# Basil, Holy

> Holy basil from India, eugenol type, steam-distilled from organically produced leaves and blossoms: rich, spicy and pungent, nothing like the herbal basils, from a herb India holds sacred.

Price: 16.00 USD · in stock

## About
In India, holy basil is a sacred herb, planted around doorways to banish evil spirits; in other parts of Asia it grows around temples and is used in prayer beads. Open the bottle and you will understand why it was never thought of as ordinary.This is the eugenol type, steam-distilled in India from the organically produced leaves and blossoms of Ocimum sanctum (Ocimum gratissimum). It is totally unlike the herbal basil oils you may know: high in eugenol, the compound that gives cloves and cinnamon leaf their distinctive notes, it has a rich, spicy, pungent aroma. It is an oil to consider when you build a blend to celebrate midsummer.That same chemistry asks for care, because this basil may be a strong irritant and belongs only in very low dilutions.DetailsBotanical name: Ocimum sanctum (Ocimum gratissimum), eugenol typeOrigin: India; organically producedMethod: steam-distilled leaves and blossomsShelf life: about 2 to 3 years after openingHow to useKeep the dilution very low, with a maximum dermal use level of 0.7 to 1.0%. There is a moderate risk of skin sensitization and a low risk of mucous membrane irritation. It may interact with pethidine, MAOIs, SSRIs and anticoagulant medications, and it should not be used with major surgery, peptic ulcer, hemophilia or other bleeding disorders. Store it dark and refrigerated, and decant a half-full bottle into a smaller, full one. A sacred herb, handled with respect.