Basil essential oil: composition, properties, application and contraindications

Basil is not just a famous spice, it used to be considered a royal plant. Basil oil was used to anoint monarchs when they ascended the throne. This aromatic and healthy oil has been known for a long time. Almost every culinary specialist knows that basil is indispensable in the kitchen. In addition, basil has many beneficial properties that are used in medicine and cosmetology.

Content:

• The composition and properties of basil essential oil
• When and where is basil oil used?
• Rules of use and dosage
• Contraindications and side effects
• How to make DIY basil essential oil?

The composition and properties of basil essential oil

Natural basil oil is widely used. Chefs, cosmetologists and connoisseurs of traditional medicine know about it. The essential oil contains vitamins A, B2, PP, vitamin C, camphor, bioflavonoids, fragrant eugenol.

Many people know how useful basil essential oil is, the properties and uses of this plant have long been known. Basil oil is extracted only from the leaves and the upper part of the shoots and only during the flowering period. It is at this time that the plant has the greatest benefits and the maximum concentration of essential oils.

The plant itself has a rich color, but the oil obtained from the basil is clear and light yellow. It has a light spicy aroma with a slight bitterness. You can find oil of a more exotic variety of basil. It has a brighter color.

Basil oil has the following properties:

1. Antimicrobial. The oil copes well with pathogenic bacteria. It is recommended to fight acne and acne, to disinfect the skin.
2. Stimulates the immune system. The oil contains vitamin C, which is a natural immune stimulant.
3. Relieves stress. Basil oil has a beneficial effect on the nervous system, improves mood, soothes, eliminates anxiety and aggression. The oil helps to restore strength in case of chronic fatigue.
4. Pain reliever. Basil oil has long been known to treat migraines and dizziness. For headaches, this is an effective folk remedy.
5. Decongestant. Basil helps relieve swelling of the nasal mucosa in case of a cold. At the same time, it has a disinfecting effect.
6. Antipruritic. The oil relieves itching from insect bites when applied continuously.

Many people just love the smell of basil and use oil for aroma lamps. This is especially useful in summer, as the essential oil not only fills the room with the scent of basil, but also repels annoying insects.

When and where is basil oil used?

Basil is used almost anywhere. It is an excellent spice, and basil is also used fresh as an addition to a dish. Essential oils are not used in cooking. They are too concentrated.

Basil oil gives off camphor, which not everyone likes. To make the aroma thinner and more pleasant, it is mixed with other oils.Basil oil goes well with lemon, eucalyptus, tangerine, mint, lavender, ginger. The combination of basil and lavender gives the most powerful antimicrobial effect.

Due to the high content of vitamins and nutrients, the oil is used both in folk medicine and in cosmetology and everyday life.

Basil oil can be used in the following cases:

• For skin rejuvenation. Basil oil is added to creams and masks for a rejuvenating effect. The substances that make up the oil eliminate traces of fatigue, improve complexion, puffiness, smooth fine wrinkles, and remove inflammation.
• For hair treatment. Basil has a beneficial effect on the hair follicles and the hair shaft itself. With the help of basil oil, you can eliminate hair loss, restore shine and elasticity to them, and accelerate growth.
• For the treatment of respiratory diseases. Basil is often used for inhalation. It has a beneficial effect on the respiratory tract, eliminates pathogenic bacteria and viruses, relieves inflammation and redness. Basil oil is effective for ARVI, sinusitis, bronchitis, asthma.
• For toothache. Basil relieves swelling and inflammation, has analgesic properties. If your tooth hurts badly, you can make a compress with basil oil. It is enough to put a few drops on a cotton swab and apply to a sore tooth.
• With warts. Pure basil oil is believed to work well for warts when used regularly, several times a day.

Basil oil is also said to increase the likelihood of conception, increase female hormone levels, and normalize the menstrual cycle.

Rules of use and dosage

Basil essential oil is easy to use. It goes well with almost any other oil. However, it must be borne in mind that all essential oils have a high concentration of essential substances, so the dosage is very important. Not every oil can be used in its pure form, as it can provoke a burning sensation and burns. However, basil oil, subject to the rules and dosages, is often used undiluted.

