Basil essential oil is distilled from sweet basil leaves–the same one known and loved in Italian cooking. It contains many active chemical components that provide a wide range of benefits for your mind and body. When inhaled, these volatile compounds interact with regulatory systems in the body in a way that lowers stress and improves your mood.
In medicinal traditions basil oil has been historically used in treating serious diseases [1]. With its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, basil oil can be used as a natural remedy to help with colds and flus, ear infections, acne and pain. It has a cooling, sweet, herbal scent that makes it perfect for aromatherapy. Here are five proven benefits basil essential oil offers:’
1. Helps Relieve Coughing
As opposed to essential oils with expectorant properties, basil helps reduce coughing. When you inhale basil essential oil, the fragrant compounds that evaporate from it have anti-spasmodic effects [2]. They relax the muscles involved in the coughing reflex, working in the same way as cough medicine. Since basil oil also has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, inhaling basil oil helps when you have any sort of respiratory infection.
Diffuse a few drops of it in a diffuser to help relieve cough symptoms. Or, create your own vapor rub by combining 10 drops of basil essential oil with 2 teaspoons of a carrier oil, such as coconut oil or avocado oil. This can also help soothe your bronchial pathways if you have allergies or asthma.
2. Reduces Muscle Soreness and Pain
Delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) sets in usually around 24 hours after an intense workout. Using basil oil topically can lower inflammation, relax the muscle and reduce tightness. In multiple animal studies, basil essential oil has been shown to have analgesic (painkilling) effects. It works by having antinociceptive effects in both the peripheral and central nervous system, which means it reduces the brain’s pain signaling throughout the body.
To relieve sore muscles or pain, combine basil essential oil with a carrier oil at a 1:10 ratio, which is about 10 drops of essential oil for every teaspoon of carrier oil. Massage the mixture onto sore muscles to help relieve soreness and promote faster recovery.
3. Uplifts Your Mood and Lowers Stress
In herbal medicine, basil is considered an adaptogen. Adaptogens support the body’s ability to adapt to stress and return to homeostasis after experiencing it. In a study, rabbits given basil for 30 days had measurably reduced stress levels and an improved physical response to stressors. The researchers attributed the results to basil’s adaptogenic compounds and antioxidant activity, which protect against the harmful effects of stress.
Basil essential oil can help you uplift your mood, especially in the face of stress. By lowering stress hormones like cortisol, it can give you better mental clarity and even help with depression. Diffuse basil oil or combine it with a carrier oil to use on your skin. Simply inhaling the fragrant compounds gives you the therapeutic benefits.
4. Helps Clear Acne
A study on 28 acne patients found that basil essential oil worked as well as keratolytic medication to improve acne conditions [6]. Acne is caused by bacteria on the skin that infects clogged pores. Basil essential oil is a natural way to kill acne-causing bacteria without harsh chemicals found in many commercial products. Besides having antimicrobial effects, basil essential oil also reduces inflammation, which can soothe the irritation acne causes and diminish its red appearance.
Use a cotton swab to apply basil essential oil directly onto the site of pimples or zits. Add it to your facial cleanser for a natural anti-acne boost.
5. Repels Insects
The sweet herbal aroma of basil essential oil repels mosquitos and other insects [7]. Whereas household insecticides and bug spray for outdoor use are loaded with toxic chemicals, basil oil is a natural solution. Add it to your lotion, sunscreen or a carrier oil and apply to exposed parts of your skin. To deter insects in your home, diffuse basil oil or incorporate it in your cleaning routine. Fill an 8 oz spray bottle with 5% white distilled vinegar and add 1/2 teaspoon (about 50 drops) of basil oil. Shake gently to mix, and use it to spray and wipe countertops, cabinets, door frames and baseboards.
Basil Essential Oil Tips
Basil oil blends well in aromatherapy mixtures with citrus oils, minty oils and other herbal oils like oregano and marjoram oils. It also blends well with cedarwood, lavender, clary sage and ginger essential oils.
Avoid ingesting essential oils orally, even if they come from an edible herb; insufficient research has been done on consumption effects. Since they contain the plant’s active compounds in the most concentrated form, it’s important to use essential oils carefully. Patch-test basil essential oil on a small area of skin before using it topically, to check for any allergic reaction.