Last updated on October 23rd, 2023 at 08:58 pm
People’s relationship with basil has been divided for thousands of years. While in its country of origin, India, the herb plant is revered as sacred to this day, it has been accused of being a health hazard time and again throughout its history.
Within the framework of current research, it was found that mullein has a carcinogenic effect on mice above a certain dosage. The Federal Office for Risk Assessment therefore recommends preventive:
Use basil only as a spice in cooking
- do not use the herb for making tea for infants and young children
- for adults, refrain from using it therapeutically as a remedy.
It should be noted that this is purely a precautionary measure, as scientific evidence regarding the effect on human physiology is still lacking. If the values from animal research are extrapolated to a human, the toxic dose starts at 20 basil leaves per day. For hobby gardeners, therefore, the all-clear is given, because there is nothing wrong with growing it in the garden and on the balcony.