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Don’t hold back on the basil!
[mis à jour le 3 July 2009 à 17h39]
Okay… so you often put basil in your tomato salads. But apart from its obvious taste qualities, did you know that basil also has pharmacological properties? Which is why it is recommended to young mothers who have just given birth as it is believed to encourage lactation. But that’s not all.
Basil belongs to the family Lamiacea and is found growing in warm areas sheltered from the wind. For the reasons given above, basil is an ideal candidate for a place among the aromatic herbs in the family garden. But as it also grows well in pots, it has become a kind of urban plant…
When required for “therapeutic” purposes, basil should be picked while the stem still has flowers on it. The stems should then be tied into bunches and dried in thin layers in the shade. Once dry it can be used to make infusions: 2 to 3 teaspoons of dried basil to 2 cups of water. The silica and saponins the plant contains have a beneficial effect on urinary problems and bloating. Tanins and mineral salts make basil an aid to digestion in addition to its stimulant effect on lactation. And basil is also believed to be a good sedative! If you remain unconvinced, you still try using it in the kitchen…
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