Aromatherapy Oils - Basil

Botanical name: Ocimum Basilicum
Botanical family: Labiatae

Note: Top

Part of plant used: Leaves

Origin: Originally comes from Asia, basil is found in both the northern and southern hemispheres.

Description: Very clear, sweet and slightly spicy.

History: Ancient plant used in Ayurvedic medicine. Used a lot in India and grown for luck in many homes. There is an ancient myth about a jealous father who chopped off his daughter's lover's head and buried it. The daughter found the buried head with a basil bush growing on it. (Poem by Keats)

Properties and Indications:

• Digestion - activates peristalsis, enzymes, detergent for poor indigestion
• Can clear blockages (mucous, psychological)
• Restorative, stimulant, especially for the nervous system
• Good for post ops - it can stimulate if the person is very low
• Extremely euphoric, high, giddy feeling
• Sharpens the senses, makes more alert
• Helpful for people coming off tranquillizers and drugs
• Wasp stings, snake bites

Personality:

• Brings out repressed anger for people who cannot express anger
• Expels melancholic vapors from the heart - depression
• For people who are too laid back, cannot make a decision and people who procrastinate too much
• Useful to connect a person, ie. for backwardness
• Can move someone who has too much water, earth or air

Contra-indications:

• Not to be used in pregnancy
• Never use at night
• Avoid on epileptics
• Not to be used on people who are restless, irritable, strong willed, domineering, forceful, angry or burnt out
• Not usually good for Fire signs unless they are depleted

Blending:

• Bergamot, Clove, Geranium, Hyssop, Melissa, Verbena
• Not to be used with Marjoram

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