Not only fragrant, but also useful: the healing properties of basil

In many countries, basil endows magical properties, considering it a symbol of well-being in the house. This is nothing strange, because the plant is able to kill germs and clean the air.

What is the use of basil, the chemical composition of the plant

The benefits of basil can be judged by the composition of the plant. Its leaves contain tannins and minerals, essential oils, lepidine, propsoline, saponins and glycosides. It is saturated with volatile substances: linalool, eugenol and camphor that stimulate heart activity. Besides, Basil leaves are rich in vitamins A, PP, B2, C, D, K, E, rutin, simple sugars and vegetable fats, as well as iodine, magnesium, phosphorus, iron.

Due to the low calorie content (100 g of fresh greens contain only 27 kcal), basil is indispensable in the dietary diet. The plant is used fresh and in the form of decoctions, infusions for the treatment and prevention of many diseases. It has antispasmodic, antiseptic, wound healing, tonic, anti-inflammatory and diuretic action.

The use of basil for women is expressed not only in cosmetic application, but also manifests itself in the treatment of the female genitourinary system. During lactation, tea from basil leaves provides the addition of breast milk. The plant can also help with problems with the digestive tract: it reduces gas formation, relieves constipation and treats other gastric disorders. Enzymes that are part of basil break down fats and help reduce weight.

The use of basil for men is appreciated by the ancient Indians. A large number of acids contained in the plant, increase blood circulation, which contributes to the improvement of all the internal organs of men and a positive effect on potency, increasing sexual desire and normalizing fertility.Therefore, it is desirable for men to use basil daily, as, indeed, any other greens.

How to use basil in traditional medicine

Basil is often used in the treatment of kidney disease. The plant has a diuretic effect, which helps to remove acid from the body. It contributes to the softening of stones and sand in the kidneys, reduces pain, and is also an excellent antispasmodic, as it removes muscle spasms of internal organs and blood vessels. Regular use improves kidney and urinary system.

Basil is multifaceted: it improves metabolism, burns fat, strengthens the immune system, restores strength and health after heavy surgical interventions, inhibits aging, strengthens nerves and normalizes sleep. In folk medicine, it has long been used for wound healing, treatment of skin diseases, dental and headaches.

Basil in cosmetology accelerates the growth of hair and nails, helps to get rid of dandruff. The plant oil is used in the composition of nutritional masks, in particular for the activation of hair follicles, thereby enhancing hair growth. Masks for the face, with basil, improve the appearance of the skin, give it elasticity and regenerate tissues. The bags with the decoction of the plant remove the swelling under the eyes.

The high content of beta-karyofillen allows basil to be used as an alternative to medical preparations containing narcotic substances. According to the latest data of scientists, basil is able to restrain the development of HIV.

How to prepare medical raw materials

Basil is tasty and healthy in both fresh and dry form. Many say that dry basil is more fragrant, but if you want to dry the grass, then you need to do it right.

When you need to do the workpiece

Basil, as a fragrant seasoning, collected all summer. To prepare the whole plant, together with the stem, the first time it is cut during flowering, to a fragment of the stem without leaves (10 cm to the root), and the second crop is harvested in late September. For the first time, basil is more fragrant and is best suited for winter harvesting. The leaves of the plant can also be harvested twice, only it is advisable not to cut them, but pick them off.

Process description

Basil does not like heat and direct sunlight, so if you dry it in the sun it will simply burn, losing all its taste, aroma and healing properties. Picked basil or whole, or in a ground form, dried in a dark, ventilated place.

To freeze the leaves of the plant pinch off the stem, washed and dried. Then put in a bag or plastic container and put in the freezer.

Pickling basil for the winter is as follows: first you need to wash and dry the leaves, then put them tightly in a clean sterilized jar, pouring layers of leaves with salt. Next, they need to tamp the leaves to let the juice, after which the jar can be rolled up and stored in a cellar or basement.

Basil canning is practically the same as salting, only here, at the end of the work, olive oil is poured into the jar (as long as it comes in). For example, a jar of 250 g requires 150 g of basil and 50 g of salt, oil to the brim. Store in a cellar or basement.

