Botanical Information - Rituals & History :
Basil is a highly aromatic plant originally native to India and other tropical regions of Asia. Yet, there are now about a hundred and fifty varieties found throughout the world. The sweet or bush basil, Ocimum basilicum,, is the one most used for essential oils and also its leaves are used as a wonderful herbal condiment in the kitchen.
Basil is originally native to India and other tropical regions of Asia, having been cultivated there for more than 5,000 years. Basil did not reach Europe until the sixteenth century.
Basil Constituents: camphor, cineole, estragol, (or methyl chavicol),eugenol, linalool, pinene