Basil Oil : Benefits and Uses

Basil essential oil is extracted from the herb basil. It is also known as Sweet basil oil and is nicknamed as “The Royal Herb.” Read on to discover the nourishing, reparative, and protective properties of this oil. And also how it helps in balancing, strengthening, clarifying, and calming the mind and body?

In Summary

• Basil essential oil is also known as the Sweet Basil Essential oil. The leaves of the herb basil are used to extract it. The botanical name of the latter is Ocimum basilicum.
• The scent of basil essential oil is sweet, warm, fresh, crisp, herbaceous, and floral. It may remind you of the smell of licorice as it is also airy, uplifting, and vibrant.
• You can use Sweet basil essential oil in aromatherapy where it helps in stimulating, calming, energizing, fortifying, uplifting, and clarifying the mind. It can also help in relieving headaches and breathing and stomach discomforts.
• Sweet basil essential oil can also help in repelling insects and eliminating bacteria that cause odor.
• You can use sweet basil essential oil on your skin where it helps in nourishing, repairing, balancing, calming, exfoliating, and brightening the complexion.
• You can use sweet basil essential oil in the hair where it helps in cleansing, hydrating, refreshing, strengthening, and softening the strands of hair.
• You can use sweet basil essential oil medicinally. It helps in easing minor irritations of the skin, cramps, pain in the joints, muscular aches, gout, spasms, exhaustion, and gas. It also helps in boosting immunity, protecting against infection, stabilizing problems of irregular menses and reducing water retention.

Basil essential oil is derived from which plant?

Sweet basil essential oil is extracted from the basil herb leaves. The botanical name of basil herb is Ocimum basilicum.

The Latin word basilius and the Greek word basilikon photon give the plant its name. The meaning of these words is the royal plant. Therefore, basil is sometimes also referred to as ‘Queen of herbs’ or ‘royal herb’ or I’herbe royale in French.

What are the different names of basil plants?

The different other names of basil plants are Saint Joseph’s Wort, European Basil, Great Basil, Common Basil, Sweet Basil, or French Basil.

What is the history of basil essential oil?

In the spiritual beliefs of several religions, many different rituals stress the importance of using basil. For instance, in Judaism, using basil is considered good for increasing body strength at the time of fasting.

In different Orthodox churches, the herb basil is very frequently used to prepare or sprinkle holy water. Moreover, pots containing basil are kept below altars of the church to pay respect to this belief that the herb was often found flourishing around Christ’s grave.

Basil was also considered sacred in several other systems, for instance, those present in India and Europe and also in the early civilizations of Greece and Egypt. In these belief systems, basil herb was buried underground with the dead as it was thought to have qualities that can secure and protect these individuals during their journey or voyage to life after death.

In some places around the world, such as Mexico, people hung a bunch of the herb basil in shop windows or doorways. This is because basil is thought to bring good fortune.

How is the basil herb used historically?

Basil herb has been thought to have a protective effect on the emotions and mind of a person. Hence, historically it is being used in a wide variety of applications by making it in many forms such as oils, dried powders, and teas.

Basil has a natural antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibiotic, diuretic (promotes passage of urine), and anti-depressant properties. Due to these properties, it is being used as a common ingredient in conventional therapeutic practices in regions such as India. In India, basil is referred to as ‘Tulsi’ and holds a sacred value.

Traditionally, the leaves and seeds of basil along with the essential oil have been used in cooking all over the world. This is due to its reputation to remove harmful odors and bacteria.

To which products are the substances derived from basil added?

Basil and the substances derived from it were popular constituents in Italian foods like pasta, salads, and pizza. They are still popular constituents of fermented or pickled foods, pastes, meats, condiments, and sauces.

These products are commonly added to products of oral hygiene and perfumes.

What are the benefits of the substances derived from basil?

They are ideal to support the health of your skin, kidneys, and hair. They also help in relieving head colds, headaches, stomach spasms, coughs, constipation, and diarrhea.

You may also use them to relieve a lack of appetite, fluid retention, and intestinal worms.

How does Basil Oil smell like?

Sweet basil essential oil emits a sweet, warm, fresh, floral, and herbaceous smell. This smell feels to be vibrant, airy, and uplifting, and it may remind you of the smell of licorice.

The smell of sweet basil essential oil has a reputation to mix well with spicy, floral, or citrusy essential oils. These include Neroli, Bergamot, Grapefruit, Black Pepper, Lemon, Fennel, Ginger, Lavender, and Geranium.

The aroma of sweet basil essential oil is also similar to that of camphor and has a characteristic spiciness.

What are the various benefits of sweet basil essential oil due to its aroma?

The aroma of sweet basil essential oil helps in stimulating and energizing the mind and body. It also helps in promoting clarity of the mind, enhancing mental alertness, and calming the nerves; thereby, relieving feelings of anxiety and stress.

What are the benefits of sweet basil essential oil when used in aromatherapy?

