The use of essential oils for the general he alth of a person has been around for several thousand years. These substances are part of many exclusive cosmetic products, they are valued for their set of useful properties, ease and effectiveness of application.
Fragrant basil: characteristics
Basil has been popular for many years not only in the process of cooking, but also in personal care. The plant is unpretentious by nature, everyone can grow it in their dacha (or even on the balcony).
Basil essential oil is an affordable and proven remedy for severe headaches, earaches and severe allergic reactions. This oil helps to alleviate the general condition of the patient with sinusitis, rhinitis, asthma and emphysema. Helps to regain the ability to smell again after a prolongedrunny nose and even used for gastrointestinal problems.
History of the origin of the plant
Basil was widely used in ancient Egypt, it was used in rituals associated with the burial of people. In the Roman Empire, this plant was used as a medicine, and after the military campaigns of Alexander the Great, the benefits of this plant were also learned in Europe. This oil was part of the composition used in the ceremony of anointing roy alty.
Basil was brought to the Russian Empire at the beginning of the 18th century. It was grown to add a pleasant taste and aroma to cooked dishes. Hence the second name of this herb is fragrant cornflower. However, this plant has not been used for medicinal purposes in Russia for a long time.
In India, basil was considered a sacred plant under the auspices of the god Vishnu. During religious rituals, it is customary to chew its shoots and leaves. Hindus believed in protection from evil forces with the help of basil and highly valued its healing properties.
How oil is made
Basil essential oil is obtained by steam distillation. The oil has a sweet, viscous aroma and a unique tart taste. In appearance, it is an oily liquid of a dense consistency. In color - transparent, with a slight shade of yellowness.
Basil essential oil contains a high concentration of tannins, camphor, B vitamins and biological flavonoids.
The shelf life of such a product should not exceed five years, otherwise the oil will lose some of its usefulquality.
Healing properties of basil ether
The main properties of basil essential oil are antibacterial. It helps to reduce inflammation, keep the body's defenses and normalizes body temperature. In addition, ether has sedative properties, helping to overcome anxiety and depression.
Using basil essential oil at home is a good way to quickly restore peace of mind, relax and feel energized. And all this without taking drugs with chemical components in the composition.
Using oil for oral problems
The pain-relieving properties of basil essential oil have been known since ancient times. If a child or an adult has a toothache, apply a few drops of oil on sterile cotton wool and apply to the gum for 5-10 minutes. During this time, the patient will feel relief, and the ether will slightly relieve inflammation and prevent it from developing.
It is known that basil essential oil helps to relieve pain even with pulpitis and flux. Cotton compresses with oil will help reduce sensitivity in the oral cavity before a visit to the surgeon.
It is useful to add 4 drops of ether to a glass of water and rinse your mouth before going to bed. Such actions will normalize the bacterial background in the oral cavity and strengthen the teeth and gums.
Using basil oil for colds
The properties and uses of basil essential oil for flu and SARS are extensive.
With severe nasal congestion, ether is used ininhalation processes: add a couple of drops of basil oil and five drops of lemon ether to a container of hot water.
You can add a few drops of basil oil to your aromatherapy locket. This helps beneficial volatile substances to enter the nasal passages and improves mood noticeably.
Reviews of basil essential oil speak of its effectiveness in rheumatism and sprains. If someone from the household has blown their back, mixing a few drops of basil ether with any fatty oil - almond, sea buckthorn, grape seed oil - can be a solution. This mixture relieves inflammation well, has a moderate warming and distracting effect.
It is strongly not recommended to use basil essential oil for skin in its pure form. It can cause irritation or even burns.
Benefits of hair oil
This versatile oil can become an ally in the fight for luxurious hair. The most common use is the addition of 2-3 drops of ether to the shampoo. This is done as follows: the usual portion of detergent is squeezed into the palm, essential oil is added to it, then the hair washing process proceeds as usual.
Using basil essential oil for hair, many women noted a reduction in scalp oiliness, an increase in hair thickness and density, and an overall improvement in the structure of the hair shaft.
Recipe for a nourishing hair mask: juice is squeezed from the pulp of a pumpkin using a blender (about 5 tablespoons of juice is obtained from 250 g of pumpkin). ATthe resulting liquid is added one teaspoon of essential oils of basil, rosemary and wheat germ oil. The entire prepared mixture is thoroughly rubbed into the hair roots, and the remains are distributed along the entire length. The head should be wrapped with cling film or covered with a towel. Keep the mask on your head for at least half an hour, but no more than 45 minutes. The result of the use of such a natural mask will please the girls with the growth of new hair, an increase in volume and shine.
