Brilliant Use for Basil

Basil is not only used to season our favorite dishes. The strong fragrance of the herb repels flies and mosquitoes. Filling a glass jar with water and placing a bunch of fresh basil leaves inside will not only create a beautiful summer centerpiece. It will also keep pesky bugs away from your outdoor party table.

Basil is a tender low-growing herb that is grown as a perennial in warm, tropical climates. Basil is originally native to India and other tropical regions of Asia, having been cultivated there for more than 5,000 years. There are many varieties of basil, that which is used in Italian food is typically called sweet basil, as opposed to Thai basil or holy basil, which are used in Asia. It is prominently featured in Italian cuisine, and also plays a major role in the Southeast Asian cuisines of Thai, Vietnamese and Laotian. [wikipedia]

Aside from being a good insect repelant, we get a lot of health benefits from this herb. Scientific studies show that basil's essential oils have antioxidants which makes the herb anti-cancer, anti-aging, anti-viral and anti-microbial.