Basil is an aromatic medicinal and edible plant, which tastes like fennel. The whole plant is small, with green leaves, bright colors and fragrance. Native to tropical Asia, it is very sensitive to cold and grows best in hot and dry environment. It has a strong, irritating and aromatic smell, and most common species are sparsely pilose. The same species, varieties or varieties are slightly different in botanical characteristics, with a height of 20-80 cm, smooth or basically smooth erect broomcorn millet and some perennial plants. Some can be made into beautiful bonsai with a little pruning, which can be potted for viewing.
It has the effects of dispersing popular feeling, eliminating dampness and promoting digestion, and promoting blood circulation and detoxification. Can be used for treating exogenous headache, flatulence and qi stagnation, epigastric pain, diarrhea, menoxenia, traumatic injury, snake bite, skin wet sore, addiction and itching.
Distribution of origin
Native to Africa, America and tropical Asia. China is mainly distributed in Xinjiang, Jilin, Hebei, Henan, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Anhui, Jiangxi, Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, Taiwan Province, Guizhou, Yunnan and Sichuan. Most of them are cultivated, and some of them are wild in southern provinces. There are also warm zones from Africa to Asia.
Growth habit
Like warm and humid climate, not cold-resistant, not drought-resistant, not waterlogging-resistant, well-drained, fertile sandy loam or humus loam is preferred.
principal item
There are many varieties and varieties of Basil, such as sweet basil, spotted basil, clove basil, dwarf basil, green basil, milo basil, lemon basil, holy basil, purple basil, fennel basil, Mofa basil, cinnamon basil, wrinkled basil and shrub basil.
chemical composition
Basil contains 0.02~0.04% volatile oil, the specific gravity (15℃) of the oil is 0.900 ~ 0.930, the refractive index (20℃) is 1.4800 ~ 1.4950, and the optical rotation (20℃) is 0. 3-carene, methyl piperonyl alcohol, eugenol, eugenol methyl ether, anisole, methyl cinnamate, 3- hexene-1- alcohol, 3- octanone and furfural. Sterilization rate of pure basil essential oil 100%. It is mainly used as a flavoring material for preparing cosmetics, soaps and edible essences, and also as a flavoring agent in toothpaste and mouthwash.
Main value
The leaves of basil are oval and the flowers are purple and white. By distilling leaves and flowers, you can get transparent and colorless essential oil, which smells like a mixture of cloves and pine needles. This is a big family. Different kinds of basil are named for their characteristics or unique fragrance. Many studies on basil focus on the extraction and composition analysis of spices. It is mainly used in Greek dishes in Italy and France, and is often used in cooking in India and Thailand in the East. Basil is widely cultivated as a vegetable in China, and it has great development space as a new type of special vegetables. Basil has special fragrance characteristics (generally speaking, it will emit a fragrance similar to clove, some of which are slightly minty, slightly sweet or spicy, and the fragrance varies from species to species).
Edible
(1) The young leaves can be eaten or made into tea, which has the functions of expelling wind, aromatic, invigorating stomach and sweating. Can be used as seasoning for pizza, pasta sauce, sausage, soup, tomato juice, shower juice and salad. Many Italian chefs often use basil instead of pizza grass. It is also a common seasoning in Thai cooking. Dried basil can be made into decompression herbal tea with 3 tablespoons lavender, mint, marjoram and lemon verbena.
② Basil is very suitable for matching with tomatoes. Whether cooking, making soup or making sauce, its flavor is very unique. Can be used as pizza, pasta sauce, sausage, soup, tomato juice and shower juice. And salad dressing. Basil can also be mixed with oregano, thyme and sage, and it is very mellow in hot dogs, sausages, sauces or pizza sauce.
Refreshing effect
① Basil essential oil is colorless and extracted from leaves and flower heads. The smell is cool and refreshing, which has a strong stimulating effect on the nervous system. When used in fatigue, it can immediately cheer up the spirit, and is effective for inattention, long-term distraction, listlessness and paranoia. Helps to increase memory. Very sweet, slightly spicy.
② Restoring the weak mind, using 20: 1 basil oil for full body massage can quickly restore the weak mind and spirit.
(3) pure essential oils Xiang: It helps to concentrate, such as students who concentrate on their studies. Dropping it on a handkerchief and applying it to the face to breathe can quickly eliminate headaches, especially those caused by depression.
⑤ Paired with vanilla, it is a famous "happy combination".
⑥ Paired with geranium, it has the fragrance and curative effect of the same warm series, has a quite powerful nursing function and has a miraculous effect on the injured body and mind.
⑦ With orange blossom, it is the best formula for physical and mental assistance and nursing.
Cosmetic efficacy
It has moisturizing effect on dry, dehydrated, rough and wrinkled skin, and can also be used for dark circles and bags under the eyes when working overtime and facing the computer for a long time. Firming skin and balancing oil secretion. But too much will make the skin too tight or irritate the skin.
Medicinal value
The whole herb is used as medicine for treating headache, migraine, earache, sinusitis, bronchitis, expectoration, common cold, asthma, burping, flatulence, stomachache, stomach cramp, flatulence, dyspepsia, enteritis and diarrhea, hyperuricemia, muscle pain, soft skin, chest pain, traumatic injury, blood stasis, rheumatoid arthritis and children's fever. Has the effects of relieving summer-heat, detoxicating, relieving pain, invigorating stomach, invigorating qi, replenishing essence, and promoting blood circulation. Stems and leaves are used in obstetrics, which can make blood flow well before delivery; This kind of seed is called Guangmingzi, which is mainly used for ordering and contraception.