What Are The Benefits Of Wild Basil?
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What Are The Benefits Of Wild Basil?
There are many reasons you may be interested in incorporating wild basil into your diet, including reaping the alleged benefits for your skin.
There’s a reason basil has been crowned the “king of herbs” and that’s because there are a huge number of touted benefits of wild basil! For example, the herb is said to improve digestive conditions, as well as said to be effective in combating symptoms of eczema.
Another perk of wild basil is that it can be sourced in many woodland areas with ease, making it cheap (and by cheap, we mean free)! So, why should you be incorporating this popular herb into your daily routine? What are the true benefits of wild basil?
What Are The Health Benefits of Wild Basil?
You may be familiar with the uses of wild basil in the culinary world – most of us have utilised it more in the kitchen than in the bathroom!
However, wild basil can be incredibly effective at soothing and treating a whole range of skin, hair, and health issues. In fact, there are many benefits of wild basil that are heralded in the holistic world.
Wild basil is thought to have anti-inflammatory properties, which can aid against a multitude of health conditions. For example, consuming basil regularly is thought to help ward off nasty colds, coughs, and fevers in many cultures both east and west.
Wild basil is also often celebrated for its digestive properties. It’s thought to settle the stomach, and aid in promoting the immune system. In some parts of the world, it is also considered a remedy for mental health ailments, such as insomnia, depression, and anxiety.
There can be many benefits of wild basil and incorporating the herb into your daily routine couldn’t be easier…
How Can I Use Wild Basil?
The simplest way to quickly make use of wild basil is by incorporating it into your diet! After washing your wild basil to ensure it’s free from any bugs, dirt, or pesticides, there are plenty of interesting and tasty dishes you can create with it.
For example, pesto is almost entirely made of wild basil, and is a simple supper when served over some wholewheat pasta.
Many Mediterranean and Italian dishes heavily rely on the use of basil and similar herbs – so there are plenty of tasty ways you can integrate the popular herb into your meals!
Wild basil, when incorporated into skincare products, has antimicrobial and antibacterial properties. This means wild basil could be a great (and often overlooked) herb for treating acne and other skin conditions, in a more natural way.
To combat blemishes, whilst hydrating the skin, you could quite easily make a wild basil facial oil at home if you’re into creating your own beauty products.
Additionally, a basil tea, cooled in the fridge, can make a refreshing toner for when you’ve finished cleansing your face…
How To Make Your Own Wild Basil Beauty Products
Try our quick and easy wild basil toner recipe!
Wild Basil Toner Recipe
- Source some wild basil by foraging in local woodland areas (and double-checking your spoils online)! Of course, make sure you’re not on private land before you pick! You don’t need much - a few bunches will do…
- Rinse your wild basil, to ensure there are no unwanted bugs or dirt lurking within the leaves.
- Then, it’s time to create a wild basil tea. Steep your herbs in a bowl of hot water, occasionally moving the stems around with a spoon, and crushing the leaves with a fork.
If you like, you can add a few drops of witch hazel here. Witch hazel is astringent and is renowned for its anti-inflammatory properties so can provide some extra TLC for your skin in your exciting, new DIY toner!
- Allow the tea to cool, and then refrigerate.
- After a few hours, when fully chilled, remove from the fridge and discard the basil stems. Pour the liquid that remains into a fully sealable bottle or jar.
- When you have cleansed your face, soak a cotton pad in your mixture, and sweep over your face. You can even keep the natural toner in the fridge, to keep it cool and refreshing!
The toner should help close any pores that remain open after cleansing, remove sebum and dirt, and help rejuvenate the skin.
Read up about the benefits other herbal teas can have on your hair here.
Enjoy your new-found favourite herb, wild basil!
