If a person loves herbs, they love basil. It seems to be everyone's favorite herb and the recipes that take advantage of this fresh and spicy leaf are endless.

I personally think if you can only grow two plants it should be a pot of tomatoes and a pot of basil. With these two plants and a few basic pantry items you can treat yourself to gourmet fare!

Growing Basil
Basil is an annual, and is easily grown from seed. There are over two dozen types of basil including lettuce-leaf which has large leaves, cinnamon basil and the purple leafed varieties. Basil is not frost tolerant at all, so be sure to only plant after the soil has warmed completely.

Though it needs full sun, basil does need more moisture than some herbs, so keep it watered; especially in pots.

You can bring basil inside as a window herb if you plant the seeds in pots during warm weather and bring inside to grow in a bright and sunny window when cold.

Using and Preserving Basil
Basil can be frozen, dried, or preserved in oil and it's delicious however you choose to preserve it.

Basil is also available year round in most produce sections. Add leaves to salads or sandwiches along with your lettuce. Add basil to sautés or soups at the last minute to preserve flavor.

What a gift Mother Nature has given to us in the plant basil. A wonderful pesto sauce can deliver so many healing compounds that you could almost call it medicine.

Basil has 6 different compounds that lower blood pressure, 6 different compounds that have expectorant qualities, and several compounds strong enough to kill warts.

Basil usefulness has been associated with the stomach and the disorders of that organ. Lack of appetite, ulcers, gas and vomiting have all been treated with basil tea in the past.

It has also been known to clean the breath and now studies show that basil can actually prevent dental plaque.

According to the famous writings of Mrs. Grieve, "Basil has been occasionally used for mild nervous disorders and for the alleviation of wandering rheumatic pains- the dried leaves, in the form of snuff, are said to be a cure for nervous headaches. An infusion of the green herb in boiling water is good for all obstructions of the internal organs, arrests vomiting and allays nausea. The seeds have been reckoned efficacious against the poison of serpents, both taken internally and laid upon the wound."

That's cool but personally, I think I would rather go to the ER with a snake bite!