How Holy Basil Enhances the Body and Mind
I was first introduced to holy basil probably around ten years ago in the form of teabags from the Organic India company. While the tea is still good, I now prefer holy basil in tincture form, as it seems significantly more potent. Known formally as Ocimum sanctum¸ and often called tulsi, holy basil has a special place in the ancient Indian medical system known as Ayurveda. Holy basil is an aromatic shrub in the basil family that originated in India thousands of years ago. The reverence for the plant is revealed by its many names, like “The Incomparable One” and “The Queen of Herbs.” Substantial evidence suggests it fits the definition of an adaptogen, which helps with adaptation to stress and the restoration of homeostasis, or balance, within the body.
According to the review linked above, by a researcher with RMIT University in Australia, the combined preclinical and clinical evidence from hundreds of studies indicates a ridiculously wide list of potential health benefits of holy basil consumption. I’ll list just some of them here — antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, neuroprotective, liver protective, heart protective, anti-diabetic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic, anti-asthmatic, anti-arthritic, anti-ulcer, anti-stress, and analgesic (that wasn’t even everything!) Of course, so much of this comes from preclinical evidence, and what has been confirmed with clinical studies is far less. However, what does exist is very promising, and further trials are needed to see just how far tulsi’s powers really go.
Health Benefits of Holy Basil
1. Cardiovascular Benefits, Metabolic Syndrome and Diabetes
Having a healthy heart and cardiovascular system overall is critical to living a long life and thriving as much as possible. Numerous studies strongly suggest that holy basil could play an important role in maintain the health of this system. A 2017 randomized, open-label study from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences examined the impact of 250mg tulsi for 8 weeks on metabolic parameters in overweight and obese subjects. While the study was unblinded and no placebo was used, the results were still impressive. Those receiving holy basil showed statistically significant improvements in cholesterol levels (lowering of low-density lipoprotein [LDL] and increases in high-density lipoprotein [HDL] cholesterol), triglycerides, insulin levels, and insulin resistance. Moreover, there was improvement in body mass index. Liver enzymes were also unchanged, indicating both the safety and efficacy of this intervention.
As early as 1964, human evidence indicated hypoglycemic effects of holy basil. More recently, a trial in 2012 also showed the ability of the plant to reduce glucose levels, as well as cholesterol and blood pressure, in patients who used 10mL of extract per day for three months .
In addition to internal metrics, real symptoms may be affected by tulsi consumption. A 2009 study suggested that four grams powder for three months could mitigate symptoms of diabetes like excessive thirst, burning feet, sweating, and headache. However, the study was uncontrolled, so more rigorous research will be needed in the future.
A systematic review of clinical trials published in 2017 succinctly described the results of several trials related to cardiovascular health and diabetes. Five separate trials showed improvements in lipid parameters in metabolic syndrome patients, diabetes patients, obese patients, and healthy individuals, indicating the wide variety of people who can benefit from tulsi. Other trials have consistently shown reductions in fasting blood glucose and HbA1c levels (too much HbA1c indicates too much sugar in the blood and can cause tissue damage). Three trials respectively combined holy basil extract or powdered leaf with a conventional diabetes drug, curry leaves, or neem leaf extract, and in each case the holy basil was found to work together with the other modalities to improve glucose control and/or reduce diabetic symptoms. Yet further trials showed that holy basil could exert an adaptogen-like effect on blood pressure, reducing it in hypertensive patients and increasing it in hypotensive patients.
The doses and timeframes that led to benefits varied substantially. One trial found benefit for lipid profile was achieved with 300mg per day of holy basil extract for four weeks, while another used six grams of extract for 12 weeks and observed similar effects. Extracts don’t necessarily need to be used, as one trial with diabetic patients found that consuming two grams of powdered leaves per day for just two weeks improved blood sugar levels. While more needs to be learned, the number of successful trials clearly demonstrates that various doses of holy basil can favorably impact lipid and blood sugar metrics.
