Useful properties and contraindications of purple basil for the body, its use and varieties
Basil purple is considered a common annual plant that is sometimes simply added to food. However, in fact, this culture is unique and is popular not only among culinary experts, but also among scientists. Due to the beneficial properties of purple basil, the plant is often used in medicine for the preparation of medications that treat various diseases.
Description
Basil is a member of the labiate family that many people use to make seasonings. Since ancient times, the inhabitants of the Middle East and India have used this herb to create aromatic spices.
Basil did not gain popularity in Europe immediately, but only after several centuries. Over time, red basil has become a favorite spice of French gourmets.
Already in the second half of the sixteenth century, this aromatic plant was used as a seasoning for fish or meat dishes all over the world.
The homeland of this annual herbal plant is South Asia, since it is there that the most favorable conditions for its cultivation. However, today this spice is cultivated in all countries. When optimal conditions are created for growing basil, the plant grows up to 70–80 cm in height. Ripe bushes are covered with oblong and ovoid leaves, at the tips of which there are small villi and denticles.
Purple basil is very beautiful during flowering. Spikelets or brushes are formed on it, which, when flowering, acquire a purple or pinkish tint. In order for the plant to bloom well, you will have to grow it in greenhouse conditions. When grown outdoors, planted seedlings can die even with minimal frost.
The nutritional value
Before planting basil or adding it to dishes, you should familiarize yourself with the composition of this plant.
The plant contains a lot of water, carbohydrates, ash, fiber and even fat in the amount of 0.6 grams per 100 grams of greens. Separately, mention should be made of vitamins, which are also present in large quantities. Most of all in greens vitamins that are included in group B. These include folic acid, pantothenic acid, riboflavin, thiamine, niacin and choline with pyridoxine. The plant also contains vitamin A in the form of beta-carotene and ascorbic acid. In smaller quantities, greens contain vitamins of the PP, K and E groups.
The Ararat vegetable basil contains a large amount of useful trace elements. The plant is rich in magnesium, sodium, phosphorus, calcium and potassium. It also contains about 350 grams of selenium, zinc, manganese and iron. Many are surprised by the calorie content of greens, since it is even higher than that of cucumbers and is about 25 kcal.
Basil is distinguished by its aroma, which appears due to the essential oils in the composition. Various types of greens contain from one to one and a half percent of essential oils such as saponin, ocimene, camphor and methidhavinol.
Basil purple: properties
Each person who plans to use the plant in cooking or in treating diseases should familiarize themselves with the beneficial properties and contraindications of purple basil.
Beneficial features
Many people are interested in how purple basil is useful and whether it has any useful properties. This plant has been known for its medicinal properties for many years. Even in Russia, everyone called greens the royal herb, since it was often used by traditional healers in the treatment of various diseases.
Many people knew about the benefits of purple basil for the body and therefore they often used it to relieve inflammation in the genitourinary system or cleanse the body. It was also often used to get rid of diseases of the digestive system.
Due to the high content of vitamins in the plant, it is used to tighten nails, change the appearance of the skin and improve the elasticity of blood vessels. Green leaves contain a lot of essential oils, which not only give them a pleasant smell, but also enrich them with useful microelements. Due to this, the leaves of the plant are often used to prepare medicines for women and men from flatulence.
Many people call basil an excellent radioprotector that can protect the human body from the negative effects of radiation. Also, the beneficial properties of the herb include its antimicrobial effect, due to which diseases of the internal organs are treated and wounds on the surface of the skin are disinfected.
Doctors advise men with erectile dysfunction to take basil medications. Greens are an excellent aphrodisiac that increases potency and sex drive in guys of all ages.
The beneficial properties of red basil can help people with severe migraines cope. To eliminate headaches, you will have to take a hot bath to which a little basil oil has been added. To enhance the healing effect, it is recommended to add a little cream and a few drops of honey to the oil.
The harm of purple basil and contraindications
Before treating diseases with basil, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with its contraindications so as not to harm your health. Such a herbaceous plant does not always bring only benefits and therefore some people cannot use it.
It is not recommended to use basil herb medicines for pregnant girls. Regular use of these drugs can interfere with pregnancy. Also, people who have suffered a stroke or heart attack will have to refuse medications. Using preparations made from these herbs can worsen the well-being of people with hypertension or diabetes mellitus.
If you still had to take such medications, then you should not drink them for more than three weeks. These medicines contain many essential oils that are harmful to the body if taken in large quantities.
