Basil (Ocimum basilicum) of the Family Lamiaceae is also known as St. Joseph's Wort and Sweet Basil.

A native of India, basil was introduced into Europe in ancient times, traditions associated with the herb have been mixed.

The word basil means "king", as it is believed to have grown above the spot where St. Constantine and Helen discovered the Holy Cross.
Some cultures associated basil with hatred and misfortune; others regarded it as a love token.

Dioscorides said that it should never be taken internally, while Pliny recommended smelling it in vinegar for fainting fits. In Ayurvedic medicine, basil is known as tulsi and the juice is widely used. In India, basil is perhaps the most sacred plant, next to the lotus.
The scent of basil, they say, is conducive to meditation, and the plant is often used in magic. Also a popular culinary herb.