Holy basil is a plant. It is originally from India but now grows in Australia, West Africa, and some Middle Eastern countries. It is used in Ayurvedic medicine as an “adaptogen” to counter life’s stresses. It is considered a sacred plant by the Hindus and is often planted around Hindu shrines. The Hindu name for holy basil, Tulsi, means “the incomparable one.” Medicine is made from the leaves, stems, and seeds.
Holy basil is commonly used by mouth to help with anxiety and stress. It is also used for diabetes and high cholesterol. But there is limited scientific research to support these and other uses.
What is Holy Basil Used for?
As a rasayana and adaptogen, Holy Basil maintains equilibrium among biochemicals associated with the stress system in the body. Ursolic, Rosmarinic acids and Eugenol have all shown antioxidant activity and support normal levels of inflammation. Further research is needed to fully determine the exact biochemical activity found in this plant.
In cooking, holy basil is often added to stir-fry dishes and spicy soups because of its peppery taste. Cookbooks sometimes call it “hot basil.
Physical description
The holy basil plant is a small annual or short-lived perennial shrub, up to 1 meter (3.3 feet) in height. The stems are hairy and bear simple toothed or entire leaves oppositely along the stem. The fragrant leaves are green or purple, depending on the variety. The small purple or white tubular flowers have green or purple sepals and are borne in terminal spikes. The fruits are nut lets and produce numerous seeds.
The Health Benefits of Holy Basil
Holy basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum), commonly known in the Hindi language as tulsi, is quite possibly the most revered medicinal herb on the planet. Holy basil is a plant that has violet flowers and blossoms; the stems are green, but sometimes have a purple tinge. This type of basil is much spicier than the other basil variations. Medicinal preparations are made from the leaves, stems, and seeds of the plant. Holy basil is often used for cooking Thai dishes and its spicy flavor has influenced the common name “hot basil.”
Interestingly, the Hindus worship holy basil; the plant is considered the “Mother Medicine of Nature.” It’s been revered since ancient times as an herb that can promote a healthy body, mind, and spirit. The sacred plant is often planted around Hindu shrines. The name tulsi means “the incomparable one.” But in Western medicine holy basil is perhaps most valued as an adaptogen (a substance that helps the body adapt to stress). The plant has been used to combat the negative effects of stress in the body, maintain stable blood sugar levels, and promote longevity.
Health Benefits
Holy basil is used to treat many conditions, including H1N1 (swine) flu, diabetes, the common cold, headache, fever, stress, upset stomach, earache and more. It has also been used as a mosquito repellent and topically (on the skin) to treat ringworm.
Studies have shown that holy basil has a wide range of health-promoting properties including:
What Are Adaptogens?
Holy basil is an adaptogenic herb. Adaptogens are substances found in plants that help boost the body’s resilience in dealing with stressors. Because the effects of stress on the body play such a huge role in the aging process, adaptogens are also considered to have anti-aging properties. They may perform many different functions including:
In a 2017 systematic review, study authors suggest that holy basil may be an effective adaptogen, helping to “address the psychological [mental], physiological [the way the body or its parts function], immunological [the immune system], and metabolic [relating to the metabolism of the body] stresses of modern living.”
Holy basil is used for its many health benefits, and is used widely in Indian Ayurvedic medicine, but there is insufficient evidence for the treatment of many conditions, including:
A 2014 review of tulsi suggests that modern-day science is beginning to gather enough medical research data to back up claims of the many touted health benefits of holy basil.
The fact that science is not only beginning to study these ancient herbal medicines, but also lends credibility to them, is a big leap in Western healing modalities.
Clinical Domains
In a 2017 review of 24 independent clinical studies on tulsi, over 1,000 study participants (from ages 10 to 80) were observed after taking holy basil in various forms and dosages. In three primary categories called “clinical domains,” holy basil was found to “provide favorable clinical effects.” The three domains included:
- Metabolic disorders (15 studies on conditions such as diabetes)
- Neurocognitive disorders (4 studies on conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease or mood disorders, like depression)
- Immunity and infections (5 studies)
Inflammation
Holy basil has been identified in studies as having important health benefits in many medical conditions involving inflammation. In fact, one of the studies in the independent review of studies concluded that tulsi may have many substances that act alone or synergistic ally (with other chemicals) to inhibit inflammation. Also, one study found that holy basil may be useful as an aid to other drugs or nutritional interventions for the treatment of metabolic disorders (such as diabetes).
Chronic Diseases
In the 2017 systematic review, the study authors concluded, “The clinical effects demonstrated in the reviewed studies suggest [that] the Ayurvedic tradition of consuming tulsi [holy basil] on a daily basis may be an effective lifestyle measure to address many modern chronic diseases.”
Possible Side Effects
In the 2017 review of 24 independent studies, the study authors wrote, “All reviewed studies reported favorable clinical effects with minimal or no side effects irrespective of dose, formulation, or the age or gender of participants, with only one clinical trial reporting transient mild nausea.” Note, the longest study reviewed was only 13 weeks in duration, 1 so this data does not rule out any side effects that could occur when holy basil is used for longer than 13 weeks.
Holy basil is possibly safe when taken for periods of up to six weeks, but long-term safety has not yet been fully established.3
Special Precautions
The safety of holy basil use has not yet been established in pregnant or breastfeeding women. 4
Holy basil should not be used by women of childbearing age who are trying to conceive because preliminary studies on animals showed that holy basil may cause uterine contractions and negatively impact fertility.
