Why basil is useful for the human body

Africa is considered the birthplace of common basil. But its real origin is unknown, since basil began to be eaten several centuries before our era. There is a version that the soldiers of Alexander the Great brought it to Europe. Pepper in those days was not yet known. But fragrant basil mixed with other herbs successfully replaced the missing spice.

What does basil look like?

The genus of basilicas includes more than one species, but in conversation they usually mean only fragrant basil. This is the main spice used in food. Much less often mention is made of violet (purple), red or green aromatic basil, although they are also used in cooking or to decorate a dish.

Fragrant basil has other names:

  • ordinary;
  • garden;
  • camphor.

This type of plant received the last prefix for the high content of essential oils, including camphor.

Description

The common basil has a branching root system located very close to the surface. 4-sided stem 50-70 cm high, with many leaves, which are used in cooking. Leaves with short petioles, oblong-ovate. There are sparse teeth on the edges. The entire plant, including leaves, stem and calyx, is covered with hairs. Flowers can be white or pale pink. Sometimes purple. They grow from the axils of the apical leaves. The dark brown fruit-nuts are very small: the weight of 1000 seeds is 0.5-0.8 g. They remain viable for 4-5 years.

What is regan

The etymology of the word "basil" is not known for certain. Other popular names for this plant:

  • fragrant cornflowers;
  • raykhon;
  • rean;
  • regan;
  • Reikhan.

The first name is logical from the point of view of a Russian-speaking consumer, but the rest of the words clearly came from other languages. Thus, there is no difference between basil and regan.

Important! Of all the types of regan, only a few types of basil are edible.

Difference between basil green and purple

Green basil differs from purple in that the former is preferred to be eaten in European countries. On the territory of the CIS, they like the purple version more. Some people believe that purple basil has a more pronounced taste and smell. Other gardeners have the exact opposite opinion.

The habit of attributing superhealing properties to an unusual color has led to the fact that purple basil is also being invented that it never had. The situation is about the same as at the dawn of the appearance of chicken eggs with brown shells. At that time, it was believed that such eggs are healthier than white ones. Then the fashion began to decline.

The situation is similar with the purple basil plant: the benefits exist, but the harm can be much higher. In Europe, any basil is treated with caution, and the purple species is grown only for Russia. This attitude of Europeans to spices is justified: the plant is capable of accumulating mercury.And the purple version accumulates its maximum amount even when grown on the same bed with the green one.

Differences between basil red and green

The red variety does not exist in nature. So, loosely referring to the names of flowers, they call the purple / purple variety of the plant. While the plant is young, its leaves are green in color. With age, they gain color. Therefore, whether purple basil is red or purple depends solely on its age.

What is the Difference Between Oregano and Basil

The fashionable foreign name "oregano" hides ... oregano. Both plants have only one thing in common: they are used as spices.

Oregano

Basil

Family luciferous

Genus Oríganum

Genus Ócimum

Only perennials

Both perennial and annual plants are present

Little common as a garden crop

Grown as a garden crop

Fresh is almost never used, except for decoctions.

Often used fresh in salads

Capable of withstanding frosts down to -15 degrees

Southern heat-loving plants that do not tolerate frost

Healing properties are officially recognized by medicine

Healing properties only exist in traditional medicine and advertising descriptions

Medicinal properties and contraindications of green basil

Official medicine knows nothing about the medicinal properties of a plant of any kind. Therefore, we can only talk about the use of this plant in folk recipes. In folk medicine, this rather caustic and disgusting herb is used almost as a panacea.

Important! Any spice in large quantities is poisonous.

This is what explains the specific and sharp taste and smell of any of the spices. In the course of evolution, spicy plants have developed this way of protecting them from being eaten by animals. But one special "animal" appeared, called these plants spices and began to actively eat them. And even apply for treatment.

Diseases for which the infusion is used:

  • pyelitis;
  • colitis;
  • whooping cough;
  • gastritis;
  • neurosis;
  • bronchial asthma;
  • intestinal and hepatic colic;
  • flatulence;
  • low blood pressure;
  • lack of appetite;
  • kidney inflammation;
  • cystitis;
  • cold;
  • runny nose;
  • angina;
  • stomatitis;
  • fever.

The mere list of diseases that the infusion of this plant "cures" shows that at best it has a placebo effect. At worst, the disease will become chronic. The broth is used externally as an anesthetic for toothache and stomatitis, and is also used for lotions for difficult healing wounds.

Important! Even simple water can perform the latter function, which will prevent the secretions from drying out and allow pus to flow out of the wound freely.

In all these cases, an attempt to heal with the help of basil will rather be harmful. Due to the high mercury content, the body can react to poisoning when consuming the herb. There are also real contraindications, which are recognized even by traditional medicine.

Basil juice

There is no harm from basil juice, but the benefits are about the same as from the plantain leaf. In folk medicine, lotions are made from the juice of the plant for eczema and difficult-to-heal wounds. It is also used for otitis media.

When to eat basil

Like pepper, basil in large quantities irritates various organs. It cannot be used for the following diseases:

  • ischemia;
  • thrombophlebitis;
  • myocardial infarction;
  • hypertension;
  • diabetes mellitus.

With such contraindications, basil is not a useless and poisonous herb. A large amount of essential oils can really help in eliminating the symptoms of the disease.

