Is it safe to eat basil while pregnant?

Answer 1

Nursing Herbal Medicine Handbook (Eds.: J. A. Schilling McCann, W. J. Kelly; Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; pg. 27-28) says, "Basil contains estragole (70% to 85% of essential oil) as a major component and smaller amounts of safrole. Estragole may have mutagenic effects if taken internally in massive amounts, but it's safe to use as a spice....Pregnant women, breast-feeding women, infants, and young children should avoid using basil" in medicinal quantities.

In plain English, you can use it in food, but using the essential oil is not safe in pregnancy.

Answer 2

Yes