Basil Essential Oil Uses & Benefits

Contents
Uses & Benefits of Basil Essential Oil
What Is Basil Essential Oil
How To Use | Popular Uses
Where To Buy | Reviews | Safety

Not only valued for its warm and uplifting aroma, in aromatherapy the benefits of Basil Essential Oil are known to stimulate, invigorate, clarify, calm and energise the mind.

Because of its natural anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibiotic, antiviral and diuretic properties, it’s no surprise that the uses and benefits of Basil Essential Oil are well-known, specifically in traditional Asian medicine. Not to mention, Basil Essential Oil uses are extensive, from treating headaches, migraines, nausea and vomiting, to easing inflammation and various skin complaints such as acne, eczema and dry skin.

Basil Essential Oil, also known as ‘Basil Sweet Essential Oil’ or ‘Basil Oil’, is derived from the leaves of the Ocimum Basilicum – what we know as the basil herb. In saying this, the benefits of Basil Oil are highly appreciated across several religions and spiritual practices.

In aromatherapy, Basil Essential Oil benefits are known to bring clarity to the mind and ease feelings of stress, mental fatigue and exhaustion. This is because Basil Oil naturally carries linalool, a chemical that is known to reduce stress and nervous tension.

The uses for Basil Essential Oil range from diffusing to topical application. The way that you decide to use this essential oil will depend on what Basil Oil benefits you are wanting to achieve.

Here are some common ways to use Basil Essential Oil:

• In aromatherapy the benefits of Basil Essential Oil are known to assist with easing headaches, migraines and menstrual related cramping.
• You can receive many Basil Essential Oil benefits when using topically. Some of these benefits can be seen when treating insect bites, inflammation and other skin complaints such as eczema, acne and minor abrasions.
• Other Basil Essential Oil uses are known to help treat respiratory related illnesses, such as bronchitis and asthma.
• The benefits of Basil Oil are also known to be useful to those experiencing muscle and joint pain, spasms, cramps and gout.

An essential oil is a concentrated mixture of natural compounds that have been extracted from plants using different techniques.

Here is a brief overview of how pure Basil Essential Oil is made:

• To produce 100% pure Basil Essential Oil, the steam distillation extraction method is used.
• This is when steam passes through the basil plant to withdraw the aromatic compounds. The Basil Oil then rises from the floral water and is collected.

For those wanting to purchase Basil Essential Oil, we always recommend finding a Basil Oil that is 100% pure. When an essential oil is not 100% pure and has been synthetically enhanced, added ingredients can be harmful to your health.

Here are some tips on how to know if an essential oil is 100% pure:

• Find a reputable supplier who is always willing to provide product documentation and information.
• Essential oils that are 100% pure will often be labelled as a ‘100% pure essential oil’.
• Check the ingredients list, 100% pure essential oils should only contain one ingredient, that being the botanical species of the plant.

Like pure Basil Oil, Organic Basil Essential Oil is also extracted via steam distillation. The only difference is Organic Basil Essential Oil is guaranteed to be produced in an environment that is free from pesticides and other synthetic fertilisers.

• To receive the aromatic benefits of Basil Essential Oil you can add a few drops to your aromatherapy diffuser or vaporizer.
• Basil Oil blends well with a variety of other oils therefore, you can create your own essential oil blend and add this to your aromatherapy diffuser or vaporizer.
• You may also wish to dilute your Basil Essential Oil in your preferred carrier oil, add it to a roller bottle and apply to pressure points (temples, chest, forehead and behind the ears). This is a convenient way of receiving the benefits of Basil Oil whilst on the go!
• Other basil essential oil uses include adding your Basil Oil to a warm bath.

• For those wanting to treat various skin complaints such as acne or eczema, you can use Basil Essential Oil topically. However, it is important to first dilute your Basil Oil in a carrier oil. We always recommend using a carrier oil that does not have a fragrance, as this will not alter the aroma of the basil essential oil.
• You can also dilute your Basil Essential Oil into a daily moisturizer and apply topically.
• Diluting: When diluting your essential oils, we recommend a 2 – 4% dilution for skin application and a 1 - 2% dilution for facial application.

Whilst there are many Basil Oil uses, here are some of the most popular ways to use Basil Essential Oil:

“I found the Basil Sweet Oil to be of high quality, well presented and packaged. Fast delivery”
Pam (Verified Customer)

“I love those oils that will pretty much blend with any others… Beautiful when diffused”
Jessica (Verified Customer)

"A great oil with a lovely fresh scent. I use this oil mixed in a carrier oil with Peppermint and Eucalyptus for a great muscle rub!"
Nicole (Verified Customer)

Whilst essential oils are natural, they are incredibly powerful and can be potentially harmful when used incorrectly. Pure Basil Essential Oil is extremely concentrated and for this reason we do not recommend that it is taken internally. It is also important to ensure that your Basil Essential Oil is stored somewhere that is not accessible to children and/or pets.

Because Basil Essential Oil is so potent, it can cause irritation when directly applied to the skin, therefore it is important to dilute your essential oils when using topically. For skin application we recommend a 2-4% dilution and a 1 -2% dilution for facial application.

Resources

Yarnell, E & Abascal, K, 2006. Herbal Medicine for Acne Vulgaris. Alternative and Complementary Therapies. Ed. Vol 12 (6), pp. 303 – 309. DOI: 10.1089/act.2006.12.303

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any illness.