Herbs for Health: Holy Basil
If you enjoy geeking out on herbs, you might already be familiar with adaptogens. Adaptogens are herbs and mushrooms that help our bodies better handle stress, whether physical, chemical, or biological. Some adaptogens like ginseng and ashwagandha get their fair share of the spotlight, while others fly under the radar. Tulsi, commonly known as holy basil, is one of those silently powerful leafy greens.
What is Holy Basil?
Holy basil is not the same as the sweet basil leaves you sprinkle on your Margherita pizza or the Thai basil greens you use to garnish your pho! While Tulsi and common kitchen basil are both members of the mint family, they have slightly different appearances and flavour profiles – holy basil has a more peppery-clove flavour than regular basil and is not often used in the kitchen. Tulsi grows with purple stems that are hairy, while the common basil has no hair. Holy basil looks like a smaller version of regular basil but has more delicate leaves.
While holy basil is just one of the wide varieties of basil itself, there are even a few subcategories of Tulsi:
Rama: Rama has the most medicinal uses.
Kapoor: Kapoor is the easiest to grow because it does well in many climates.
Krishna: Krishna is well known for its medicinal properties
Amrita: Amrita has the highest concentration of rosmarinic acid, which is believed to help with anxiety.
Vana: Vana is the tallest growing of these holy basil varieties.
The Tulsi plant is native to Southeast Asia and respected in Ayurvedic healing. The holy basil plant is considered sacred and worshipped in Hindu rituals and traditions. It’s believed that Tulsi was an earthly manifestation of Goddess Laxmi and was worshipped along with Lord Vishnu. The holy basil plant is important in cleansing ceremonies and is believed to clear the aura and keep negativity away from the house. This is why most Hindu homes have a Tulsi plant in their courtyard – the presence of the holy basil plant is believed to increase purity, foster meditation, purify, and protect.
Benefits of Holy Basil
Helps the body deal with stress
All parts of the Tulsi plant act as an adaptogen. Holy basil helps to normalize the stress response in the body over time, resulting in a more stable, calm, and peaceful internal environment. The holy basil leaf is packed with beneficial compounds that interfere with the nervous system and help the body cope with different forms of stress. If the stress is caused by a physical stressor, the compounds in the Tulsi plant interfere with the stress receptors in the body and calm the mind.
Regulates the blood sugar
Holy basil is beneficial for avoiding diabetes symptoms like hypertension, unstable cholesterol levels, and insulin resistance. Holy basil has been shown to significantly lower blood glucose and keeps cholesterol levels in check.
Slows down premature aging
This leafy green is rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, and phytonutrients, all of which are exceptional antioxidants that protect the body from premature aging. Have you heard of inflamm-aging? It’s essentially accelerated skin aging that is caused by chronic inflammation. Chronic aging is often triggered by environmental and emotional stressors, so adding holy basil to your diet helps with this because the body is more resilient to stress overall. Several compounds in Tulsi work to counteract free radicals. Research has shown that the compounds in holy basil also help the body maintain hyaluronic acid levels, which is the part of the skin that gives it its suppleness.
Boosts cognition and works as an antidepressant
Holy basil can be used to relieve cloudy thinking, mental fog, poor memory, ADD, ADHD, and mild depression. Because holy basil is an adaptogen, it improves overall stress levels and promotes clear and calm thinking.
Works as an anti-inflammatory
Holy basil has anti-inflammatory properties comparable to conventional anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen and aspirin. Studies suggest that Tulsi plays an important role in addressing other inflammatory disorders, and regularly consuming this herb is an effective lifestyle measure against chronic diseases. Other herbs with anti-inflammatory properties include ginger and ginkgo biloba, so if you’d like to know more, be sure to read those blogs.
Protects the stomach
Holy basil counteracts the effects of stress-induced ulcers and naturally increases the stomach’s defense by increasing mucus secretion and mucus cells, decreasing stomach acid, and extending the life of mucus cells.
How to Use Holy Basil
Traditionally, holy basil was dried to make tea or made into a tincture or essential oil. Adding your holy basil to smoothies, juices, and cooking are some other ways to incorporate this adaptogen into your daily life. Holy basil can be found in whole form (fresh or dried), as a capsule, extract, or powdered. Like many adaptogens, holy basil works best when consumed regularly over time.
Holy Basil Dosage
There are many different ways to take holy basil, like in the form of tea, fluid extracts, and standard extracts. However, just like with any herbal supplement, there is a dosage to be aware of so you are able to maximize this healing herb’s potential and avoid any unnecessary side effects.
Recommended doses for general preventative purposes:
Standard extracts: 200mg to 500mg a day
Fluid extracts with a 1:1 ratio: 3ml to 5ml a day
Holy basil tea: 2 to 4 cups a day
When used as a form of treatment, the recommended dosage is 600mg to 1800mg, taken in several doses throughout the day.
Holy Basil Contraindications
While holy basil is considered safe, pregnant and breastfeeding women, women who are trying for a baby, people with type 2 diabetes, and people with hypothyroidism should avoid this herb.
Holy basil could also interact with the following medication:
Anticoagulant/antiplatelet medications that slow blood clotting – holy basil could slow blood clotting, so taking this along with medications that also slow blood clotting might increase the risk of bruising and bleeding.
Pentobarbital that causes drowsiness – holy basil calms the body, which may lead to even more drowsiness.
Antidiabetic medication – taking holy basil alongside diabetic medication may cause blood sugar levels to drop too low.
Healing Holy Basil Recipe
If you’ve never sipped on a cup of Tulsi tea – or even if you have – this recipe is one to put on the to-brew-list!
Ingredients:
1 cup water
1 tsp dried holy basil leaves
Method:
Add the holy basil to an infuser basket and place it inside your mug. If you don’t have an infuser basket, you can make the infusion and strain the liquid through a fine mesh strainer into your mug.
Pour boiling water over your herbs and cover your mug with a small tea cover (or plate). Allow the basil leaves to infuse their goodness for 5 to 10 minutes.
Remove the diffuser basket and sweeten with honey if desired before you enjoy this tea.
How to grow Holy Basil
If you live in a warmer climate (hardiness zones 10 to 11), you can try your hand at growing Tulsi from a seed or seedling. Holy basil loves full sun and will flourish yearly if you live in the right climate. This herb makes a lovely addition to any herb garden and can be grown in a pot indoors or outside in your garden.
Follow these steps to grow this fragrant healing herb:
Start the Tulsi seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last expected frost date. Use good seed-starter soil and bury your seeds ¼ inch deep.
Keep the soil moist but not drenched until your seeds germinate.
Once the leaves peep through the soil, give your seedlings organic fertilizer every other week.
When you transplant your holy basil to a larger container or the garden, leave 6 inches between each plant.
In Summary
Holy basil plays well with other herbs, which is great for herbal lovers that want to experiment with healing combinations. When blending herbs, choose plants or spices that have the properties you’re hoping to achieve. For example, if you are using holy basil for its destressing properties, lavender is a great herb to pair it with instead of something like ginseng, which is known to boost energy. Always make sure to consult your healthcare practitioner before adding supplements to your diet. It’s also important to purchase basil that is grown organically in an unpolluted environment.