Mounting evidence suggests that the Tulsi herb may help to address physical, chemical, metabolic, and psychological stress.
For starters, the Tulsi herb, also called Holy Basil and Ocimum sanctum, has nootropic, adaptogen, and antioxidant properties. It’s also an antimicrobial, antibacterial, antiviral, anti-fungal, anti-plasmodial, antimalarial, antiprotozoa, and anthelmintic.
In addition, it has the following properties: anti-diarrheal, anti-cataract, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, chemopreventive, radioprotective, hepatoprotective, anti-carcinogenic, neuroprotective, cardioprotective, analgesic, anti-hypercholesterolemia, anti-hypertensive, anti-pyretic, anti-allergic, anti-tussive, diaphoretic, anti-thyroid, antiemetic, anti-stress, anti-cataract, anti-leukodermal, and anti-coagulant.
That’s a long list — and an impressive one at that.
Tulsi Herb: The Science Behind the Benefits
Native to India, Tulsi has been used as an herbal therapeutic for over 3,000 years. From a study published in The Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine: “The predominant cause of global morbidity and mortality is lifestyle-related chronic diseases, many of which can be addressed through Ayurveda with its focus on healthy lifestyle practices and regular consumption of adaptogenic herbs. Of all the herbs used within Ayurveda, Tulsi … is preeminent, and scientific research is now confirming its beneficial effects.”
The actions of the Tulsi herb may help the body and mind cope with chemical, physical, infectious, and emotional stresses and help support physiological and psychological function.
Hundreds of scientific studies have established a basis for the therapeutic uses of the Tulsi herb. (You can start here and here and then work your way through the NIH database.)
The Tulsi herb has been used to boost energy, sharpen memory, and calm the nerves. It has also been used to relieve anxiety, bad breath, breathing problems, eye problems like sore eyes and poor night vision, gum disease, headaches, heart problems, respiratory problems, high cholesterol, mouth ulcers, skin diseases, and stress.
An effective expectorant, it may be useful in relieving coughs and sore throats that result from the common cold. It may also be effective as a mosquito repellent and relieve itching from insect bites.
Support for Mental Stress and Anxiety
Regular consumption of the Tulsi herb may help protect and detoxify the body’s cells and organs. Benefits may include reduction of stress, anxiety, and depression by calming the mind and offering psychological benefits, such as anti-anxiety and anti-depressant activity with effects comparable to diazepam and antidepressant drugs. It may also enhance memory and cognitive function and protect against age-induced memory deficits.
Support for Metabolic Stress
Metabolic stress is common today due to poor diet, low physical activity, and psychological stress. “Metabolic syndrome” includes what some call the “deadly quartet”: upper-body obesity, glucose intolerance, hypertension, and elevated triglycerides, and it may affect up to one-third of the population. Also called “pre-diabetes” or “Syndrome X,” Metabolic syndrome is associated with chronic inflammation and a greater risk of diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
Evidence suggests the Tulsi herb (Ocimum sanctum) may reduce blood glucose and protect the liver and kidneys from the metabolic damage caused by high glucose levels. Benefits include protecting the liver and kidneys from free radical damage, enhancing insulin secretion and action, lowering cortisol levels, and reducing inflammation. Regular consumption may help with the elimination of kidney stones.
We Love Our Tulsi Herb
We love the Tulsi herb so much that we selected Tulsi extract as one of the handful of extracts we sell in our online store. We think you’ll love it too.
We sell it in a 100 gram size (50 servings) as AHHH! Stress Relief Support. We also sell Tulsi in larger sizes (250 grams to 1,000 grams). To learn more, a good place to start is with the Tulsi FAQ. The FAQ provides a more comprehensive list of benefits. It contains lots of science-based information about this amazing herb and the equally amazing tea you can make from it.