Another animal study showed that holy basil may slow down the rate of normal blood clotting, and it is suggested to stop the use of the herb at least two weeks before a scheduled surgery and two weeks after any type of surgery.
Health benefits of basil
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Basil is an herb in the mint family. It adds flavor to meals, and its nutrients may provide health benefits.
Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) plays a role in many Mediterranean, and particularly Italian, cuisines. It forms the basis of pesto and adds a distinctive flavor to salads, pasta, pizza, and other dishes. Indonesian, Thai, and Vietnamese cuisines also feature this herb.
In the diet, sweet basil can provide vitamins, minerals, and a range of antioxidants. Its essential oil may also have medicinal benefits.
Sweet basil is available in many grocery stores, while other varieties have different tastes and fragrances.
Another type of basil is tulsi, or holy basil (Ocimum santum). This plant plays a therapeutic role in Tamil and Ayurvedic medicines, which are predominantly practiced in Southeast Asia. This is different from sweet basil.
In this article, learn more about the health benefits and nutritional contents of basil, and find some tips on how to include it in the diet.
Reducing oxidative stress
Antioxidants are essential for eliminating free radicals from the body.
Free radicals are unstable molecules that develop as a result of metabolism and other natural processes. They can also form as a result of smoking and some dietary choices.
Antioxidants are compounds that help remove these molecules from the body. If they build up instead, oxidative stress can occur, resulting in cell damage and, possibly, disease.
Scientists have linked cancer, heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and other health issues to oxidative stress.
The body produces some antioxidants, but it also needs to absorb some from the diet. Among the many antioxidants in basil are anthologists and beta carotene.
Supporting liver health
A 2015 study in rats concluded that antioxidants in a powdered preparation that included tulsi, or holy basil, had a positive impact on liver health. The scientists applied the powder after using a toxin to induce liver injury.
Tulsi — a plant that is very different from the basil in the average Western supermarket — plays a role in Indian traditional medicine.
Fighting cancer
A review published in 2013 looked at whether tulsi, or holy basil, could prevent cancer.
The authors concluded that the phytochemicals in holy basil may help prevent certain types of skin, liver, oral, and lung cancers.
They appeared to do this by increasing antioxidant activity, changing gene expression, triggering cell death, and slowing cell division.
However, the studies in this review were preclinical or performed in animals. Confirming the effects will require further research.
Protecting against skin aging
According to research published in 2011, sweet basil has properties that might help protect the skin from some effects of aging.
In the study, the scientists applied a basil extract to laboratory models of skin. The results suggested that including basil extracts in topical skin creams might improve skin hydration and reduce roughness and wrinkling.
While extracts of basil at certain doses may have this effect, consuming basil will not necessarily benefit the skin.
However, the antioxidants in basil and other plant-based foods may have a protective effect if a person consumes them as part of a varied diet.
Reducing high blood sugar
Some practitioners of traditional medicine commonly recommend basil to help manage blood sugar levels.
A 2019 study in rats found that an extract of sweet basil leaves helped reduce high blood sugar levels. The results also suggested that basil leaves may help treat long-term effects of high blood sugar.
If further investigations confirm these findings, basil extracts could prove useful for people with diabetes.
Supporting cardiovascular health
A 2011 review reported on findings that a sweet basil extract briefly reduced high blood pressure, possibly due to the extract’s eugenol content. Eugenol can block calcium channels in the body, lowering high blood pressure.
However, 2 minutes after the researchers used the extract, the blood pressure returned to its high levels.
In another study, 24 healthy volunteers took either a placebo or a capsule containing 300 milligrams (mg) of a dried tulsi leaf extract once a day.
After 4 weeks, those who took the tulsi extract had lower levels of cholesterol and triglycerides than those who did not. The authors concluded that the extract could help reduce some risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
Boosting mental health
Mental stress can trigger the production of free radicals in the body.
According to a 2014 review that looked at the role of tulsi in Ayurvedic medicine, the plant contains properties that may help:
- alleviate stress, anxiety, and depression
- increase the ability to think and reason
- prevent age-related memory loss
- improve stress-related sleep and sex issues
Some studies, the authors report, produced results comparable to those of diazepam and antidepressant drugs.
However, confirming these findings will require more research. Also, consuming tulsi — in a tea, for example — is unlikely to have the same effect as receiving a dosage of an extract.
Reducing inflammation and swelling
Oxidative stress can lead to inflammation, a factor in various diseases, including cancer, type 2 diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis.
In 2017, researchers analyzed the anti-inflammatory properties of two preparations of sweet basil essential oil.
According to their results, basil oil may help treat various diseases that involve inflammation resulting from oxidative stress.
It is not clear whether eating basil, however, could have the same effect.
Which foods may help manage inflammation? Find out here.
Com-batting infection
Various practitioners of traditional medicine have used basil as an antimicrobial agent, and some scientific research supports this use.
In 2013, researchers applied sweet basil oil to various strains of Escherichia coli , or E. coli. The bacteria came from people with respiratory, abdominal, urinary, or skin infections, as well as from hospital equipment. The results showed that the oil was active against these bacteria.
The researchers concluded that certain preparations of basil oil could help treat or prevent some types of infection.
Oregano is another herb that may have health benefits. Learn more here.Medical News Today Newsletter