Basil Essential Oil
Ocimum basilicum

*See Bottom Page for Usage detail or View Detail Images on the right*

Valued for its restorative and calming properties, basil is commonly used for soothing sore muscles and joints, to ease breathing, and as a cooling agent for the skin*. For aromatic, topical, or dietary use.

About Basil

Basil or Sweet Basil is a perennial found in warm climates or can be cultivated as an annual since it does not thrive well with frost.  It is native to Asia but is now common in Europe and other areas.  In Asia it has been used for thousands of years for medicinal purposes being known in India as tulsi and is a common part of their herbal medicine.  There are a number of varieties but the one common for essential oils is the plant two to three feet high with oval hairy leaves and pink flowers.  DōTerra Basil is from the family Lamiacea (Labiatae), the oil comes from the leaf of the plant, is steam distilled, and is grown in the United States.

Typical Applications

From migraines to bug bites, Basil evokes a broad range of biologic and physiological responses. Basil can be restorative to the nerves while calming to the central nervous system. Basil is safe and ample for use in respiratory and conditions of asthma. When used topically it is commonly referred to as a cooling herb and is used for rheumatic pain, irritating skin conditions and can easily be applied to sore muscles and joints. Basil oil can be used topically, internally and diffused into the environment.

Dr. David Hill suggests these uses for doTERRA Basil:

• Arthritic pain

• Calms nervous system - helps when there is excess cortisol

• Cholesterol, lowers - helps get off Lipitor or other cholesterol drugs.  Works at the cellular level to stop the oxidation of cholesterol.

• Circulation, improves

• Diabetes

• Earache - put on cotton ball and place in or behind ear

• Gastric spasms - apply topically to tummy

• Gastric ulcers - take orally in a capsule

• Gout

• Headaches - apply topically to base of skull

• Menstrual cramps

• Muscle spasm

• Muscle tension

Precautions: Consult professional advice before use by those who are pregnant or nursing mothers. Can be a skin irritant.  Use a skin test.