Basil purple: application, varieties, useful properties and contraindications

Purple basil is considered a common annual plant that is just sometimes added to food. However, in fact, this culture is unique and is popular not only among culinary specialists, but also among scientists. Due to the beneficial properties of purple basil, the plant is often used in medicine for the preparation of medicines that treat various diseases.

Description

Basil belongs to the family of labial plants that many people use to make spices. Since ancient times, the inhabitants of the Middle East and India have used this herb to create fragrant spices.

In Europe, basil did not immediately gain popularity, 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 fragrant plant was used as a seasoning for fish or meat dishes all over the world.

The birthplace of this annual herbal plant is South Asia, since it is there that the most favorable conditions for its cultivation. However, today the cultivation of this spice is practiced in all countries. When creating optimal conditions for growing basil, the plant grows up to 70-80 cm in height. Mature bushes are covered with oblong and ovoid leaves, on the tips of which there are small villi and teeth.

Very beautiful purple basil during flowering.Spikelets or brushes are formed on it, which, when flowering, acquire a purple or pinkish hue. In order for the plant to bloom well, you will have to grow it in greenhouse conditions. When grown outdoors, planted seedlings may die even with minimal frosts.

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 the greens of 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 a smaller amount, greens contain vitamins of the PP, K and E groups.

The Ararat vegetable basil contains a large number 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 people 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 varieties of greens contain from one to one and a half percent of essential oils such as saponin, ocimene, camphor and methidchavinol.

Basil purple: properties

The beneficial properties and contraindications of purple basil should be familiar to every person who plans to use the plant in cooking or in the treatment of diseases.

Useful properties

Many people are interested in the benefits of purple basil and whether it has any beneficial properties. This plant has been known for its medicinal properties for many years. Even in Russia, everyone called greens the royal grass, as 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 thicken 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 useful 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 medicines. Greens are an excellent aphrodisiac that increases the potency and sexual desire of guys of any age.

Useful properties of red basil help people cope with severe migraines. To eliminate headaches, you will have to take a hot bath, in which a little basil oil has been added. To enhance the therapeutic effect, it is recommended to add a little cream and a few drops of honey to the oil.

Harm of purple basil and contraindications

Before treating diseases with basil, it is recommended to familiarize yourself with its contraindications so as not to harm your he alth. Not always such a herbaceous plant brings only benefits and therefore some people should not use it.

It is not recommended to use medicines from basil herb for pregnant girls. Regular use of such drugs can disrupt the course of pregnancy. Also, people who have had a stroke or heart attack will have to give up medicines. The use of preparations made from these greens may worsen the well-being of people with hypertension or diabetes.

If you still had to take such drugs, then you should not drink them for more than three weeks. These medicines contain a lot of essential oils, which are harmful to the body if taken in large quantities.

The best varieties of purple basil

Many people who want to grow basil at home face 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 variety is a variety of red basil, which is often grown by gardeners. The features of Red Ruby include the size of the bushes, which are distinguished by their compactness. An adult plant is covered with dark purple leaves. Ripe basil is used fresh or frozen.

Opal

Opal bushes are covered with raspberry-colored flowers and leaves with a purple tint. When growing from each plant, it is recommended to carefully cut off all the flowers so that they do not interfere with the growth of the leaves. The leaves of this variety are used as additives for marinades, sauces, gravies and vegetable salads.In one season, about 2-3 kilograms of basil leaves are harvested from a square meter of the 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, phytoncide, vitamins and essential oils. They are quite large in size and have a rich 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

Fans of early ripening plants should pay attention to the Philosopher basil variety, as its technical ripeness occurs 45 days after planting. Greens are compact and grow only 35 cm in height. Leaves of ripe bushes have a clove flavor and a powerful aroma. The plant is used as a flavoring agent in canning and preparing salads.

Ararat

Purple Ararat bushes differ from other varieties, as they grow up to 80 cm. The leaves on the bushes are purple with a greenish tinge. They contain a lot of essential oils and carotene, which is why greens 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

Purple Yerevan plant variety is actively used not only for cooking, but also for decoration. This is possible thanks to the large red leaves that cover the Yerevan basil.

Purple Stars

Purple Star Shrubs are classified as mid-season plants that mature a month and a half after planting. Shrubs grow up to 45 cm and are covered with ovate leaves, painted in dark purple. The variety is used as a seasoning for dishes or salads.

Black

A distinctive feature of Black Basil is its dark purple leaves with jagged edges. They have a faint cinnamon smell that appears immediately after the plant matures. The variety is used to create marinades, preserves and fish dishes.

Growing

Growing basil bushes from seeds is considered difficult, as the plant needs constant care. Only warm areas that are constantly illuminated by sunlight are suitable for landing. Residents of the northern regions will have to use greenhouses to plant the plant to protect the greens from frost.

Planting is done 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 seedlings, seedlings must be constantly looked after.Proper care consists in the timely feeding of shrubs and watering. Also, plants are regularly treated with protective agents to protect them from pests and diseases.

Purple basil for healing

Basil bushes are often used to prepare medicinal decoctions and tinctures that can cure a person of various diseases. Before using greens for medicinal purposes, you should familiarize yourself with the recipes for preparing medicines:

• Increased appetite. Often, basil medicines are used to increase a person's appetite. To prepare a decoction, dried grass 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. Medicines in the form of decoctions are sometimes used in the treatment of inflammation. When creating a decoction, four leaves of grass are poured with boiled water and infused for 40 minutes. Means drink daily three times a day.
• Treatment of otitis. To cope with otitis, grass leaves must be mixed with honey, added to boiled water and put on a gas stove. The broth is removed from the heat after half an hour and cools to room temperature, after which a compress is made from it.

Use in cooking

Often spicy basil herb is used in cooking to create various dishes. In dry form, the plant is used as a seasoning for dishes prepared from pepper, tomato or eggplant. Also, spicy greens go well with parsley, dill or mint. It is better not to add basil leaves to dishes with coriander, as these plants do not combine.

Fresh leaves are used to make salads with any vegetables. Basil pairs especially well with tomatoes, which is why many people add it to tomato sauce or ketchup.

Conclusion

Purple basil is grown in vegetable gardens or greenhouses by many growers. Before growing such greens, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the features of its use and cultivation at home.

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