Another popular recipe: two egg yolks should be thoroughly beaten with the pulp of one banana, add 5 drops of basil essential oil to the resulting mixture, apply to hair and scalp and keep for 30 minutes. The effect of such a procedure is curls saturated with vitality that hold styling well.
Hair masks using natural oils can be done on a regular basis, but not more than 2 times a week.
Useful properties of ether for skin
Cosmetologists recommend using basil essential oil for the face. The recipe for a homemade mask is simple: you need to add a few drops of ether to white clay diluted with water. This procedure will cleanse the skin, helps to narrow the pores and get rid of excess sebum. The result is fresh, toned skin. Owners of oily and combination skin can do this mask once a week, and those who have dry or sensitive skin - no more than once every three weeks.
Essential oil of basil helps to lift the oval of the face, restores skin elasticity and relievesfrom puffiness.
Consider a simple mask recipe for flabby, aging skin: mix 2 tablespoons of sour cream with 1 teaspoon of lemon juice, add a teaspoon of honey and two drops of ether. The mixture should be kept on the face for 10 minutes, then rinse with warm water. The result is fresh skin that glows from within, a he althy glow and a complete absence of minor inflammation.
Remedy for skin inflammation
Ether will help in the fight against acne and minor inflammations on the skin. A drop of oil is applied pointwise to the site of inflammation, it has a drying effect and relieves redness.
Removing warts with essential oil is easy and painless. To do this, undiluted basil oil must be applied to each of them several times a day. According to the reviews of those who used this recipe, the warts fall off after 7-10 days, leaving a layer of he althy epidermis underneath.
To make homemade massage oil, add 5 drops of basil essential oil to 20 ml of almond oil.
Contraindications for the use of oil
Basil ether is forbidden for pregnant women in any trimester, the ban also applies to the period of breastfeeding.
Another important contraindication is increased blood clotting, epilepsy at any stage and individual intolerance to essential oils.
Before applying oil to the skin or hair, do not forget about a simple test: a drop of oil is applied tosensitive skin on the crook of the elbow. If redness, burning or swelling occurs at the site of contact of the oil with the skin after 15 minutes, do not use the ether.
Make butter at home
For the recipe you will need 2 liters of olive oil and 2 kg of fresh basil leaves. To create butter at home you need:
- Find a glass jar with a volume of at least 2 liters.
- Place leaves in it and pour oil over them.
- Close the jar with a lid and put it in a room where the sun's rays do not penetrate for a month.
- After the 30-day period, remove the leaves, wring them out and discard.
- What is left in the jar, strain through cheesecloth and pour into a clean container.
- Store oil in the refrigerator. It is used for cosmetic purposes, for massage and for bruises, cuts and sprains.
On the benefits of aromatherapy
The fresh, herbaceous scent of basil ester will help you clear your mind, get rid of obsessions and recharge your batteries. After breathing in the air filled with a tart aroma for 15-20 minutes, a person becomes more collected, because the ether has a positive effect on cerebral circulation, and consequently, on cognitive abilities and memory.
If someone in the household has a sleep disorder, you can apply two drops of oil on the pillow - sound sleep and a clear awakening are guaranteed.
There are conflicting opinionsabout whether basil essential oil has magical properties. True or fiction, but people who often use this ether note that the situation in the house becomes calmer, quarrels subside and the level of anxiety decreases. Magicians and psychics attribute powerful protective properties to this plant. It is believed that the ether protects households from envious people, unkind guests and manifestations of aggression against them.
There is a theory about the beneficial effects of basil essential oil on reproductive function - it increases libido in women and promotes long-lasting erections in men. All it takes to activate these unique properties is to put some ether in a saucer of water and leave it in the room overnight.
Using the oil of this wonderful plant, you can bring good luck to your home. A few drops of ether are diluted in water. With the help of a spray gun, all rooms in the house are sprayed, including a bathroom. At the moment of spraying, you can mentally ask fortune for assistance, help in solving money issues and protection from ruin. This ritual is repeated during the first three days of the new lunar month for three consecutive months.
You can take this advice with a smile, but you should not deny the benefits of this valuable essential oil. No wonder the ancient Indians and Egyptians greatly appreciated its properties, ate green leaves, made rubbing and oils from them. At a time when medicine was not developed enough, such methods helped to maintain good he alth and mental clarity.
