autoimmune conditions.

SEE ALL 'IMMUNE-CALMING' FOODS / HERBS

Immune Stimulant

IMMUNE-STIMULANT

Stimulates and strengthens the immune system. Helpful when fighting off a cold or flu.

SEE ALL 'IMMUNE-STIMULANT' FOODS / HERBS

Heart & Circulation:

Warms Ears

WARMS-EARS

Stimulates peripheral circulation to warm extremities, including the ears.

SEE ALL 'WARMS-EARS' FOODS / HERBS

Warms Head

WARMS-HEAD

An herb that increases sensations of heat and warmth in the head.

SEE ALL 'WARMS-HEAD' FOODS / HERBS

Cardiac Stimulant

CARDIAC-STIMULANT

Herbs that increase the heart rate. Useful in cardiovascular health, blood stagnation, and subjective feeling of heaviness in the chest area.

SEE ALL 'CARDIAC-STIMULANT' FOODS / HERBS

Hypertensive

HYPERTENSIVE

An herb that increases blood pressure.

SEE ALL 'HYPERTENSIVE' FOODS / HERBS

Kidney & Urinary:

Diuretic

DIURETIC

Herbs that promote urine formation, thereby flushing the kidneys and urinary tract while eliminating any excess water retention. As diuretics reduce water retention, they are often used to reduce blood pressure.

SEE ALL 'DIURETIC' FOODS / HERBS

Reproductive Health:

Galactagogue

GALACTAGOGUE

Increases production of breast milk, often by raising prolactin and diaphoresis.

SEE ALL 'GALACTAGOGUE' FOODS / HERBS

Strength, Muscle Health:

Antispasmodic

ANTISPASMODIC

Herbs that reduce or inhibit muscle spasms or cramping, such as in asthma, menstruation, hear palpitations, migraine, or IBS.

SEE ALL 'ANTISPASMODIC' FOODS / HERBS

Constituents:

Beta Carotene, Rosmarinic Acid

Joyful Belly is a recognized school of biocharacteristics medicine.

Compare Basil with these Foods

Compare the following foods with Basil:

Fennel Seeds

Fennel Seeds has these Actions in Common

Appetizer, Carminative, Digestive, Immune-calming, Burns-toxins, Decongestant, Diuretic, Lung-tonic, Antispasmodic, Cardiac-stimulant, Detoxicant, Galactagogue, Spleen-tonic

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Mustard Seed

Mustard Seed has these Actions in Common

Bronchodilator, Carminative, Diaphoretic, Spleen-tonic, Burns-toxins, Decongestant, Digestive, Warms-ears, Antispasmodic, Cardiac-stimulant, Detoxicant, Diuretic, Warms-head

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Cardamom

Cardamom has these Actions in Common

Bronchodilator, Decongestant, Digestive, Spleen-tonic, Antispasmodic, Burns-toxins, Detoxicant, Diuretic, Appetizer, Carminative, Diaphoretic, Lung-tonic

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Thyme (fresh)

Thyme (fresh) has these Actions in Common

Burns-toxins, Diaphoretic, Lung-tonic, Appetizer, Decongestant, Digestive, Spleen-tonic, Antibacterial, Bronchodilator, Detoxicant, Immune-calming, Antispasmodic

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Ginger (Fresh)

Ginger (Fresh) has these Actions in Common

Decongestant, Galactagogue, Antispasmodic, Cardiac-stimulant, Detoxicant, Lung-tonic, Appetizer, Carminative, Digestive, Spleen-tonic, Anti-inflammatory, Burns-toxins

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Rosemary

Rosemary has these Actions in Common

Bronchodilator, Decongestant, Digestive, Nervine, Burns-toxins, Detoxicant, Hypertensive, Spleen-tonic, Antispasmodic, Cardiac-stimulant, Diaphoretic, Immune-calming

