Basil essential oil is derived from the Ocimum basilicum plant, part of the mint family and it is commonly used in cooking to enhance the flavour of cuisines and delicacies today. Its sweet, herbal, warm and spicy scent makes for a good enhancer to pasta, meats and other entree dishes. Especially in the Mediterranean region, sweet basil oil is widely used and it is also an active ingredient in many Italian pastas.

However, its use is not just simply limited to enhancing flavour in cuisines. Its benefits extend far beyond the culinary aspect as it has anti-inflammatory, diuretic and antiseptic properties to include in numerous health benefits that can address a variety of ailments! In fact, it has been widely used in India, especially in Ayurvedic medicine to treat a myriad number of diseases. Thus, sweet basil essential oil can also have medicinal uses and benefits. To find out what they are, read on to find out more!

Health Benefits of Basil Essential Oil:

1. Offers Flu and Cold Relief

Basil essential oil is an effective, all-natural remedy for alleviating influenza and colds. Because of its antibacterial and antioxidant nature, it helps to kill off bacteria and viruses which are the cause of such common ailments in the first place. Its anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic attributes also help to soothe any inflammation or painful coughing spells brought about by such ailments. As such, using basil oil can provide you with immense relief from these symptoms! It can also be used to treat sinus infections, bronchitis and asthma since it helps to clear congestion along your nasal tracts.

How to Use it: Simply diffuse the oil throughout your house using a distiller or vaporizer. You can also add 1-2 drops of it to your warm, bathing water and soak inside to provide relief. Alternatively, you can make a homemade vapor rub using eucalyptus oil and basil oil which can help to clear up your respiratory tracts.

2. For Cosmetic Benefits (Skin and Hair)

Basil essential oil can also help to maintain smooth, clear complexion and a healthy, shiny hair. Because it is antimicrobial in nature, basil oil can help to remove any unwanted bacteria and a buildup of excess oil that linger on the skin to banish acne breakouts and a worsening of pimples, blackheads and other skin infections.

Also, basil oil can help to improve the shine and health of the hair as it helps to strip away excess grease and oil on your hair while at the same time enhancing the lustre of your hair. Thus, it helps to combat dull-looking hair to produce a much vibrant, healthier looking hair.

How to Use it: For your hair, you can mix basil oil with baking soda and apple cider vinegar and apply topically onto your hair and scalp to remove bacteria, residue and grease naturally. Wash off after a few minutes. For acne treatment, you can apply 1-2 drops of basil oil with equal amounts of coconut or jojoba oil onto a clean, cotton ball and apply onto the affected areas once or twice daily.

3. Potent Antibacterial and Antiseptic Agent

Basil essential oil also helps to get rid of bacteria, yeasts, fungi and molds. A 1997 research study published in International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents found that basil oil demonstrates much antimicrobial and strong inhibitory attitudes towards the growth and formation of powerful strains of bacteria. Because of compounds found within the oil, it is naturally able to fight such harmful microorganisms and kill them before they grow and spread.

As such, this greatly helps to prevent food from incurring bacteria and becoming contaminated, which essentially serves to protect you from various diseases when you accidentally consume contaminated food. Not only does basil oil serve as an effective flavour enhancer, it can also be used to protect foods!

In fact, research confirms this. A 2001 research report published in the Journal of Food Protection found that basil oil efficiently controlled the growth and survival of dangerous bacteria commonly found within contaminated foods.

Also, basil essential oil can be used to remove bacteria and molds growing on your kitchen tops and surfaces in your household. It can also purify the air due to their antiviral nature and thus, helps to keep your surrounding environment clean, thus mitigating the risks of falling ill. Such bacteria can be odour-causing and as such, this oil can be used as an effective, all-natural air freshener. Furthermore, its herbal and spicy aroma will give off such a fresh and welcoming scent.

How to Use it: You can diffuse or distill basil oil in your diffuser or vaporizer to purify the air. Alternatively, you can mix a few drops of the oil with water in a spray bottle to spray it all over mouldy surfaces. You can even combine it with baking soda for an effective stains remover from your pots and pans.

4. Offers Digestive Relief

Because of its diuretic property, basil essential oil helps to remove harmful, toxic substances such as urea, uric acid, excess salts and fluids as well as fats out of our bodily systems. This is done through the increased production and frequency of our urine. As such, this also helps to get rid of water retention in our stomachs and intestines. With its carminative properties, basil oil helps to remove excess gas and prevent the formation of more gas, thus relieving signs of bloating and indigestion.

