Prevent sore throat, gum disease, tooth decay with basil leaves

We are all susceptible to mouth, dental and throat problems as nobody has total immunity against these infections. However, there are certain natural preventive measures that can be taken to guard against these ailments. Also, anyone having gum disease could also get remarkable relief from the use of popular basil leaves, writes Seye Adeniyi.

MOST germs gain entrance into our body through the nose, mouth and throat. Germs are often carried into the body through tiny droplets of water as well as when air is breathed into the lungs.

Not only that, the food we eat can also serve as a reservoir “carrier” of various types of germs, such as streptoococcus, staphylococcus, and many others. If we would be true to ourselves, almost everybody at one time or the other must have experienced dental problems or mouth infections.

For examples, if we don’t have problems with our teeth, we must have experienced pains or infections on the gums. Is it not so? Though a few people do claim that they are immune to tooth decay or infections, hinging their arguments on the fact that they don’t take sugary foods which are known to aggravate dental problems like caries, the truth is that nobody has immunity against dental or throat problems, irrespective of age, sex or race.

But some people often experience dental diseases. If their teeth is not affected by germs, their gums will be invaded by germs which usually give them serious pains. Some people have also discovered that throat infections are their major health problem. If their tonsils are not affected by germs, their uvula (belubelu) will have a touch of infection.

However, no matter your throat, gum, dental or mouth problems, there is good news for you, courtesy of alternative medicine. People who often suffer from sore throat can get immediate relief from the popular basil leaves, commonly referred to as efinrin in Yoruba land. The pharynx or back of the throat, frequently becomes inflamed when a person has a cold or an attack of influenza. This inflammation may also involve the tonsils and adenoids and cause a great miscomfort and pains.

Other causes of sore throat include sinusitis, measles, diphtheria, Vincent’s angina, and even leaukaemia on certain rare occasions. In case of acute sore throat, the patient complains of burning and dryness in the throat followed by chills, fever, and some hoarseness or laryngitis.

Sore throat is usually marked with the swelling and tenderness of the lymph glands along the sides of the neck. The back of the throat itself may also be very red and even covered with a greyish — white membrane. Swallowing also becomes very difficult, especially during the acute state of sore throat.

The causal agent is often streptococcus germs and if the irritation is allowed to extend to the nasal passages, there could be a thick postnasal discharge which are often serious and dangerous. In fact, in children, it could lead to headache, high body temperature, fever etc.

However, this condition can be relieved by applying medicated steam inhalation. Soreness of both the throat and neck can also be relieved by applying a heating compress, and using a variety of medicated lozenges, at least to subside the nasal irritation.

But many people don’t usually respond to the above treatment. However, for such category of people, basil leaves (Ocimmum gratissimum or basil lepa) is the ultimate solution. Basil leaves chewed first thing in the morning on a daily basis keep away infection of the throat, gingivitis, teeth decay as well as other mouth and gum diseases.

The juice from the leaves has antifungal and antibacterial properties and natural medicine practitioners use it often to treat mouth, throat and teeth infections. Anyone suffering from sore throats, teeth decay, carries, inflammation of the gums and other related health conditions that make life unberable should try it. However, it requires first washing the mouth properly after meal before chewing the leaves.

Chew five basil (efinrin) leaves first thing in the morning before breakfast, as well as in the night after dinner . If the person can make this a regular habit, mouth infections, teeth decay as well as other throat infections would be far away from such a person.