Detaching basil leaves in a certain way can lead to the plant’s immediate demise, but experts have a technique to safeguard your aromatic plant.
Basil plants, with their beauty and captivating fragrance, are a delight for the senses. However, many struggle to care for them properly, especially when it comes to handling basil leaves. Detaching them incorrectly can spell the death of the plant.
Basil Plant: Characteristics and Properties
Originating from India, where it was revered for its medicinal and miraculous qualities, basil found its way to Europe over 2500 years ago, first in Greece. Belonging to the Labiate family, it goes by the scientific name Ocinum Basilicum. Legend has it that the Western world dubbed it a “royal plant” after Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine, discovered the Holy Cross in a field covered with basil plants.
Throughout history, basil leaves were not only used for therapeutic purposes but also had roles in embalming processes in ancient Egypt and were employed during the Late Middle Ages to treat ailments like the evil eye, colds, and contractions during pregnancy.
Today, basil is primarily used in the kitchen, but its numerous properties make it incredible for various purposes. Basil essential oil, for example, is known to treat gastric and digestive disorders and alleviate physical fatigue.
Growing basil is a relatively simple process; you just need to plant the seeds in a pot and cover them with soil enriched with natural fertilizers to encourage growth. Basil plants prefer moist soils, but overwatering can lead to withering within hours.
Picking Basil Leaves: The Right Way
If you often tear individual leaves from your basil plant for seasoning or decoctions, beware – you might be doing it wrong. Detaching leaves in a certain manner can guarantee the plant’s demise. The correct method, as advised by experts, involves cutting with scissors a sprig with typically four attached leaves.
By adopting this approach, your basil plant won’t die; instead, it will have the opportunity to regrow new branches with fresh leaves. Be cautious not to cut the lower branches near the root but focus on trimming the higher ones. Altering the flavor of basil leaves is also possible by pruning tips that sprout on the stems of flowers, affecting their nutritional properties and taste.
Here’s an additional tip for herb enthusiasts: never cultivate basil and sage plants together or in close proximity, as they have different soil preferences. Basil thrives in moist soil, while sage prefers a dry environment.
The Myriad Health Benefits of Basil
Beyond its culinary uses, basil leaves have therapeutic benefits. Scientific studies indicate that regularly consuming basil leaves can help control mood swings, heal wounds, combat tiredness and exhaustion, alleviate abdominal pain and cramps, soothe skin redness, and cleanse the skin from pimples and impurities.
Basil’s virtues extend beyond the kitchen, offering a range of benefits to the body. Whether consumed fresh, made into a decoction, or used as a compress for the skin, basil leaves can be a versatile addition to your health routine. Now that you know the right technique for harvesting them without harming the plant, you can fully appreciate the beneficial properties this natural gem offers to the body.
