Content
- 1 What does basil look like?
- 2 Difference between green and purple basil
- 3 Differences between red and green basil
- 4 What is the difference between oregano and basil
- 5 Medicinal properties and contraindications of green basil
- 6 How to eat green basil
- 7 Basil for weight loss
- 8 Basil in cosmetology for the face
- 9 How to grow green basil
- 10 How green basil blooms
- 11 Conclusion
Africa is considered the homeland of common basil. But its real origin is unknown, since basil began to be eaten several centuries BC. There is a version that it was brought to Europe by the soldiers of Alexander the Great. Pepper was not yet known in those days. But fragrant basil, mixed with other herbs, successfully replaced the missing spice.
What does basil look like?
The genus of basil includes more than one species, but in conversation they usually mean only sweet basil. This is the main spice used in food. Much less often mentioned are violet (purple), red or green aromatic basil, although they are also used in cooking or to decorate dishes.
Fragrant basil has other names:
- ordinary;
- garden;
- camphor.
This type of plant received the last prefix for its high content of essential oils, including camphor.
Description
Common basil has a branching root system located very close to the surface. A 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 calyxes, 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 with certainty. Other popular names for this plant:
- fragrant cornflowers;
- raikhon;
- rean;
- regan;
- Reyhan.
The first name is logical from the point of view of a Russian-speaking consumer, but the remaining words clearly came from other languages. Thus, there is no difference between basil and regan.
Difference between green and purple basil
Green basil differs from purple basil in that the former is preferred for food in European countries. In the CIS, the purple version is more popular. Some people believe that purple basil has a stronger flavor and smell. Other gardeners have the exact opposite opinion.
The habit of attributing super-medicinal properties to an unusual color has led to the fact that purple basil is also being invented with something that it never had. The situation is approximately the same as at the dawn of the appearance of chicken eggs with brown shells.At that time it was believed that such eggs were healthier than white ones. Then fashion began to decline.
The situation is similar with the purple basil plant: there are benefits, but the harm can be much greater. In Europe, any basil is treated with caution, and the purple variety is grown only for Russia. This attitude of Europeans towards the spice is justified: the plant is capable of accumulating mercury. And the purple version accumulates its maximum amount even when grown in the same bed as the green one.
Differences between red and green basil
The red variety does not exist in nature. So, taking liberties with the names of flowers, they call the violet/purple variety of the plant. While the plant is young, its leaves are green in color. They gain color with age. 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 Lamiaceae | |
Genus Origanum | Genus Ocimum |
Perennials only | Both perennial and annual plants are present |
Not very common as a garden crop | Grow as a garden crop |
They are almost never used fresh, except for decoctions. | Often used fresh in salads |
Able to withstand frosts down to -15 degrees | Southern heat-loving plants that cannot tolerate frost |
The healing properties are officially recognized by medicine | Healing properties exist only in folk medicine and advertising descriptions |
Medicinal properties and contraindications of green basil
Official medicine knows nothing about the medicinal properties of any plant variety. Therefore, we can only talk about the use of this plant in folk recipes. In folk medicine, this rather caustic and nasty-tasting herb is used almost as a panacea.
This is what explains the specific and pungent taste and smell of any of the spices. In the process of evolution, spicy plants have developed this method of protection from being eaten by animals. But one special “animal” appeared, called these plants spices and began to actively eat them. And even used for treatment.
Diseases for which the infusion is used:
- pyelitis;
- colitis;
- whooping cough;
- gastritis;
- neurosis;
- bronchial asthma;
- intestinal and liver colic;
- flatulence;
- low blood pressure;
- lack of appetite;
- kidney inflammation;
- cystitis;
- cold;
- runny nose;
- angina;
- stomatitis;
- fever.
The list of diseases that the infusion of this plant “cures” alone shows that, at best, it has a placebo effect. At worst, the disease will enter a chronic stage. The decoction is used externally as an anesthetic for toothache and stomatitis, and is also used as a lotion for difficult-to-heal wounds.
In all of the above cases, trying to be treated with basil will most likely be harmful. Due to the high mercury content, the body's reaction when consuming the herb can be poisoning. There are real contraindications that even traditional medicine recognizes.
Basil juice
There is no harm from basil juice, but the benefits are about the same as from 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 inflammation of the middle ear.