You can use sweet basil essential oil in aromatherapy to relieve or eliminate fatigue, sadness, headaches, and even asthma. It may also benefit people who have allergies, poor concentration, sinus infections or congestion, and fever.

The digestive properties of sweet basil essential oil help in relieving symptoms of nausea, vomiting, constipation, and hiccups.

How does sweet basil essential oil help as an insect repellant?

The smell of sweet basil essential oil helps in repelling insects and removing the bacteria, which results in unpleasant odors in the environment. Hence, you may use it effectively to deodorize unpleasant indoor environments such as in your house and car. You may also use it to remove the foul smell from fabrics and furniture.

How does sweet basil essential oil benefit when used cosmetically?

Sweet basil essential oil has a reputation to nourish and refresh the skin and also help in repairing the damaged skin when you use it cosmetically. It can help in balancing the production of oil from the sebaceous (oil) glands of the skin; thereby, calming breakouts of acne.

It can also help in relieving dryness of the skin and symptoms and signs of skin infections. It also helps in maintaining the resilience and suppleness of the skin keeping it young.

When you use diluted sweet basil essential oil regularly it exhibits toning and exfoliating properties. These help in removing the dead cells of the skin and balancing the tone of the skin. All of this helps in promoting the natural glow and radiance of your complexion.

How does sweet basil essential oil benefit your hair?

Sweet basil essential oil may contribute a refreshing and light smell to any of your regular conditioner or shampoo. When you use it in your hair it helps in stimulating the blood circulation in the scalp and also regulating its oil production. It also promotes the growth of healthy hair and reduces or slows down the rate of loss of hair.

It cleanses and hydrates your scalp and; hence, helps in removing any accumulated dirt, dead skin, bacteria, environmental pollutants, etc. effectively.

It also helps in soothing the irritation and itching that may occur due to dandruff or other conditions of the scalp. Due to these clarifying and cleansing properties, this oil helps in making your hair feel and look soft and lustrous.

How does sweet basil essential oil benefit you medicinally?

Sweet basil essential oil has anti-inflammatory properties. Hence, you may use it medicinally to relieve skin complaints such as eczema or acne. You may also use it to calm sores and minor abrasions.

You may use sweet basil essential oil to help relieve intestinal gas and bloating. It thus helps in reducing the uncomfortable and uneasy feelings associated with constipation and poor digestion.

Sweet basil essential oil has expectorant properties. Hence, it is best to reduce coughs and other symptoms and signs of the flu, colds, and fevers.

It also helps in enhancing the immunity of your body and therefore provides relief from various kinds of respiratory illnesses such as emphysema and bronchitis.

Sweet basil essential oil also prevents the occurrence of infections, calms insect bites and burns, and improves water retention in the body. It also helps in stabilizing the irregularity of menstrual cycles in women.

How does sweet basil essential oil help when you add it to warm bathwater?

You may add diluted sweet basil essential oil to warm bathwater and soak in it. It helps in relieving joint pain, menstrual cramps, gout, muscular spasms and aches, fatigue, and pain from insect bites.

As already stated sweet basil essential oil has a reputation of having multiple medicinal properties. Its various benefits and activities are highlighted below:

What are the cosmetic benefits of sweet basil essential oil?

Cosmetically sweet basil essential oil acts as the following:

• Antimicrobial (it helps in killing germs)
• Antioxidant (it helps in destroying the disease-causing free radicals)
• Anti-inflammatory (it helps in combating inflammation)
• Brightening
• Diaphoretic (it induces sweating or perspiration)
• Cleansing
• Calming
• Strengthening
• Stimulating
• Tonic (it helps in toning the skin)
• Tightening (it helps in tightening the skin)

What are the benefits of sweet basil essential oil in aromatherapy?

When used in aromatherapy, sweet basil essential oil acts as an:

• Antimicrobial
• Antispasmodic (it helps in reducing spasms)
• Antidepressant (it helps in reducing depression)
• Digestive (it helps in relieving problems of the digestive system)
• Energizing
• Febrifuge (it helps in reducing fever)
• Expectorant (it helps in promoting the secretion of mucus from the air passages)
• Nervine (it stimulates the nerves)
• Insecticide (it helps in killing the insects)
• Stimulating
• Uplifting

What are the medicinal benefits of sweet basil essential oil?

The various medicinal benefits of sweet basil essential oil are as follows:

• Antimicrobial (helps in killing germs)
• Antispasmodic (helps in relieving spasms)
• Anti-inflammatory (helps in relieving inflammation)
• Antioxidant (helps in fighting the disease-causing free radicals)
• Analgesic (acts as a painkiller)
• Carminative (helps in relieving gas)
• Diaphoretic (helps in inducing sweating)
• Digestive
• Expectorant (helps in promoting the secretion of mucus by way of air passages)
• Emmenagogue (helps in increasing the flow of menstrual blood)
• Febrifuge (helps in reducing fever)
• Nervine (helps in calming the nerves)
• Protective
• Tonic
• Stimulating

How to use sweet basil essential oil in aromatherapy?

