Basil: A Herb for Skin Care

Researchers report that the herb Basil contains antibacterial compound. Consequently, essential oil of the herb is used by aromatherapists to treat skin conditions, including acne, as well as sluggish, congested complexions.

A trained aromatherapist can prepare a skin lotion for you using essential oil of basil. But anyone can enjoy the skin benefits of basil by using a strong tea as a bracing toner. To try it, do the following:

• Pack a handful of fresh basil, about three tablespoons, into a sturdy mug and pound lightly with a pestle to bruise the leaves and release the oils.
• Pour in a cup of boiling water, cover the mug, and let the tea steep until it is a clear grass green color, at least twenty minutes.
• Strain and discard the leaves.
• For a soft yet non-oily feel, splash your face with the tea just before applying moisturizer. (Don’t dry off.) Your face will appreciate it, especially if the air you live in is polluted.

Just so you know, drinking a cup of this extra-strong tea will probably not harm you. But the taste is too intense to be enjoyable.

In remote parts of the African brush, basil tea is used as an after shampoo hair rinse to help control dandruff and scalp psoriasis. Though this is not an officially documented remedy, at the very least. A basil teas rinse does leave the hair silky and the scalp feeling fresh.

If your skin and hair lose their luster when you travel, pack up some dried basil and take it will you. Pour about a cup of hot tap water over two teaspoons of dried basil, cover, and let sit overnight for use in the morning.