When not to eat basil
Like pepper, basil in large quantities irritates various organs. It should not 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
Despite all the doubtfulness of the plant as a panacea for all diseases, the benefits of basil for the human body really exist. Aromatic oil is most often 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 to prepare aromatic baths.
Camphor oil, also contained in the plant, is used as a general tonic to support the central nervous system, in case of poor circulation and difficulty breathing.
Useful properties of basil and contraindications for women
The fresh plant contains a large amount of vitamins, which should have a positive effect on the female body. Traditional medicine also believes that this plant increases the secretion of breast milk.
But official medicine is confident that not only pregnant women, but also women of childbearing age in general should not eat foods high in mercury.Such products include not only long-lived tuna fish, but also basil. But lying in a bath with a few drops of oil is beneficial for any woman.
Useful properties of basil and contraindications for men
From the point of view 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. Those men who suffer from hypertension should not consume basil.
How to eat green basil
When eating herbs, you need to remember that this is a seasoning, not an edible garden crop. Due to the high mercury content in the plant, the body must be accustomed to consuming this plant gradually. An adult should start with 1 sheet. Children are given half a sheet. The maximum one-time dose of this plant is 3 leaves for an adult. They are finely chopped into salads or other dishes. In combination with rosemary you can get a peppery smell, and basil with savory gives the dish a sharper taste. But you can’t overuse spices.
Seasoning
Dried basil is a common seasoning for various dishes. Often used in sets of special mixtures for various dishes. But dry basil loses a significant part of its aromatic oils and is almost not felt in the dish.
Salad
Finely chopped fresh basil leaves are added to this dish. They will highlight the taste of the salad and give it spiciness. 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 the herb. In the latter case, the hot drink is called a decoction.
A hot drink warms you up well after the frost outside, but if you need to make summer lemonade, the recipe changes a little. To better quench thirst, add lemon to the decoction or tea. The drink is cooled and drunk.
Basil for weight loss
Neither the fresh plant nor the dried seasoning is used for weight loss. The population of Thailand believes that a drink made from basil seeds has beneficial properties and promotes weight loss. Preparing the drink is simple. If for some reason a plant in the garden has bloomed and its leaves can no longer be used as a seasoning, the situation will be corrected by the seeds.
They are collected directly from the inflorescences. After the inflorescences lose color and black seeds become visible inside, the flower stalks 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. For a glass of drink you need 1 tsp. seeds They are filled with cold water. There is an opinion that carbonated lemonade 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 during this time becomes jelly-like. Lemon and ice are added to the drink. You can add honey, but this is to taste.
Whether it is possible to lose weight with such a drink is a controversial issue. Only one thing can be confidently stated: if you have breakfast with a drink made from basil seeds, work hard physical work all day, and have a handful of rice for dinner in the evening, then weight loss is guaranteed.
Basil in cosmetology for the face
The high content of essential oils makes basil a very effective remedy for improving facial skin.A decoction of the leaves is good for relieving inflammation of the facial skin. A mask made from fresh crushed leaves whitens the skin. Basil also cleanses the skin well from acne, pimples and blackheads.
How to grow green basil
Sweet basil is often grown as a vegetable crop. This is an unpretentious plant. It grows well both on windowsills and in open ground. Although, due to the 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 tender and does not tolerate picking very well.
They are planted in open ground when the night temperature exceeds + 10 °C. You can plant them in the greenhouse earlier.
The soil for planting must be fertile. But then caring for the plant consists of carefully removing weed and watering.
How green basil blooms
The plant blooms in June-August. The bulk of flowers appear in July. From the axils of the apical leaves, the plant throws out flower stalks on which two-lipped flowers develop. The lower blade of the flower is bent back and longer than the others. The remaining 4 are fused together to form the upper lip. The corolla is tubular.
Flowers are collected in 6-10 pieces in whorls of irregular shape. As a result, flowers sit on several “floors” on the peduncle. This form of flowering makes it very easy to collect seeds for drinking or further sowing. There is no need to collect the seeds; it is enough to cut off the entire peduncle and then shake out the nuts on a clean light cloth in convenient conditions.
Conclusion
Basil can and should be eaten. It is only important to observe the measure so that it adds flavor to the food and does not turn into poison.