To avoid unpleasant consequences, you need to adhere to the following rules:

1. When adding oil to a cosmetic cream, 2 drops of oil are enough. The cream with oil does not last long, so it is recommended to add the oil in one dose of the cream and immediately apply it to the face.
2. Basil oil is considered a medicine. So that the skin and mucous membranes do not get used to it and do not cause side effects, the duration should be no more than a week in the treatment of respiratory diseases and no more than 3 weeks when used for cosmetic purposes.
3. If oil is added to the bath, the water temperature should be no more than 38 degrees. 3 drops of oil are enough for a bath, a large amount can provoke a headache. The bath is taken within 10-15 minutes.
4. The essential oil is not intended to be consumed internally. It is used in the form of compresses and additives. The easiest and most affordable way to use oil is to add a couple of drops to the aroma lamp.
5. Inhalation can be done with basil oil, but both hot and cold, their duration should not exceed 5 minutes. The dosage is 2 drops.
6. For stress and nervous disorders, massage can be done. A couple of drops of basil are added to the base oil, heated in the hands and applied to the skin.

It is possible to treat serious diseases with oil only after consulting a doctor. It is a folk remedy, not a panacea. It is very important to determine the cause of the disease (headache, acne, hair loss, etc.).

Contraindications and side effects

Essential oils have their own contraindications. It is recommended to use them with caution. If the oil is used for the first time, it is advisable to reduce the dosage and test for an allergic reaction.For example, a small amount of oil is added to the base oil and applied to the fold of the elbow or wrist. If after 5-10 minutes redness does not appear, then there is no allergy.

Among the contraindications for basil oil are:

• Thrombosis. Not much is known about the ability of the oil to penetrate the blood, but people with increased blood clotting are advised to refrain from using oil and adding it to cosmetics.
• Heart attack. People who have had myocardial infarction should be wary of using any essential oils. In this case, you should consult your doctor before using basil oil.
• Pregnancy. During pregnancy, a woman becomes more sensitive. Be careful when using oils with a pungent odor. The likelihood of an allergic reaction increases several times. There is also an opinion that basil oil can cause hypertonicity of the uterus.
• Hypertension. Basil can increase blood pressure. With fatigue and hypotension, these are useful qualities, but it is better for hypertensive patients to refrain from using this oil, since a hypertensive crisis is possible.
• Epilepsy. It is believed that basil has a stimulating and aphrodisiac effect, which is not always useful in the presence of an epileptic focus. Patients with epilepsy need to be very careful and careful to select traditional medicine.

Side effects usually develop with overdose. In this case, allergies, skin rashes, edema, hypertension, irritation and burns of the mucous membrane, bleeding during pregnancy may appear. It should be borne in mind that as a seasoning and fresh, there are no restrictions on the use of basil. Cork effects appear when using concentrated essential oil.

How to make DIY basil essential oil?

Essential oil is easy to find at a beauty store or drug store. Some people prefer to do it themselves to be sure of quality. Cooking oil requires compliance with certain standards. Otherwise, its beneficial properties will be reduced.

It should be borne in mind that the process of preparing essential oil cannot be called elementary. It requires a special device - a distiller. The device works in this way: under the influence of high temperatures, essential oil is released from the tissues, it enters the filter and there it is separated from the water. The distiller must be kept at a certain temperature. If it is higher or lower than the norm, the oil will come out of poor quality.

If there is no distiller at home, you will have to buy essential oil. Without this device, only cosmetic oil can be prepared at home:

• You will need base oil for cooking. It is best to take natural olive. Three quarters of a glass of oil and a couple of bunches of fresh pure basil are enough.
• It is better to take extra virgin olive oil so that the smell of olives does not mix.
• The washed basil leaves should be doused with boiling water and left for 10 minutes, and then cooled, dried gently with a napkin.
• The leaves are mixed with olive oil and thoroughly ground in a blender until smooth.
• The resulting gruel must be passed through a sieve. The dark basil juice will drain first, followed by the oil. It is better to store it in a dark container in a cool place. Homemade oil is stored in the refrigerator for a month.
• Using a distiller to make essential oil is not difficult, but it takes time. It is necessary to monitor the amount of water in the device. The resulting oil is filtered through thick gauze and stored only in glass containers made of dark glass.

It is difficult to predict how much oil will turn out. Some plants contain more essential oils, others less.

More information can be found in the video: