Basil is an herb. The leaves are steam distilled to create an essential oil that is yellow in color. Basil essential oil has been used throughout the ages for chest infections, digestive problems, as a brain stimulant (it is said to clear away those mental cobwebs!) and as an antispasmodic, making it a wonderful essential oil to treat bronchitis and whooping cough. It may be mixed into a massage oil and used in a gentle massage over the stomach to help ease many types of digestive problems. To help with oily skin or acne, dilute basil in a carrier oil such as jojoba) or in a skin cream such as our moisturizing base cream.
Basil essential oil takes its name from the Greek word for ‘king’ (basileum). This could be because the plant was so highly prized that it was considered “king among plants”. It could also be because it was in the ingredient list of an oil blended to anoint kings. This plant is still highly valued in Greece, both for cooking and as a medicinal plant. This plant grows wild along many sunny Mediterranean hillsides.
Basil essential oil blends well with lavender essential oil, bergamot essential oil, clary sage essential oil and geranium essential oil. Its active principles include methylchavicol (40 to 50%) with linalol, cineol, eugenol, pinene and camphor. It should NOT be used when pregnant.
Basil can be found in the following blend:
