Basil oil is a wonderfully sweet-smelling oil Strong and spicy, its aroma is invigorating to both the body and the spirit.
- Used topically, it is very beneficial for mental fatigue, helping to refresh the mind and restore mental alertness during times of fatigue.
- In massage, it can be relaxing to aching, exercise-strained muscles.
Basil oil may also be used topically to soothe insect bites. Aromatically, it helps to stimulate and sharpen the sense of smell.
How to use: Apply to tip of nose, on temples, and on location of stings and bites. For mental fatigue, inhale first, then apply to crown of head, forehead, heart, and navel.
Basil oil may also be added to food or rice milk as a dietary supplement. I've used it, together with marjoram and thyme, on pot roast with wonderful results. It's also great with oregano, marjoram and thyme in spaghetti sauce.
Basil oil (ocimum basilicum), as noted above, can be relaxing to muscles. This is very important to those who experience stressed muscles from either over-exercise or too much of modern life. But its benefits are not limited to the musculoskeletal system. Its muscle-relaxing properties extend to the smooth muscles of your body — those not subject to your voluntary control, such as those of the heart and digestive system.
Basil is one of the CPTG®, certified-pure-therapeutic-grade oils that I use most often. (Diffusing it was a common — dare I say, essential? — part of posting this blog.) I found it to be very effective at keeping my head clear and mind focused, as I worked at my computer.
I've also relied on its beneficial properties for soothing the achy muscles that come with too much time in front of a computer. Especially mixed with marjoram or AromaTouch™ and applied to the Vita-Flex points on the feet, it has become an essential oil that I simply will not do without.
Anna Piedlow is an IPC & Educator for doTERRA Essential Family Wellness