The best varieties of purple basil
Many people who want grow basil at homeface problems when choosing a variety of greens. Therefore, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the best varieties of purple basil in advance.
Red ruby
The cultivar is a variety of red basil that is often grown by gardeners. The features of Red Ruby include the size of the bushes, which are distinguished by their compactness. The adult plant is covered with dark purple leaves. Ripe basil is used fresh or frozen.
Opal
Opal bushes are covered with crimson flowers and purple-tinted leaves. When growing from each plant, it is recommended to carefully cut off all flowers so that they do not interfere with the growth of the leaves. Leaves of this variety are used as additives for pickles, sauces, gravy and vegetable salads. In one season, about 2-3 kilograms of basil leaves are harvested from a square meter of garden.
Dark opal
Gardeners consider this particular variety to be one of the best among other varieties of purple basil. Dark opal leaves are rich in carotene, phytoncid, vitamins and essential oils. They are quite large in size and rich in smell. Leaves are used to create preserves, vinegars and salads. Also, the variety is used for decorative purposes to decorate borders or flower beds.
Philosopher
Lovers of early ripening plants should pay attention to the Philosopher basil variety, since its technical ripeness occurs 45 days after planting. The greenery is compact and grows only 35 cm in height. The leaves of ripe bushes have a clove flavor and a powerful aroma. The plant is used as a flavoring agent for canning and preparing salads.
Ararat
The bushes of purple Ararat differ from other varieties, as they grow up to 80 cm. The leaves on the bushes are painted purple with a greenish tint. They contain a lot of essential oils and carotene, which is why they are often added to vegetable soups, salads and cheeses.
Sacred
The properties of the Holy Basil are its main feature. The plant is rich in antioxidants, minerals and vitamins, due to which the variety is often used in medicine.
Yerevan
The purple Yerevan plant variety is actively used not only for the preparation of culinary dishes, but also for decoration. This is possible thanks to the large red leaves that cover the Yerevan basil.
Purple stars
Bushes of Purple stars are classified as mid-season plants that ripen one and a half months after planting. Shrubs grow up to 45 cm and are covered with ovoid leaves, painted in a dark purple color. The variety is used as a seasoning for dishes or salads.
The black
A distinctive feature of Black Basil is its dark purple leaves with teeth on the edges. They have a faint cinnamon odor that appears immediately after the plant ripens. The variety is used for making marinades, preserves and fish dishes.
Growing
Growing basil bushes from seeds is considered difficult as the plant needs constant maintenance. Only warm areas that are constantly illuminated by sunlight are suitable for disembarkation. Residents of the northern regions will have to use greenhouses to plant a plant in order to protect the greens from frost.
They are engaged in planting in the second half of May, when the air temperature does not drop below zero degrees. At least 3-4 seeds are placed in each hole. After planting the seed, the seedlings must be constantly looked after. Proper care consists in timely feeding and watering shrubs. Also, plants are regularly treated with protective agents to protect them from pests and diseases.
Purple basil for healing
Basil bushes are often used for the preparation of medicinal decoctions and tinctures that can cure a person from various diseases. Before using herbs for medicinal purposes, you should familiarize yourself with the recipes for preparing medicines:
- Increased appetite.Basil medicines are often used to boost a person's appetite. To prepare the broth, the dried herb is poured with hot water, covered with a lid and infused for about 10-15 minutes. After that, the liquid is filtered and taken in a teaspoon before meals.
- Treatment of inflammation. Decoction medications are sometimes used to treat inflammation. When creating a decoction, four leaves of grass are poured with boiled water and infused for 40 minutes. The remedy is drunk daily, three times a day.
- Otitis media treatment. To cope with otitis media, grass leaves must be mixed with honey, added to boiled water and placed on a gas stove. The broth is removed from the heat after half an hour and cools down to room temperature, after which a compress is made from it.
Cooking use
Basil is often used in cooking when creating various dishes. In dry form, the plant is used as a seasoning for dishes made from peppers, tomatoes or eggplants. Also, spicy herbs go well with parsley, dill or mint. It is better not to add basil leaves to dishes with coriander, since these plants do not combine.
Fresh leaves are used to prepare salads with any vegetables. Basil goes especially well with tomatoes and therefore many people add it to tomato sauce or ketchup.
Conclusion
Purple basil is grown in vegetable gardens or greenhouses by many vegetable growers. Before growing such greens, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the features of its use and growing at home.
