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In the wild, basil mint is found in Northeast Africa, the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula, and the island of Madagascar. In the USSR is cultivated as an annual plant, because basil mint is very sensitive to low temperatures and already at the onset of small frosts (-1-2 °) dies.
The flowering above-ground part of the plant without the woody parts of the stem is used.
Chemical composition (beneficial properties of basil)
Useful properties of basil are known to healers since ancient times. The above-ground part of the plant contains essential oil (in leaves 1.6-6%, in inflorescences 1.5-3.5%, in stems up to 0.3%). The main component of the essential oil is right-handed camphor (55- 80%) and a number of other terpenes. Peppermint basil is a source of natural camphor production.
Basil action and treatment
Basil mint has the ability to excite the central nervous system, especially the center of the medulla oblongata, and enhance the activity of the heart, low toxicity, in large doses causes clonic convulsions. Treatment with basil topically has an irritant and antiseptic effect. Camphor is used internally and in the form of injections of camphor oil in the weakening of cardiac activity, asphyxia, collapse, poisoning by narcotic and sleeping pills. In large doses it is used for convulsive therapy, in the treatment of schizophrenia. Useful properties of basil, which are contained in the essential oil of the plant stimulate appetite, act anti-inflammatory in chronic gastritis, colitis, recommended for inflammation of the kidneys, renal pelvis and bladder, as well as coughs, whooping cough. Treatment with basil externally is recommended in the form of compresses from the infusion for wounds and eczema.
Treatment with basil in Bulgaria is recommended for pyelitis with dysuria, cystitis, whooping cough. Infusion is prepared from 4-5 g of herb with 250 ml (strong dose) or 500 ml (weak dose) of boiling water - this is the daily dose. In Bulgarian folk medicine, the juice of fresh basil leaves is used for purulent inflammation of the middle ear, externally - with hard-to-heal wounds. Despite the beneficial properties of basil, caution should be exercised when using it, as higher doses are highly irritating.
Treatment with basil (its flowers) in Indian medicine is used as a diuretic and sedative, fruits - in gonorrhea, dysentery and chronic diarrhea, roots - in intestinal diseases in children (Chopra et al., 1956).
Basil herb tops are officinal in France and Venezuela (Klan, 1948).
Useful properties of basil are also widely known in domestic medicine. In Russian folk medicine basil mint-leaved used for rheumatism, headache, vomiting and amenorrhea, dry crushed herb - in the form of snuff for a long runny nose to excite sneezing, mucous infusion of seeds applied as compresses for inflammation of the eyes and to cracked nipples. Basil herb infusion has a pleasant odor and is used instead of tea, for baths and bathes. The essential oil is used in perfumery.
The plant is used in the production of Benedictine and Chartreuse liqueurs.
The above-ground part of basil mint, collected during the flowering period, is used by us as an aromatic and anti-inflammatory agent for kidney diseases..