2. Support for Immune Health
Any herb intended to support overall health should ideally have immune benefits, and thankfully this is the case for holy basil. A 2011 double-blind, placebo-controlled study in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology gave 300mg of tulsi extract to healthy volunteers for a month. Despite the short time-frame of the study, holy basil was shown to increase levels of helper T-cells, natural killer (NK) cells, and relevant cytokines substantially more than placebo. Due to the highly significant nature of the results, the researchers concluded “These observations clearly ascertain the immunomodulatory role of Tulsi leaves extract on healthy volunteers.”
The above-mentioned systematic review also summarized several trials on holy basil and immune health. The studies, which used as little as one gram of extract up to 10 grams of extract per day, for between two and four weeks, found that holy basil reduced viral load of human herpesvirus 6, increased survival in patients with viral encephalitis, and mitigated symptoms of viral hepatitis. In one striking case, a daily dose of 1.5 grams dried tulsi leaves, split into three doses throughout the day, provided relief of asthma symptoms within just three days. While the doses and timeframes needed to achieve immune-related benefits varied significantly, it is clear that holy basil is effective for boosting the immune system in at least some patient populations.
3. Mental Health Benefits
As an adaptogen, it is to be expected that tulsi could exert positive effects on mental health. Indeed, a 2015 placebo-controlled trial in the Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology showed that 300mg of holy basil ethanol extract over 30 days had numerous beneficial effects on participants. Those in the treatment group had better reaction times and lower error rates on two cognitive tests. These results led researchers to conclude that “Ocimum sanctum leaf extract seems to have potential cognition-enhancing properties in humans.”
Since everyone experiences general stress, it is reassuring that a double-blind, placebo-controlled study exists supporting the use of holy basil for this application. The 2012 study conducted by researchers at OP Chaudhry Hospital and Research Centre in India found that 1.2 grams of a holy basil product called OciBest, taken over six weeks, produced several benefits in areas of forgetfulness, sexual problems of recent origin, exhaustion, and sleep problems of recent origin. The overall improvement in general stress symptoms was 39% more in the OciBest group than the placebo group. As importantly, the treatment was effective and well-tolerated by all the patients in the study, with no adverse effects. This indicates the robust safety profile of holy basil and its real power to reduce stress. An earlier trial conducted in 2008, also in India, lent further support to the notion that holy basil can reduce anxiety. Subjects were given one gram of extract per day for 60 days; after this period, psychiatric measurements confirmed the treatment significantly reduced generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and associated stress and depression. Researchers concluded, “[Ocimum] sanctum may be useful in the treatment of GAD in human and may be a promising anxiolytic agent in near future.”
Unique Applications of Holy Basil and Potential for the Future
While the scope of clinical trials on holy basil has been relatively limited, there are a lot of potential future uses based on the preclinical research. As mentioned in the beginning of this article, a review of preclinical and clinical research showed a stunning amount of properties that can be attributed to tulsi. Quite interestingly, due to antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties, the herb is used for animals like cows and goats to prevent infection. Some studies have even showed these beneficial effects in fish and silkworms. At least some antibacterial effect has been proven in humans, as a 2011 clinical trial demonstrated that a tulsi mouth rinse was as effective as chlorhexidine and Listerine for reducing Streptococcus mutans levels. Holy basil also accelerates wound healing in animals, so combined with the antibacterial properties, may be an ideal wound dressing in the future.
Another very interesting property of holy basil is its ability to fight pollution. It has been planted in numerous cities in India for this purpose, and even specifically around the famous Taj Mahal to mitigate physical damage from environmental pollution.
I have found that one of the most profound benefits of tulsi is its ability to enhance focus and meditation. This has been a historical use of the plant for thousands of years, and should not be overlooked. Combining ingestion of adaptogens like tulsi and ashwagandha with meditation is an incredibly powerful thing that anyone can do to transform their life. As more research is conducted and awareness grows, I hope that more people all around the world can benefit from this plant.
