Basil for digestion and… lactation!

[14 November 2006 - 08h30]

Do you often put basil in tomatoes like the Italian “Mammas”? Did you know, however, that apart from its undeniable flavouring qualities, Ocimum basilicum has authentic pharmacological properties?

Thus basil is recommended to women who have just given birth as it is supposed to promote lactation. But that’s not all, so let us list its properties in order. Basil is one of the members of the Lamiacea family, found in every hot country, in places sheltered from the wind. For the reasons we have seen above, it is a good plant to have in any family herb garden. As it also grows very well in a pot, it is becoming a kind of urban plant…

Used for its “therapeutic” virtues, it must be picked when the stem still has flowers. Tie the basil in bunches and leave to dry in thin layers, in the shade. Afterwards it can be used in infusions, with two to three teaspoonfuls for two cups of water. The silica and saponins found in the plant have a positive effect on urinary problems and bloating. It assists digestion with its tannins and mineral salts and, in addition to its stimulation of lactation, it seems that basil is also a good sedative!

If you are not convinced, you can always use it in cooking… In which case you just use the fine grass-green leaves, whose flavour is reminiscent of cloves or nutmeg…

Source : Photo Kntstudios/Fotolia

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