Dilute two to three drops of the oil and place it in a diffuser of your personal choice. Then, inhale the aroma of the oil for up to one hour.

What are the benefits of sweet basil essential oil when it is used in aromatherapy?

The application of sweet basil essential oil in aromatherapy is emotionally-elevating and comforting. It also helps in reducing your levels of stress including anxiety and feelings of sadness.

It can also help in improving circulation and soothing symptoms and signs of respiratory and breathing discomfort.

How can you enhance the effectiveness of sweet basil essential oil while using it in aromatherapy?

You may enhance the effectiveness of sweet basil essential oil by blending it with two to three drops of some other essential oil that also has similar energizing, clarifying, and uplifting qualities. Some of such oils are lemon oil and eucalyptus oil.

They also help in relieving symptoms and signs of the flu and colds.

How to make a vapor rub from the sweet basil essential oil?

To make a natural decongestant vapor rub that helps in soothing the chest congestion, dilute sweet basil essential oil with one tablespoon of carrier oil. Then massage this mixture into your chest.

The carrier oils that you can use to dilute the oil are coconut and jojoba oil.

How to make a foot balm from sweet basil essential oil?

To make a foot balm, dilute one to two drops of sweet basil essential oil with one tablespoon of carrier oil. Then do a massage using this blend into the wrist, belly or soles of your feet. It helps in de-stressing and relaxing the mind and body before going to bed.

It also helps to relieve headaches and clear your mind of unmanageable thoughts, which lead to loss of sleep.

How can you relieve and prevent breakouts of acne using sweet basil essential oil?

Dilute one to two drops of sweet basil essential oil with a tiny quantity of fast-absorbing and light carrier oil. Some of such oils are Argan and sweet almond oil. Then, dip a ball of cotton into this blend and apply it to the skin areas that have acne.

This blend helps in cleansing your skin of bacteria, excess oil, and external pollutants and reducing redness.

You may also add sweet basil essential oil into a face mask that contains lemon juice, cosmetic clay powder, and honey. This face mask helps in promoting the brightness and clarity of the skin.

How can you use sweet basil essential oil for your hair and scalp?

You may add a small quantity of sweet basil essential oil to your regular conditioner or shampoo or both (three to five drops per one-fourth cup). It helps in cleansing your hair and eliminating excess oil from your scalp.

You may also dilute sweet basil essential oil in ACV (Apple Cider Vinegar) and combine the mixture with some baking soda. Then using this blend in your hair will help in removing excess oil from the scalp and restoring its natural pH.

How can you use sweet basil essential oil to relieve the soreness and aching of muscles?

Dilute two to three drops of the oil with a carrier oil and massage the blend into the sore and inflamed areas of your body. This helps in relieving the soreness and aching of muscles along with swelling, tightness, and inflammation of the tissues.

You may further dilute this blend with Epsom salts and then add it to a bath-tub full of warm water. To enhance the effectiveness, you may combine sweet basil essential oil with other oils that also promote relaxation. One such essential oil is the lavender essential oil.

Taking bath in water infused with basil essential oil helps in relieving pain and enhancing your digestive function.

What are the different varieties of sweet basil essential oil?

1. Basic sweet essential oil: Its botanical name is Ocimum basilicum. It is extracted by the process of steam distillation from leaves. Its country of origin is India.
2. Basil organic essential oil: Its botanical name is Ocimum basilicum L. It is also extracted by the process of steam distillation from leaves. Its country of origin is India.

What are the properties of basil sweet essential oil?

It emits a spicy, fresh, sweet, woody, and balsamic scent. The oil mixes well with various other essential oils including Bergamot, Cedarwood, Black Pepper, Clary Sage, Lime, Clove Bud, Eucalyptus, Ginger, Fennel, Grapefruit, Geranium, Lavender, Juniper, Marjoram, Lemon, Rosemary, and Neroli.

What are the properties of basil organic essential oil?

It emits a spicy, fresh, sweet, faint, woody, and balsamic smell. It blends well with various essential oils including Bergamot, Cedarwood, Black Pepper, Clary Sage, Lime, Clove Bud, Fennel, Ginger, Eucalyptus, Grapefruit, Geranium, Lavender, Juniper, Marjoram, Lemon, Rosemary, and Neroli.

It is ideal oil that can be added to natural formulations, which need organic products.

What are the side effects of sweet basil essential oil?

Similar to all other essential oils, this oil is also used only externally. You should consult your physician before using it for medicinal purposes.

Females who are pregnant and lactating are particularly advised to not use it without consulting a doctor as it can affect some hormonal secretions.

How should you store sweet basil essential oil?

You should always store the oil in a place that children particularly below the age of seven years can’t access.

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