How to Eat Basil to Cure Acidity

There it goes again--that burning sensation in your stomach or throat. Call it acid reflux, indigestion or dyspepsia, the first thing you generally do is reach for your over-the-counter antacid. If you have basil leaves in your house or garden, however, there may be a way to relieve acidity simply and cheaply without OTC remedies.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Fresh or dried basil leaves, powdered basil or basil capsules
• Hot water (optional)
• Cottage cheese, honey, herbs (optional)

1. Choose what kind of basil you would like to use. The use of basil as a remedy for stomach acidity originated in India. If you have access to a merchant who sells Indian herbs, you may want to try Indian basil, or "tulsi." American or European basil will also do.

2. Decide in what form you want to use the basil: fresh, raw leaves, dried leaves or powder. Indian tulsi also comes in capsule form.

3. Select the way in which you will eat the basil. To cure acidity, herbalists suggest chewing 4 or 5 fresh, raw leaves before meals. You may also make an infusion of crushed raw or dried leaves to sip slowly or simply swallow a capsule.

4. Increase the effectiveness of the basil by adding other herbs to your infusion. To Indian tulsi add the skin of neem, a tropical evergreen plant, or pipal, an eastern fig, both native plants of India.

5. Add mint, celery seed or fennel to an infusion of American or European basil. If you prefer your tea sweet, stir in 1 tsp. of honey.

6. Add other foods to make the basil easier to ingest and more effective. Try 5 or 6 whole crushed basil leaves (about 2 tsps.) mixed with 1 cup of cottage cheese and 1 tsp. each of sea salt and black pepper. Eat 1 tbsp. of the mixture at a time.

7. Drink the basil infusion four times a day. Eat the cottage cheese mixture once a day. The morning is the best time to eat it to control acidity all day.

Tips & Warnings

• To keep excess acid from returning, remember to make other healthy choices: eat meals at regularly scheduled times, avoid fried or spicy foods, drink plenty of water and limit alcohol consumption
• If you decide to grow your own basil, choose edible plants or seeds, rather than decorative ones. The decorative basil won't hurt you, but it won't cure acidity either.
• An herbal cure is only temporary. If you have recurring episodes of heartburn and acidity (more than once a week), see your doctor.

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