29 lines
1.5 KiB
Plaintext
29 lines
1.5 KiB
Plaintext
|
BASIL
|
||
|
|
-----
|
||
|
|
Other names : Ocimum basilicum, St. Josephswort, sweet basil.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Habitat : Once native to India and Persia only, and still a sacred
|
||
|
|
herb to the Hindus, basil is an annual plant much used
|
||
|
|
now in Mediterranean cookery. It grows up to 2 feet in
|
||
|
|
height, and its one drawback is that it must be raised
|
||
|
|
from seed or seedling each year. It likes a rich moist
|
||
|
|
soil with plenty of sun. You can buy various types of
|
||
|
|
basil besides the "sweet" variety, the other most
|
||
|
|
popular being "bush" basil. All posses the same
|
||
|
|
properties, however. The herb grows with a square stem
|
||
|
|
in section; smooth, slightly toothed, oval leaves, which
|
||
|
|
give off a strong clove fragrance when crushed; and
|
||
|
|
white, pink or red whorls of flowers which nestle in the
|
||
|
|
axils of the elaves (where the leaf joins the stem).
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Properties : Basil contains an aromatic and volitile camphor-bearing
|
||
|
|
oil which gives it its marvelous clove-like fragrance
|
||
|
|
and accounts for its use in cooking, potpourris and
|
||
|
|
perfumery. A delicious tea can also be prepared from the
|
||
|
|
leaves which is though to allay mild nervous tension
|
||
|
|
headaches and nausea.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Basil Tea : Infuse 1 teaspoon dried herb in 1 covered cup boiling
|
||
|
|
water. strain, and flavor with honey if desired. Upto 1
|
||
|
|
or 2 cups a day may be taken.
|