Benefits of basil

With all the doubtfulness of the plant as a panacea for all diseases, the benefits of basil for the human body really exist. Scented oil is more commonly used, although a fresh plant can also be used for baths. Basil oil tones and softens the skin.Therefore, it is often used in beauty salons for the preparation of aromatic baths.

Camphor oil, also found in the plant, is used as a general tonic to maintain the central nervous system, in case of circulatory disorders and breathing difficulties.

Important! When dried, a significant amount of aromatic oils volatilize.

Useful properties of basil and contraindications for women

A fresh plant contains a large amount of vitamins, which should have a positive effect on the female body. Also, folk medicine believes that this plant increases the excretion of breast milk.

But official medicine is sure that not only pregnant women, but in general women of childbearing age should not eat foods high in mercury. These foods include not only long-lived tuna fish, but also basil. But lying in a bath with a few drops of oil is good for any woman.

Useful properties of basil and contraindications for men

In terms of purely masculine qualities, basil is a useless herb. It is not an aphrodisiac. In other cases, it can be taken for the above diseases. For those men who suffer from hypertension, basil should not be consumed.

How to eat green basil

When eating herbs, remember that this is a seasoning, not an edible garden crop. Due to the high content of mercury in the plant, the body must be accustomed to the use of this plant gradually. An adult should start with 1 sheet. Children are given half a sheet. The maximum single dose of this plant is 3 leaves for an adult. They are finely crushed into salad or other dishes. Combined with rosemary, you can get a peppery smell, and basil with savory makes the dish tastier. But you cannot abuse spices.

Seasoning

Dried basil is a common seasoning for various dishes. It is often used in sets of special mixtures for various dishes. But dry basil loses a significant part of aromatic oils and is almost not felt in the dish.

Salad

Finely chopped fresh basil leaves are added to this dish. They will set off the taste of the salad and give it a spice. But it is important not to overdo it with this spice.

Tea

Basil tea can be of 2 types: regular tea with a spice leaf or a drink made only from herbs. In the latter case, the hot drink is called a decoction.

A hot drink warms up well after freezing outside, but if you need to make summer lemonade, then the recipe changes slightly. For better thirst quenching, lemon is added to the broth or tea. The drink is cooled and drunk.

Basil for weight loss

Neither fresh plant nor dried seasoning is used for weight loss. The Thai population believes that basil seed drink has beneficial properties and aids in weight loss. The preparation of the drink is simple. If for some reason the plant in the garden has bloomed and its leaves can no longer be used as a seasoning, the seeds will correct the situation.

Collect them directly in the inflorescences. After the inflorescences lose color, and black seeds become visible inside, the peduncles are cut off entirely and dried indoors. If you leave the seeds in the garden, a significant part of them will be lost.

Basil Seed Drink

Most often, lemon basil seeds are used for these purposes. You need 1 tsp for a glass of drink. seeds. They are filled with cold water. It is believed that carbonated is better, but while the seeds swell, a significant part of the carbon dioxide will evaporate, and carbonated lemonade will still not work.

The seeds are infused for 30 minutes. The nuts are covered with a protective film, which becomes jelly-like during this time. Lemon and ice are added to the drink. You can add honey, but that's to your taste.

Whether it is possible to lose weight with such a drink is a moot point.Only one thing can be confidently asserted: if you have breakfast with a drink made from basil seeds, work hard physical work all day, and have dinner with a handful of rice in the evening, then weight loss is guaranteed.

Basil in facial cosmetology

The high content of essential oils makes basil a very effective facial skin enhancer. A decoction of the leaves relieves inflammation from the skin of the face well. A mask of fresh crushed leaves whitens the skin. Basil is also good for cleansing acne, pimples and blackheads.

Important! Not so long ago, lead whitewash was used to whiten skin, which led to severe poisoning and even death.

How to grow green basil

Sweet basil is often grown as a vegetable. This is an unpretentious plant. It grows well both on windowsills and outdoors. Although, due to planting in the northern regions, the grass does not grow into a large bush, remaining about 20 cm high.

Seeds are planted for seedlings in March. It is better to place them in individual containers, since the plant is delicate and does not tolerate picking very well.

They are planted in open ground when the night temperature exceeds + 10 ° C. You can land in the greenhouse earlier.

Important! The basil planted next to the tomatoes keeps pests away from the tomatoes.

The soil for planting must be fertile. But then caring for the plant consists in carefully removing weeds and watering.

How green basil blooms

The plant blooms in June-August. Most of the flowers appear in July. From the axils of the apical leaves, the plant throws out peduncles, on which two-lipped flowers develop. The lower lobe of the flower is bent back and longer than the others. The other 4 are spliced ​​together and form the upper lip. The corolla is tubular.

Flowers are collected in 6-10 pieces in irregularly shaped whorls. As a result, flowers sit on a peduncle in several "floors". This form of flowering makes it very easy to collect seeds for a drink or further sowing. The seeds do not need to be collected, it is enough to cut off the peduncle entirely and then, in convenient conditions, shake out the nuts on a clean light cloth.

Conclusion

Basil can and should be eaten. It is only important to observe the measure so that it gives the food a flavoring shade, and does not turn into poison.

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