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| Ocimum tenuiflorum |
1. Fresh
a. culinary
b. infusion or decoction
c. distillation
i. hydrosol
ii. essential oil
d. flower essence
e. homeopathic remedy
2. Dried
a. culinary
b. tincture (alcohol, glycerin, vinegar, honey)
c. powdered preparation (capsules, pastilles, bath salts, facial clay mask, smoothie ingredient, etc.)
d. maceration in fixed oil
e. smudge wand
(Note: Ocimum tenuiflorum is not usually used in culinary preparations.)
Often, herbal preparations may be combined to increase absorption or increase certain constituents. For example, a foot scrub could be made by combining dead sea salts with the Holy Basil infused fixed oil, some dried Holy Basil, and a couple drops of Holy Basil essential oil. In this way, the lipophilic and the hydrophilic components of the original botanical can be used in a holistic fashion.
Phytotherapy (promoting health using plants) is a holistic practice. Not only it is holistic from the standpoint of considering the whole person when formulating a protocol, it is holistic with regard to the plant. Many times, it is most beneficial to use the most whole, complete form of the plant, or a combination of preparations of the plant to gain the most complete form. Using one form only, just the essential oil or just the dried herb, is not always the best remedy as many of the original properties of the whole plant have been removed during processing and others have been concentrated.
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References
Easley, T., & Horne, S. H. (2016). The modern herbal dispensatory: a medicine-making guide. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books.
Holistic. (n.d.) American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. (2011). Retrieved September 15 2017 from http://www.thefreedictionary.com/holistic
Phytotherapy. (n.d.) Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014. (1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014). Retrieved September 15 2017 from http://www.thefreedictionary.com/phytotherapy