With its antispasmodic attributes, it helps to ease and alleviate the repeated contractions of our stomach walls, thus relieving cramps. As such, all these help to facilitate a better, smoother and unobstructed digestion flows and keep indigestion, constipation, stomach cramps and flatulence at bay. It can also relieve nausea and motion sickness too!

How to Use it: You can consume a drop of basil oil by adding it to your water or tea. Alternatively, you can inhale it through the palms of your hands or massage the diluted basil oil onto the abdominal and lower back areas.

5. Offers Stress and Anxiety Relief

Basil essential oil is also widely used in aromatherapy. Because of its rejuvenating and revitalizing scent, it never fails to uplift your spirits and puts you in a better emotional mood than before! It helps to relieve feelings of anxiety, stress, tension, depression and bouts of self-doubt. After a long and tiring day, you can always fall back on the therapeutic nature of basil essential oil to calm you down and induce feelings of peace and tranquility for the betterment of your emotional and mental health.

Not only that, basil oil helps to give you increased mental strength and provides you with better mental clarity to help you concentrate and focus much better. It helps to combat fatigue, signs of sluggishness and exhaustion to promote a much healthier and active state of mind!

How to Use it: You can diffuse basil essential oil and let the aromatic, scented wafts engulf you or you can dab several drops of the diluted oil on your wrists, chest and back.

6. Promotes Blood Circulation

Basil essential oil also helps to promote blood circulation in the body, thus increasing the metabolic functions of the body, which thus contributes to a better digestive system as mentioned above. However, a smoother blood circulation can also help to heal aching and sore muscles as it promotes blood flow to the affected areas.

Combined with its analgesic and relaxant properties, it provides an immense and natural pain relief to sore, aching as well as stiff muscles and joints. Therefore, it is an effective remedy for people with arthritis or those who have suffered muscular injuries while exercising.

How to Use it: For immediate relief, you can soak your muscles in a warm bath filled with Epsom salts, lavender oil and basil oil.

7. Remedy for Ear and Mouth Infections

Since the oil is a potent bactericide, it can also be a remedy for ear infections and for reducing pain as well as swelling in your ears. In fact, it has been used in Ayurvedic medicine precisely for this reason! Furthermore, oral hygiene is exceptionally important and as such, basil oil can help to remove bacteria that is lingering within your mouth cavities and gets rid of bad breath, toothaches, sores, blisters and ulcers in your mouth!

How to Use it: To treat ear infections, simply create a massage blend of frankincense, coconut and basil essential oils and rub it behind the ears. To promote oral care, you can add a few drops of the pure basil oil to your toothpaste or to a cup of water to create a gargle mixture.

8. Potent Insect Repellent

Basil oil, like citronella oil and thyme oil, is ultimately a volatile oil which can help to prevent mosquitoes from biting you or from invading your house. This is especially useful during summertime when the weather is hot and humid which becomes a good breeding ground for these pesky mosquitoes! Thus, you do not need to invest in expensive chemical insect repellents (which might have unwanted side effects anyways) when you can simply use basil essential oil! It is ultimately natural and thus better!

How to Use it: You can dilute several drops of basil oil with a carrier oil (such as almond. jojoba or olive oil) in a 1:1 ratio and proceed to massage onto the skin or on swollen bites if necessary.

Safety Precautions:

Basil essential oil is generally safe and non-toxic to be used. However, when you want to ingest basil oil as a form of treatment or supplement, be sure to seek the professional advice of a medical expert or your doctor first. Always seek to ingest high-quality, premium-grade and 100% pure basil essential oil that is purchased from a reliable and reputable seller and do not consume in large dosages.

Additionally, basil oil should be avoided during pregnancy and for nursing mothers as well as those who have epilepsy. Always dilute basil essential oil with a carrier oil in a 1:1 ratio before using it topically onto the skin, and perform a skin patch test first to ensure no irritation or allergic reactions crop up. Keep basil oil away from eyes, insides of ears and your nose.

References:

Fyfe L, Armstrong F, Stewart J, “Inhibition of Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella enteriditis by combinations of plant oils and derivatives of benzoic acid: the development of synergistic antimicrobial combinations”, International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents (1997); 9(3)

Elgayyar M, et al., “Antimicrobial activity of essential oils from plants against selected pathogenic and saprophytic microorganisms”, Journal of Food Protection (2001); 64(7)