Basil application

Nowadays, when high levels of radiation are recorded everywhere, the use of basil herb is especially valuable.The plant is often used in the treatment of the effects of radiation sickness, for the removal of radionuclides and other heavy substances for the body. Basil lotions heal postoperative scars, infusions and decoctions used in the treatment of gastroenteritis, measles, rheumatism, worms, epidemic parotiditis. Regular consumption of basil protects against smallpox. Our ancestors gave basil tea to women in labor, as the benefit for the woman was to reduce the pain of birth.

Cold treatment

The healing properties of basil are used to treat acute infectious, respiratory and viral diseases. Our body, when infected, raises the temperature to fight it. Basil is a natural antibiotic, antifungal and disinfectant. Broths and infusions of herbs kill germsthat normalizes body temperature and eases the condition of the whole organism. Broth from leaves and flowers well helps with coughing.

Respiratory disease

For diseases of the respiratory tract basil is used in the form of lotions, decoctions, tinctures and tea. When burning, grass seeds disinfect indoor air and release volatile substances that help to get rid of mucus in the lungs, if you regularly breathe this product of combustion. Essential oils in the composition of herbs (camphene, tsineol and evengol) allow the use of basil during inhalation, as they greatly facilitate the condition of the respiratory tract. Basil improves the health of patients even in severe cases: with bronchitis, asthma, hyperemia and tuberculosis, smoker's cough and lung cancer.

Cardiovascular diseases and basil

The plant is fruitfully used to eliminate headaches and heart pain, it is able to relieve anxiety, nervousness, tension and the effects of stressful situations that can provoke problems in the heart activity, for example, tachycardia. Basil minerals stimulate the heart muscle, normalize blood pressure,iron enriches blood vessels with oxygen, and blood, enriched with useful substances, in turn, nourishes the heart, and then the whole body. Useful substances and elements contained in basil strengthen the walls of blood vessels and increase immunity in general.

How to make basil tincture for the treatment of skin diseases

Basil is an effective medicine for skin diseases. Juice from fresh leaves or decoction of dry leaves reduce inflammation and relieve itching. On ulcers, stains, boils and plaques impose pasta from crushed fresh leaves. For dermatological diseases, it is useful to take baths with grass and drink the infusion. Regular baths are especially helpful in chronic diseases.

When inflammatory reactions of the skin of the face (weathered, frozen) paste from basil leaves will soothe and relieve pain symptoms. To eliminate the itching of the skin, take 2 tablespoons of dry basil, pour 0.5 liters of boiling water over them, allow the liquid to cool and strain. Drink half a glass of infusion 3 times a day, before meals.

Basil oil scares mosquitoes, and if mosquitoes have already bitten you, lubricate this place with oil: it will relieve itching and neutralize the insect's poison.

Diseases of the teeth and basil

From the leaves and stems of the described grass, infusions are prepared for rinsing to remove the unpleasant smell, for disinfection or in case of formation of oral ulcers. Rinsing with a solution is a good prevention of oral cancer, which can occur due to smoking or chewing tobacco.

Herbal infusions activate tanning agents that perfectly cope with caries, stones on teeth and plaque. The same substances strengthen the gums.

The use of basil in cooking

In cooking, basil is used as a seasoning for a whole list of dishes. It is added to sauces, gravies, ketchups and gas stations. Basil gives spice to sausages, pate, meat and rolls. When fresh, it is added to salads, omelets, seafood, first and second courses.

Basil is often used in canning vegetable salads, adzhika, as well as in smoked and pickled foods. It is added to the sandwich butter, cheese paste.On the leaves of basil insist liqueurs, which are used in cooking (for example, flavoring vinegar and white sauce, pesto sauce and bolognese, to give spices to vegetable juices).

Basil is good in a mixture of herbs, but you should know that in this case its part in the composition should be small. The plant has too bright taste and aroma, because of which it can kill the taste of other herbs. An interesting combination with parsley, coriander, marjoram and mint. You should not mix with rosemary: each of the herbs is saturated by itself.

Are there any contraindications

Basil is a peculiar plant, it bears both health benefits and harm, which is especially important due to its improper use. As mentioned above, Basil contains mercury, so grass treatment for more than 20 days is not recommended. If necessary, continue the course, take a break, and then you can resume treatment. It is undesirable to use basil for children under six years old, nursing women, with caution - for patients with problems of the gastrointestinal tract.

Basil, despite its beneficial properties, has contraindications in its use.In particular, it is not recommended for pregnant women with diabetes, thrombophlebitis and hypertension. Take a course of treatment with preparations containing basil, preferably after consulting a doctor.