This plant is not in vain carries such a name. The holy basil has many useful properties. It is used in medicine and cooking. You can grow both at home and in the country. The plant sprouts in India, Iran, China, Africa.
Plant description
Sacred Basil (a photo of it is presented below) is a perennial shrub with a height of not more than 60 cm. The foliage has an oval shape, slightly fluffy, with serrated edges. The color of the leaves can be from green to white and purple. It depends on the type of plant. The composition of the basil will also depend on it, and what useful properties it will possess.
The shrub is famous for its pleasant aroma. A bush blooms in early summer with peculiar tassel flowers. Their color can be pink, white or white and pink. The leaves and stem are also fragrant in the plant, since they contain a large amount of essential oils. The basil fruit consists of four brown nuts, which, after ripening, are separated from each other. The weight of 1000 seeds is 0.5-0.8 g. They retain viability for 4-5 years.
The most unpretentious and easy to care are considered varieties of basil with green leaves. The second name of the basil plant is tulasi.
The chemical composition of the plant. Why is basil popular?
The chemical composition of the plant makes it universal. It includes:
- essential oil. Most of it is contained in the leaves and stem of the bush;
- camphor;
- estragolum;
- linalool;
- tannins;
- proteins;
- carbohydrates;
- mineral salts;
- glycosides;
- carotene;
- vitamins;
- acid saponins;
- volatile;
- routine.
Due to its composition, the holy basil received such a distribution. Leaves, root, stem and flowers - everything was used in medicine, cooking, cosmetology. In addition, the plant simply decorates the apartment with its appearance and fills it with a pleasant aroma.
Ways to grow and care for such a useful plant
In reviews about tulasi people write that this plant is not too whimsical to care for. He loves sunlight, warmth and moderate humidity. Therefore, if a decision is made to grow a plant in the country, and the climate is rather cool, then it is better to plant a bush in a greenhouse.
It is desirable that the soil consisted of land, peat and humus in equal proportions. Be sure to warm up. Especially if the plant will grow in a pot. You can grow shrubs from seeds or seedlings. When grown from seeds, they should not be placed deep in the ground. It is enough to place the seed at a depth of 1 cm.
Two weeks later, the first leaves of the holy basil appear. If the plant is grown at home, then you should not let it grow more than 15 cm. To do this, cut off the top. For better growth, it is necessary to periodically water with a solution of urea. It is impossible to transfuse a plant.
If the plant is grown on the site, then in the greenhouse can also be planted with seeds. And in the open field it is better to grow from seedlings. Planting plants should be no closer than 30 cm to each other. You can grow from cuttings, but only after they give roots. To do this, hold the stalk in water.
Landing time is May. At this time, the ground is warmed up and night frosts have already receded. You can not plant, as people say in their reviews, the holy basil is constantly in one place. From this he can get sick. Also, do not forget to loosen the ground and remove weeds.
The rules for the collection and storage of this plant
The first harvest can be done when the plant reaches 15 cm. It is better to harvest before flowering. Leaves and twigs can be carefully broken off or trimmed with scissors. This will not harm the plant. It will grow and continue to shoot. Collection can be done more than once. If you need a large harvest, then you can cut the stem and leaves so that four to six leaves are left on the bush. This will be enough so that the plant does not die and continues its growth.
The collected material can be stored in the refrigerator for up to four days. It can be dried and laid out in glass jars to prevent moisture from entering. Dried basil is easy to grind in your hands. Moreover, its aroma is much stronger than that of fresh. The plant can be salted. For 150 g of the plant, 30 g of salt is taken. Leaves and stem are placed in a jar and sprinkled with salt, stored in the refrigerator.
All methods of preserving basil are simple, but salting is the best option. It is considered ideal to grow a shrub in a pot at home or on the balcony. Break off a fresh stem or leaves as needed.
Holy Basil in Moscow can be bought at any pharmacy. This is if there is no way to grow the plant yourself.
Useful properties of the holy basil (tulasi)
Due to its rich composition, the plant is used for medical purposes. It is also used in cosmetology.
Let's look at the beneficial properties of the holy basil. The benefits of the plant are as follows:
- Cleanses the skin during inflammation. You can use it as an external remedy and drink teas with basil. The skin becomes clean and silky and rejuvenated.
- Reduces blood glucose, thereby protecting the liver and kidneys from the harmful effects of excess sugar.
- Helps with stressful situations, normalizes mood, if there are sharp changes.
- Used in the fight against colds and bacterial diseases.
- Useful in the work of the heart and blood vessels (strengthens them).
- It cleans the oral cavity well and prevents the formation of tartar. It fights bad breath. It treats the throat with inflammation.
- Reduces headache.
- Fights eye infections. For example, conjunctivitis.
- Improves appetite.
- Relieves cough.
- Increases milk production in nursing mothers.
- Helps in the treatment of kidneys.
- Protects the liver, and also cleans it from toxins.
- It is used in case of radiation, since the holy basil is able to thicken blood.
