Sweet Basil - ocimum basilicum

When I think of Basil, I think about an herb I add to food when cooking.  Sweet Basil essential oil (different from Tulsi Basil) has a sweet, pungent, herbaceous aroma with subtle hints of licorice and 1,8-Cineole (the main component in Eucalyptus). 

Sweet Basil is a member of the mint plant family, and shares its cousin's ability to lift the mood and to help reduce nausea and vomiting with its aroma alone.  Used in inhaler, diffuser. or massage blends, it can calm stress and anxiety, help improve mental clarity and energy, and relieve stress headaches. 

It's great in topical blends for sore, swollen joints and muscle spasms. With antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties, it can be used during colds and flu to help relieve spasmodic coughs.   

The chemical composition of this oil can vary significantly based on a number of factors (like where the plant was grown and the altitude and weather of the area), so it's important to get a GC/MS report each time you buy a new bottle.  Topical dilution should be 3% maximum, and this oil should not be used on or near the faces of children under the age of 10.

To learn more about this beautiful essential oil, check out its datasheet in the membership section.

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