Spice Bush vs Lemon Basil

Aromatic North American woodland shrub used by many indigenous peoples including Lenape, Cherokee, and Mohican as a digestive herb and fever remedy.

Lemon-scented basil hybrid popular in Southeast Asian cuisine; used in Indonesian and Thai folk medicine for digestive and respiratory conditions.

benzoin, limonene, linalool, camphor, tannins

citral, linalool, geraniol, nerol, eugenol

Digestive conditions in Lenape and Cherokee medicine, Fever and cold in many North American indigenous traditions, Worm treatment in folk use, Blood purification tonic

Digestive complaints in Indonesian folk medicine, Respiratory conditions, Fever reduction, Sacred in Indonesian ceremonies

Carminative, Diaphoretic, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant

Carminative, Antimicrobial, Anti-inflammatory, Antioxidant

Bark tea 2-3 cups daily; berries as allspice substitute in cooking

2–3 g fresh leaves as tea or food

Allergy to Lauraceae family, Pregnancy in large doses

Anticoagulant medications in high doses

Rare allergic reactions

Mild blood thinning, GI upset in excess