- Fights fungal diseases if the source of the disease is Candida.
- Helps with abdominal pain.
- Kills E. coli and staphylococcus aureus (golden).
- Helps stop blood flow.
- Helps to bite small insects. He scares them away with his smell.
- It lowers the temperature well.
- Reduces the likelihood of developing cancer. Helps recover faster after chemotherapy.
- Removes body fat.
- Strengthens weakened immunity.
- Improves sexual arousal. Increases potency.
- Normalizes stool and eliminates increased gas formation.
In reviews about tulasi, women write that it can be used to reduce weight, but there is one caveat. The plant also improves appetite. Therefore, instead of reducing body weight, you can increase it. For effective weight loss, it is better to consult a physician and, of course, a nutritionist.
Contraindications to the use of this plant
The harm from the use of the plant is observed with its overdose or some diseases.
Holy Basil is not recommended for use in the following cases:
- myocardial infarction;
- high blood pressure;
- thick blood, high platelet count;
- heart disease (coronary artery disease);
- allergy to the plant;
- pregnancy and lactation. The effect on the fetus and on the baby during feeding has not been studied;
- diabetes mellitus (consultation with a physician / cardiologist is needed, as it is not combined with all medicines).
Possible damage from the plant in case of an overdose
In case of an overdose, the following symptoms may be:
- poisoning, urgent gastric lavage is necessary;
- irritation of the mucous membranes, throat, stomach;
- cramps.
Sacred basil (or tulasi), like any medicine, requires a dosage when consumed. If medications are being taken, then a physician should be consulted regarding their compatibility. With the right intake of drugs / products from the plant, only benefits can be obtained from it.
Sacred basil can be used both in dried and frozen, and in fresh form. Below are a few healthy dishes and drinks with this plant. Cooking them is not difficult.
Tea with basil
Leaves and stem have strong antioxidant properties. The drink helps reduce headache, reduces inflammation of the genitourinary system, and relieves swelling of the throat. You can also rinse your hair with tea to give it a healthy look. You can also use it to wash your face, it will relieve acne and improve cell regeneration. You can take a bath with a drink. The bathroom will need 1 liter of such tea. And if you add 5 g of salt and 5 ml of vinegar to it, then you can forget about toothache.
How to make tea? You need to take the dried mixture (leaves, flowers and stalk) of basil 25 g. Pour boiling water (200 ml). Keep on high heat for up to 7 minutes. Insist for about half an hour. Consume 50 ml before meals, up to four times a day. Tea perfectly helps to be in a good mood all day.
Basil salad
The plant adds to the salad usefulness, and also gives an extraordinary aroma and taste.
How to make a salad? Required: sweet red pepper (220 g), tomato (320 g), onion (110 g), 5 leaves of basil, seedless olives (one can). Onions are cut into rings, and olives are freed from the seeds and cut in half. Basil leaves (fresh) are better to tear with your hands (do not cut). Dice the remaining ingredients. Mix everything, add oil, add salt and spices to taste.
Basil oil. How to do and when to use?
Oil is often made from a plant. The properties of the holy basil are fully preserved in the finished product. They make oil in special conditions. On average, up to 100 kg of shrub is consumed for preparing 1 liter.
Usually the oil has a transparent color, sometimes with a yellow tint. It has an incredible aroma. With it, you can reduce wrinkles, give skin elasticity, slow down the aging process.
Oil helps with many diseases (relieves joint pain, disinfects, treats colds and so on), is used in aromatherapy. The main thing is to use it correctly, do not overdo it. Especially when taken orally: a high concentration can harm the digestive tract.
Tulasi oil equivalent
You can prepare an analogue of basil oil and at home. You need to take 60 g of leaves (fresh) basil and mix in a blender with 60 ml of olive oil. The resulting slurry is mixed with 250 ml of olive oil. Insist twelve hours. The oil remains valid for 2 weeks. Before use, it is advisable to mix the oil (as a precipitate forms) and warm to 18 degrees. It can be used for food and cosmetic purposes.
Basil sauce
You will need fresh leaves of the plant, olive oil (100 ml), grated parmesan (100 g), 7 cloves of garlic, pine nuts (20 g), spices to taste. Chop the garlic cloves finely (do not grate). Basil, garlic, nuts crush in a mortar until smooth. Then the rest of the sauce is added. It will improve the taste of any dish. You can add to salads, serve with meat and so on.
Usage Tips
If basil is used fresh, then when cooking it should not be cut, it is advisable to simply tear it with your hands. It should be added to hot dishes before serving. This will preserve the aroma, and the plant will not lose its beneficial properties.
You can add leaves to soups, salads, drinks, while preparing meat dishes, to sauces. Great for pickling vegetables for the winter. If it is not possible to grow a plant at home, then it is better to keep it frozen. Since the whole benefit of the plant is in its essential oil. When dried, its concentration decreases significantly. But the composition of frozen leaves is practically unchanged.