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Allspice

Allspice has these Actions in Common

Antispasmodic, Cardiac-stimulant, Detoxicant, Warms-head, Anti-inflammatory, Appetizer, Carminative, Digestive, Antibacterial, Burns-toxins, Decongestant, Spleen-tonic

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Dill

Dill has these Actions in Common

Diaphoretic, Galactagogue, Antispasmodic, Carminative, Digestive, Nervine, Appetizer, Detoxicant, Diuretic, Spleen-tonic, Burns-toxins

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Sage

Sage has these Actions in Common

Bronchodilator, Detoxicant, Hypertensive, Spleen-tonic, Burns-toxins, Diaphoretic, Immune-calming, Appetizer, Decongestant, Digestive, Immune-stimulant

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Daikon Radish

Daikon Radish has these Actions in Common

Anti-inflammatory, Decongestant, Diuretic, Spleen-tonic, Bronchodilator, Diaphoretic, Immune-stimulant, Warms-head, Cardiac-stimulant, Digestive, Lung-tonic

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Compare Basil with these Herb Supplements

Compare the following herb supplements with Basil:

Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi)

Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi) has these Actions in Common

Decongestant, Warms-head, Detoxicant, Anti-inflammatory, Diaphoretic, Antibacterial, Diuretic, Antispasmodic, Immune-calming, Appetizer, Lung-tonic, Bronchodilator, Nervine, Cardiac-stimulant, Warms-ears

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Deodar (Himalayan Cedar, Devadaru)

Deodar (Himalayan Cedar, Devadaru) has these Actions in Common

Digestive, Immune-calming, Anti-inflammatory, Nervine, Antispasmodic, Warms-ears, Bronchodilator, Warms-head, Cardiac-stimulant, Carminative, Decongestant

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Wild Ginger

Wild Ginger has these Actions in Common

Burns-toxins, Warms-ears, Cardiac-stimulant, Carminative, Detoxicant, Diaphoretic, Digestive, Antispasmodic, Immune-calming, Appetizer, Spleen-tonic

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Mugwort

Mugwort has these Actions in Common

Appetizer, Carminative, Detoxicant, Diaphoretic, Digestive, Anti-inflammatory, Diuretic, Antibacterial, Antispasmodic

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Haritaki

Haritaki has these Actions in Common

Carminative, Detoxicant, Digestive, Diuretic, Immune-calming, Nervine, Anti-inflammatory, Antispasmodic, Appetizer

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Cumin, Coriander, Fennel Tea

Cumin, Coriander, Fennel Tea has these Actions in Common

Antispasmodic, Burns-toxins, Detoxicant, Diaphoretic, Digestive, Diuretic, Galactagogue, Spleen-tonic

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Trikatu

Trikatu has these Actions in Common

Detoxicant, Diaphoretic, Digestive, Appetizer, Bronchodilator, Cardiac-stimulant, Carminative, Decongestant

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Angelica

Angelica has these Actions in Common

Antispasmodic, Bronchodilator, Decongestant, Diaphoretic, Digestive, Immune-calming, Immune-stimulant, Lung-tonic

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Pushkaramoola

Pushkaramoola has these Actions in Common

Diuretic, Immune-calming, Antispasmodic, Bronchodilator, Burns-toxins, Carminative, Diaphoretic, Digestive

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Pennyroyal

Pennyroyal has these Actions in Common

Cardiac-stimulant, Carminative, Diaphoretic, Digestive, Diuretic, Nervine, Antispasmodic, Appetizer

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Goldenseal

Goldenseal has these Actions in Common

Burns-toxins, Decongestant, Detoxicant, Digestive, Hypertensive, Immune-stimulant, Anti-inflammatory, Antibacterial

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Basil Research & Clinical Trials

In each clinical research trial below, students from the Joyful Belly School of Ayurveda ate the selected food for 3 days and reported the pharmacological effects. See other clinical research trials for diet & herbs at Joyful Belly.