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evidence · mechanism · dose
Supplements/Herb

Holy Basil (Tulsi)

Adaptogenic basil used for stress and blood sugar.

Blood Sugar ManagementMood & Anxiety

Overview

Adaptogenic basil used for stress and blood sugar.

Natural sources
    Common forms

      Forms & variants of Holy Basil (Tulsi)

      Different chemical forms of Holy Basil (Tulsi) behave differently. Browse each form's mechanism, bioavailability, and best-use context.

      Parent
      Holy Basil (Tulsi)

      Ayurvedic adaptogen with anti-stress, anti-inflammatory, and glycemic effects.

      Parent
      Holy Basil (Tulsi)

      Sacred basil adaptogen — anti-stress and mild glucose-lowering effects.

      Mechanism of action

      Eugenol and ursolic acid modulate cortisol, COX-2, and insulin sensitivity.

      Pathways

        Effects on the body

        Organ system effects

        Evidence-based benefits

        Reduces perceived stress and anxiety

        Moderate evidence

        Potential side effects

        Common
        • · GI upset
        Rare
          Serious

            Drug interactions

            No notable interactions reported.

            Safety & non-supplemental interactions

            Educational summary — always confirm with your clinician or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or combining with prescription therapy.

            Avoid if you are
            • ·Pregnant or breastfeeding (insufficient safety data)
            • ·Children under 18 (unless directed by a clinician)

            Supplement interactions

            Pairs well with

            None listed.

            Avoid combining with

            No specific avoidances listed.

            Dosing & bioavailability

            Typical dose
            300–600 mg standardized
            With food?
            With food

            Where to buy

            Affiliate-style search links to reputable retailers. We don't endorse specific brands — verify third-party testing (USP, NSF, Informed Sport) before purchase.

            Herb
            Holy Basil (…
            Amazon
            Wide selection · fast shipping
            Herb
            Holy Basil (…
            iHerb
            Global delivery · curated brands
            Herb
            Holy Basil (…
            Thorne
            Practitioner-grade · NSF tested

            Scientific evidence (8)

            RCTEvid Based Complement Alternat Med · 2012

            Tulsi on stress

            Saxena RC, et al.

            6-week DB-RCT in 158 stressed adults.

            Key findings

            Significantly reduced symptoms of stress on 31% improvement.

            Open study
            Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

            PubMed: Holy Basil (Tulsi) — Reduces perceived stress and anxiety

            Live PubMed search

            Live results for "Holy Basil (Tulsi) Reduces perceived stress and anxiety" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

            Key findings

            Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Holy Basil (Tulsi) and "Reduces perceived stress and anxiety". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

            Open study
            Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

            PubMed: Holy Basil (Tulsi) — randomized controlled trial

            Live PubMed search

            Live results for "Holy Basil (Tulsi) randomized controlled trial" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

            Key findings

            Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Holy Basil (Tulsi) and "randomized controlled trial". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

            Open study
            Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

            PubMed: Holy Basil (Tulsi) — meta-analysis

            Live PubMed search

            Live results for "Holy Basil (Tulsi) meta-analysis" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

            Key findings

            Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Holy Basil (Tulsi) and "meta-analysis". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

            Open study
            Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

            PubMed: Holy Basil (Tulsi) — pharmacokinetics

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            Live results for "Holy Basil (Tulsi) pharmacokinetics" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

            Key findings

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            Open study
            Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

            PubMed: Holy Basil (Tulsi) — safety adverse events

            Live PubMed search

            Live results for "Holy Basil (Tulsi) safety adverse events" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

            Key findings

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            Open study
            Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

            PubMed: Holy Basil (Tulsi) — dose response

            Live PubMed search

            Live results for "Holy Basil (Tulsi) dose response" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

            Key findings

            Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Holy Basil (Tulsi) and "dose response". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

            Open study
            Systematic reviewGoogle Scholar · 1970

            Google Scholar: Holy Basil (Tulsi) — clinical evidence

            Live Scholar search

            Cross-database citation index for Holy Basil (Tulsi) as it relates to "clinical evidence".

            Key findings

            Includes preprints, theses, and journal articles. Useful for tracking citation counts and follow-on work.

            Open study
            Educational use only. This profile is not medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting any supplement, especially if you take prescription medication or have a chronic condition.