Holy basil is a perennial plant native to Southeast Asia that is cultivated for medicinal purposes, religious ceremonies, and for its valuable essential oil. Holy basil originates from India and Nepal, but has since spread across East Asia, Australia and other tropical regions. It's scientific name is Ocimum tenuiflorum. The term “holy basil” gets its name because of its sacred classification among those who belong to the Vaishnavite sect of Hinduism. In this tradition devotees perform worship involving the plant or its leaves.. Holy basil is also known as tulsi or tulasi, which comes from the original Sanskrit. The plant and its oil contain diverse phytochemicals, including tannins, flavonoids, eugenol, caryophyllenes, carvacrol, linalool, camphor, and cinnamyl acetate, among others. From traditional to modern Holy basil is listed in the Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine for its many benefits; however, in the U.S., the Food & Drug Administration only recognizes pharmaceuticals as “medicine.” Even though holy basil boasts 3,000 plus years of use as a medicine in Asia, the U.S. government does not recognize this rich heritage. Unlike traditional basil, which is often used in culinary cooking and has its own set of benefits, holy basil has a rich history as a core component in the medicinal practices stretching back thousands of years. Many of these practices have spread to western nations over the centuries, and in recent decades modern research techniques have have corroborated many of the medicinal properties of the plant. Health and healing benefits Holy basil's recognized health benefits are numerous: • Stress and anxiety relief: Holy basil acts as an adaptogen. It helps the body manage stress, and has been shown to improve mental balance and reduce anxiety levels. • Blood sugar and cholesterol management: Research suggests that holy basil can help lower blood sugar levels, which makes it beneficial for people with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. Studies also show it reduces cholesterol levels, particularly LDL and VLDL cholesterol. • Anti-inflammatory & antioxidant properties: The holy basil plant contains numerous phytochemical compounds, particularly flavonoids, that have been proven to reduce inflammation and support wound healing. Additionally, all high-antioxidant herbs contain constituents that contribute to overall health—including brain and gut health. To reap the health benefits of holy basil there are several forms of consumption: Tea, brewed from both fresh or dried leaves; nutritional supplements in the form of capsules; and essential oil in aromatherapy and personal care products. Recent research • A study published in Heliyon in October 2023 found that holy basil supplementing significantly relieved anxiety in cancer patients scheduled for radioiodine therapy. The study was significant because it involved a randomized controlled human trial in a clinical setting The researchers used stress measuring tools, such as the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and determined scores was significantly lower in the holy basil supplementing group compared to the placebo group. The researchers noted their study provided strong evidence that holy basil supplementing was suitable as a "supportive measure" in maintaining patients' quality of life in a stressful setting. • Another 2023 study conducted in Saudi Arabia determined that holy basil provided a range of health benefits including medicinal properties: Antioxidant properties, anticancer properties, antimicrobial properties, anti-diabetic properties. The study was published in Molecules in January 2023. • A 2022 Australian eight-week, randomized, placebo-controlled trial reported that two months of supplementation with an Ocimum tenuiflorum extract was shown to reduce objective and subjective measures of stress, and to improve subjective measures of sleep quality. The study was published in Frontiers in Nutrition in September 2022. • In a striking example of holy basil's versatility, a 2021 study found the primary polyphenol in holy basil, eugenol, had Covid fighting potential. The researchers, working at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, concluded holy basil had the ability to inhibit some of the spike proteins found in the SARS-CoV-2 virus from taking root and causing an initial Covid-19 infection. The study was published in Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology in October 2021. - - - Holy basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum) is one of the stress-reducing nutrients found in Optimal Cort-Adrena from Optimal Health Systems. Click the banner ad on this page to learn more. Sources for this article include: Heliyon, Molecules, Frontiers in Nutrition, Neuroimmune Pharmacology., Wikipedia (eugenol).
