Basil is one of those herbs that many people overlook when talking about herbal remedies and medicine. In fact, most people consider basil to be little more than a cooking herb or diffusing in your home for a nice aroma.
In reality, this modest little garden herb is way more than simply a familiar smell for Italian food. There are multiple benefits to keeping basil in your natural remedies arsenal! Keep reading to learn more about those amazing benefits.
Pain Reduction
Pain reduction is one of the leading reasons that people use basil. Basil can help with tension headaches, minor aches and pains, and muscle aches. The ideal way to do this is by infusing oils and lotions with fresh basil and applying the mixture topically.
You can also infuse oil and use basil oil directly on the area. If you have basil essential oil, try massaging it with a carrier oil into areas of pain or inflammation like tense shoulders or knees. No matter how you use it, this essential oil works great for relaxing and clearing the mind after a long day. Add it to a carrier of your choice to help loosen up tense muscles caused from stress in your daily life.
While it can be used as a traditional tea, chances are it won’t be a flavor you’ll particularly enjoy! Basil essential oil can be a bit of a “hot” oil, so if topical application isn’t an option, consider using dehydrated basil in capsules or whip up a batch of fresh pesto!
Alertness
If you’re in the middle of a study sesh or mid-afternoon slump at work, pop some basil essential oil in your diffuser! Basil promotes alertness, mental clarity, and can even lessen anxious feelings. For an invigorating aroma and extra memorization power, try diffusing basil with some peppermint and rosemary.
Inflammation Reduction
Inflammation can happen to anyone, and it can cause a multitude of problems. Did you know inflammation is usually to blame for headaches, joint problems, and tension throughout the body that can lead to anxiety? Traditional anti-inflammatory medications are bad news bears, so consider basil as a natural alternative!
You can take basil orally in either a tea, food, or capsule form to help reduce inflammation. You can do this daily, several times a day, or just as needed. If desired, you can even mix basil with various other herbs that help fight inflammation, like turmeric, or massage it in oil format like we discussed above.
Immune Boosting Properties
Basil is known to have mild anti-bacterial properties and can help fight infections. Because of this, it’s an excellent herb for your immune system!
Keeping your immune system at its top levels, especially throughout the cold and flu season, is vital. This is especially true if you have small children or a demanding job where getting sick is not an option. You can add fresh basil to your daily green juice or smoothies to help keep your immune system boosted.
Juicing is one of the easiest ways to get your daily immune boost, since you can add in all kinds of things! Just make sure to balance it out with some orange juice or dates for sweetness. This supplies a high level of immune boosting vitamins, minerals, and body-loving goodness.
Basil, just like many other medicinal herbs, can be found in various forms. The format you choose will likely depend on the result you want! Essential oil form will be more concentrated, but will lack those vitamins, minerals, and enzymes. Fresh basil tastes amazing in recipes, but it won’t have quite the same potency as the oil or dried herb.
If you have an abundance of basil in your garden, or even just extra from the grocery store, chop it up and freeze it in ice cube trays with some olive oil! You can also infuse oils for digesting or dehydrate your own fresh basil to have on-hand when you need it. Just remember to store it in a cool dry place in an airtight container.
So there you have it!
Basil is way more than just a delicious pesto ingredient and definitely deserves a place in your natural wellness arsenal. Which idea are you going to try first?
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