{"id":2084,"date":"2016-12-22T22:05:50","date_gmt":"2016-12-22T22:05:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/essentialoilsanctuary.com\/?p=2084"},"modified":"2018-09-19T21:26:51","modified_gmt":"2018-09-19T21:26:51","slug":"10-basil-essential-oil-uses-benefits-plus-10-recipes-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/essentialoilsanctuary.com\/10-basil-essential-oil-uses-benefits-plus-10-recipes-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Basil Essential Oil Uses and Benefits (Plus 10 Recipes and Tips)"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

Whether you\u2019re a gardener or a foodie with a love of fresh herbs, you\u2019re likely familiar with fresh basil in all its vvariations<\/a>. But you might not know that essential oil made from basil plants is also available to you, with both culinary and wellness benefits. Here\u2019s an introduction to this versatile herb that has been cultivated for over 5,000 years.<\/p>\n

Origins of Basil as an Herb and Essential Oil<\/h1>\n

Basil essential oil (sometimes also called \u201csweet basil\u201d essential oil) comes from the Ocimum basilicum plant, which you have probably seen growing in many home gardens or in cut leaves at the grocery store. Also known as \u201cgreat basil\u201d and \u201cSt. Joseph\u2019s wort\u201d (not to be confused with St. John\u2019s wort used for depression), basil is actually a member of the mint (Lamiaceae) family. Basil\u2019s other nicknames, \u201cthe king of herbs\u201d and \u201cthe royal herb\u201d come from the Greek term for basil: basilikon phuton, or \u201croyal plant.\u201d<\/p>\n

Basil leaves have oil glands, but basil essential oil is made from both the leaves and the flowers of the plant for increased aroma and potency. Most basil essential oil comes from Spain, Italy, France, Egypt, Morocco, and the United States, although there is an exotic strain emanating from Comoros and the Seychelles, island nations off the east coast of Africa. Basil plants are usually harvested during spring, summer, and early fall, when they are most prolific. Basil essential oil is made by steam distillation.<\/p>\n

Basil grown for its use as a fresh herb comes in many different varieties, with the smell and taste of licorice, lemon, and cinnamon, to name a few. Different cultivars have variations on chemical compounds that give them their unique aromas and flavors, such as citral in lemon basil. The leaves on basil plants can vary from bright green to greenish-gray to purple.<\/p>\n

Basil Uses Throughout History<\/h1>\n

Basil has been grown intentionally by humans since at least 3,000 years B.C. While basil is thought to be originally native to India, its name appears in Ancient Greek literature, and basil has been used for centuries for flavor food and create homemade health recipes for thousands of years in the Mediterranean. Basil was probably brought to Europe from the Far East and Middle East by traders, where it became a symbol of love and fertility, in addition to an herb to flavor food. Basil still figures heavily in Italian, Greek, and Southeast Asian cuisines, and it grows easily in warm climates. Surprisingly, basil has been used in the United States since it was first introduced in the 17th Century, likely more in a medicinal way until the arrival of Mediterranean immigrants who demonstrated how it could be used in cooking.<\/p>\n

The Ancient Egyptians used basil in in both mummification and religious ceremonies. Likewise, in the early Greek Orthodox Church, basil was infused in holy water used in burial rites to encourage safe passage of the dead to the afterlife. During the Middle Ages, it was believed that basil brought good luck against serpentine monsters. In certain central Mexican cultures, basil was thought to bring good luck, and it was also a key component of Ayurvedic medicine in Ancient India, as both an offering to Hindu deities Krishna and Vishnu and as a topical ingredient to treat skin irritations and ward off insects. \u00a0In many cultures, basil has been used to freshen the breath, and it is still a common ingredient in natural mouthwashes and toothpastes.<\/p>\n

Basil essential oil contains a number of nutritional benefits for which it has long been so popular, including:<\/p>\n