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Mtndewqueen88 |
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~*~Basil~*~
9/28/02
Muah ha ha ha... this is a little section devoted to all BASIL! Here I'll just have some tidbits all about the herb... just because I am BORED. Ha ha... anyway, NEVER TOUCH THIS HERB and you should be fine around me ;-) 'Sides, when you hear what people used to think about the leaf, you might ordered pasta without any, too. |
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~*~MENU~*~
Home
About Me
Quotes
Joke of the Mood
The Evils of Basil
Mountain Dew Dedication |
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Basil has a strong history of reverence and loathing. Its name is Greek for "King" and it is revered as a sacred herb (SACRED?!?) in the Hindu religion. However, in Europe during the Middle Ages it was believed that scorpions would breed under pots of Basil and just to smell Basil would form a scorpion in the brain.(mmm.. hope you don't have any 'pots of basil' in the house.)
http://www.schwartz.co.uk/handsguide.cfm/id/109 |
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http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/b/basbus17.html |
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The physicians of old were quite unable to agree as to its medicinal value, some declaring that it was a poison, and others a precious simple. Culpepper tells us:
'Galen and Dioscorides hold it is not fitting to be taken inwardly and Chrysippusrails at it. Pliny and the Arabians defend it. Something is the matter, this herb and rue will not grow together, no, nor near one another, and we know rue is as great an enemy to poison as any that grows.' (heh, basically the guy is saying that people don't know what it does and that is bad.) |
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These observances are entirely at variance with the idea prevailing among the ancient Greeks that it represented hate and misfortune. They painted poverty as a ragged woman with a Basil at her side, and thought the plant would not grow unless railing and abuse were poured forth at the time of sowing. The Romans, in like manner, believed that the more it was abused, the better it would prosper. (hmmmm, i can abuse it pretty easily!) |
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(Maybe this is why I'm single) It was said to cause sympathy between human beings and a tradition in Moldavia still exists that a youth will love any maiden from whose hand he accepts a sprig of this plant. In Crete it symbolizes 'love washed with tears,' and in some parts of Italy it is a love-token. |
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The dried leaves, in the form of snuff, are said to be a cure for nervous headaches. (yeah, right.) |
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The derivation of the name Basil is uncertain. Some authorities say it comes from the Greek basileus, a king, because, as Parkinson says, 'the smell thereof is so excellent that it is fit for a king's house,' or it may have been termed royal, because it was used in some regal unguent or medicine. One rather unlikely (humph, i think its pretty likely) theory is that it is shortened from basilisk, a fabulous creature that could kill with a look. This theory may be based on a strange old superstition that connected the plant with scorpions. Parkinson tells us that 'being gently handled it gave a pleasant smell but being hardly wrung and bruised would breed scorpions. It is also observed that scorpions doe much rest and abide under these pots and vessells wherein Basil is planted.' It was generally believed that if a sprig of Basil were left under a pot it would in time turn to a scorpion. Superstition (or is it?) went so far as to affirm that even smelling the plant might bring a scorpion into the brain.
http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/b/basswe18.html |
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Culpepper says:
'Being applied to the place bitten by venomous beasts, or stung by a wasp or hornet, it speedily draws the poison to it. - Every like draws its like. Mizaldus affirms, that being laid to rot in horse-dung, it will breed venomous beasts. Hilarius, a French physician, affirms upon his own knowledge, that an acquaintance of his, by common smelling to it, had a scorpion breed in his brain.' (ha ha, i think i like this Culpepper dude) |
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