Basil Essential Oil (10 ml)
Basil's Story
The Basil family is originally from India and has more than 100 members. Of all his siblings, Ocimum basilicum is the most entrepreneurial type. His personality is very direct and blunt, and may even come across as rude or patronizing- but he never means harm! Isn’t speaking directly a great trait to have?
He is very aware of his royal blood (Ocimum means „I feel“ and basilikos means „royal“ in Greek, hence the name „Royal Plant“), so treat him with dignity, and he will be the friend you turn to for clarity.
Despite his super composed monarchic exterior, Basil is very spiritual and passionate. He deeply believes in the connection between mind, body and soul and goes to great length to convey his ideas.
Not sure if it’s his charm, refined posture, big blue-green eyes or all of them put together, but what’s sure is people instantly fall for Basil. He has this gift of instilling optimism and providing a sense of warm confidence and strong balance.
Aroma
Sweet, warm, herbaceous, fiery and anise-like
Clinical Applications
Anxiety and Stress: Inhaling the aroma of Basil by itself or when blended with Lavender and Geranium, can help reduce anxiety and stress. The three oils can also be blended together to create a stress-reducing massage blend. This is particularly effective when anxiety and stress are accompanied by digestive distress or muscle tension.
Digestive discomfort: Basil helps ease post-meal gas and cramping when blended with other digestive oils such as Cardamom and Peppermint.
Headache: Rubbing a cream containing Sweet Basil on your neck is effective for alleviating headaches, especially those related to stress and tension. Rub Sweet Basil on its own or blended with Frankincense and Lavender for headache relief. The pain relieving properties of Basil were demonstrated in these studies (Rivot et al. 2002, Daniel et al. 2008).
Respiratory problems: Basil’s antispasmodic properties make it an excellent oil for applying over the chest to soothe spasmodic coughs and chest colds. The combination of Basil and Lavender is effective as a decongestant and antispasmodic. The presence of eugenol and ethers and the interactions of various components in the oil give Basil its powerful antispasmodic properties (Oliviera et al 2009).
Mental fatigue: Inhaling the aroma of Basil is known to reduce stress and overwhelm. It is particularly useful when you are feeling burnt out mentally and emotionally. Another way to reduce mental fatigue is by blending Basil with Eucalyptus, Lemon, and Rosemary to create an uplifting massage blend. Studies suggest that it’s the 1,8 cineole content of basil that makes it an effective nerve tonic. (Tiserrand, The Art of Aromatherapy)
Musculoskeletal pain: Sweet Basil is rich in linalool and eugenol, which makes it an excellent addition to a massage blend for soothing pain, inflammation and spasms (Batista et al. 2008, Batista et al. 2011). Sweet Basil blends well with Rosemary, Geranium, Lavender, Black Pepper.
Vomiting: Inhaling the aroma of Sweet Basil helps to soothe the stomach and reduce nausea and vomiting. This is thought to be because of the interactions between the trace components in the oil (Aromahead Institute). Sweet Basil can be used on its own or combined with a drop of Peppermint to stop vomiting.
Acne: A daily topical application of a Sweet Basil and Sweet Orange blend can reduce acne lesions, burning and redness. The acne-reducing effects were demonstrated in a controlled study where volunteers applied this blend over their acne every day for eight weeks (Matiz et al, 2012).
Skin penetration enhancer: Adding Basil to any blend intended for topical application helps to boost the absorbability of the other components in the blend. (Jain et al. 2008 cited by Adorjan and Buchbauer 2010).
Safety & Dilution
Maximum topical use dilution: 3% ( 3 drops in 1 tbsp carrier like coconut, olive oil, lotion etc). See here DILUTION GUIDELINES according to age or ailment.
Discontinue in case of any skin irritation. Avoid contact with eyes, inner ears and sensitive areas.
Keep out of reach of children. Do not apply on the skin of children younger than 2 years old. If pregnant, nursing or under medical care please consult physician. Do not use internally, unless directed by a licensed aromatherapist or physician.
Use with caution around pets. When diffusing in the room make sure the door is open so that the animal can leave in case of discomfort.
Shelf Life & Storage
Shelf life: 5 years
We recommend storing oils in a cool, dark and dry area away from direct sunlight. Keep the cap closed tightly to avoid oxygen exposure. Oils that are past expiry date should not be used for therapeutic purpose but they can still be used for cleaning.
More Information
Latin Name: Ocimum Basilicum ct. linalool
Botanical Family: Lamiaceae (Labiatae)
Main chemical constituents: Linalol, Eugenol, Cineol
Country: India
Extraction Method: Steam distilled
Plant part used: Leaves
Culture: Organic
Aromatic note: Top