Fresh basil is fairly inexpensive to buy packaged and easy to grow at home with a little sunshine and water. Basil can be used for both savory and sweet dishes. It is related to the mint plant and prized for it's robust, slightly sweet, slightly spicy and green flavor.
But the health benefits of basil are often ignored in favor of it's wonderful flavor. Antioxidants are big right now, and rightly so, for they help fight all kinds of nasties in the body. One leaf of basil is chock full of antioxidants and is also mildly antibacterial. Full of oxygen building chlorophyll as well as trace amounts amounts of iron, basil should be added while fresh and uncooked to salads, soups, pasta dishes or whatever you wish.
You can find essential oil of basil if you look around online. While it is not really suitable for eating, it makes a great mouthwash when mixed with a little water. A few drops can be added to a slurry of baking soda water to wash and disinfect your produce.
Give basil a try! Grow some at home if you can. Here is a link to a bunch of recipes that include basil. While the recipes may seem expensive and complicated, most of them really aren't and are quite simple to make. Enjoy your life, make it flourish like a beautiful garden!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/18/basil-recipes_n_1524556.html