The efficacy and function of hairy basil

As people's living standards improve, they pay more attention to health preservation. Many people know that the traditional Chinese medicine Ocimum odoratum is good for the body and can treat many diseases. Let’s learn about it today.

[Other names] Hairy clove basil, clove grass, true grass, green basil

[Source] Medicinal material source: the whole herb of Ocimum basilicum, a plant of the Lamiaceae family.

[Original form] Hairy-leaved lilac basil, an upright shrub, 0.5-1m high. The whole plant is aromatic. Much branched, stems and branches quadrangular, covered with long soft hairs. Leaves are opposite, petioles are 1-3.5cm long, flat, densely covered with soft hairs; leaf blades are ovate-oblong or oblong, 5-12cm long, 1.5-6cm wide, acuminate at the apex, cuneate at the base, with crenate edges, and densely covered with soft hairs and glandular dots on both sides. The cymes are 6-flowered, densely packed into terminal and axillary racemes, 5-15cm long, often conical, densely pubescent; and glandular dots, sessile; calyx bell-shaped, about 4mm long, with pubescent and glandular dots on the outside; calyx bell-shaped, about 2mm long, mostly tilted downward, up to 4mm long when flowering; calyx 5 teeth, upper lip 3 teeth, middle tooth ovate, apex acute, margin decurrent, slightly recurved, lateral teeth small, with thorn tips, lower lip 2 teeth very small, apex thorn-like; corolla white-yellow or white, about 4.5mm long, slightly longer than calyx, lip pubescent and glandular dots on the outside, upper lip wide, 4-lobed, lower lip oblong, slightly longer than upper lip, entire; stamens 4, nearly equal in length, filaments of the posterior stamens with toothed appendages at the base, ovary 4-lobed, style beyond stamens, stigma 2-lobed; disk 4-toothed, 1 tooth slightly beyond ovary. The nutlets are nearly spherical, brown, wrinkled, and have glandular pits. The flowering period is October and the fruiting period is November.

[Habitat distribution] It is cultivated in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Taiwan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan and other places.

[Properties] Identification of properties: the stem is square columnar, of varying lengths, 2-4mm in diameter, with longitudinal grooves and long soft hairs on the surface; it is hard, with a fibrous, yellow-white broken surface, and white central pith. The leaves are opposite, mostly falling off or broken. The intact ones are ovate, short round or oblong when flattened, 5-11cm long, densely covered with soft hairs on both sides; the petiole is 1-3.5cm long and covered with soft hairs. The cyme is terminal and panicle, densely covered with soft hairs; the bracts are ovate-rhombus or lanceolate; the flowers are withered; the persistent calyx is bell-shaped, covered with soft hairs on the outside and with soft hairs on the inner throat. The nutlets are nearly spherical. It has a fragrant aroma, spicy taste and a cooling effect.

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【Nature and flavor】 Spicy; warm

【Functions and indications】 Dispel wind and release exterior; eliminate dampness and harmonize the middle; disperse blood stasis and relieve pain. Indications: Cold due to external wind; headache; abdominal distension and pain; indigestion; diarrhea, rheumatic pain; eczema and itching; contusions and swelling; snake bites

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decocted in water, 9-15g. For external use: take appropriate amount, mash and apply; or squeeze the juice and apply; or decoct in water and use for washing.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

The utilization rate of hairy-leaved ocimum basilicum in traditional Chinese medicine is still very high, and it can be used to treat a variety of diseases. We should eat it after fully understanding the effects and functions of hairy basil. I hope everyone doesn’t eat carelessly.