Spicy “Italian” basil: a medicinal gourmet favorite

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Spicy Italian Basil is a medicinal gourmet favoriteThe characteristic taste that cannot be confused with anything else, the spicy aroma of this plant, has earned basil popularity under various names.

Basil mint-leaved, camphor refers to the labiate: a white floral corolla of a tubular shape with an upper four-lobed lip, and the lower whole can be observed in bloom from June to August. The Italians, who made basil almost a national seasoning, believe that it reaches its "flavor" peak during this period, and therefore not only basil leaves, but also small inflorescences are often used in Italian recipes.

The name "camphor" basil acquired after an interesting study carried out by French scientists C. Bergeret and M. Teto, which can be read about in their joint work "Renewed Phytotherapy". When cooled, the essential oil of basil releases stearoptene, called basil camphor. Terpine hydrate was isolated by-side.

In addition to tannin, glycosides and saponins, beta-sitosterol was also found in the basil, which has recently established itself as a prophylactic to atherosclerosis.

Being a spicy flavoring plant, basil in its leaves and stems contains many essential substances, which make it widely used in first and second courses, both dry and fresh.

Indispensable in various marinades, delicately flavoring cheeses, sausages, canned meat.

Nutritionists recommend replacing ground pepper with a mixture of basil leaves and rosemary for a diet that is gentle on the gastrointestinal tract.

Basil essential oil is very saturated, it contains terpenes, cineole, methyl cyanomide (up to 15%), methyl havicol, the content of which in the extracted oil is about 60%, limanol up to 40%, eugenol up to 35%.

Spicy Italian Basil is a medicinal gourmet favoriteThe medicinal effect of basil has a wide spectrum: as an antifebrile and anticonvulsant agent in case of poisoning with strychnine or corazole.

A strong intestinal antispasmodic, alcoholic extract of basil actively acts on the intestinal muscles. Spastic hypertension of the intestine, dyskinesia of the gallbladder, gallstone disease and many other ailments recede with the use of such an effective remedy as an alcoholic extract of basil.

Even the water extracts of this "spicy Italian" are used in the treatment of gastritis, colic and food poisoning.

An infusion of basil stems and leaves is taken for coughs and colds. A tablespoon of this raw material is brewed with a glass of boiling water and infused for 10 minutes. After filtering through cheesecloth, the infusion is taken a day, three times before meals.

As a soothing remedy for headaches, tea made from basil and creeping thyme, taken equally, is used. The leaves and flowers of these plants (they have the strongest effect during the flowering period) are crushed, take 2 teaspoons per 200 g of boiling water, insist for 12-15 minutes, wrapping the vessel with a warm cloth, and drink like tea, at night, in two steps. Sweetening this tea is not recommended.

When warm, such tea can serve as a gargle when stomatitis in children, the dose is used in two doses.

Karlova A. S.


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