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evidence · mechanism · dose
Supplements/Herb

Holy Basil (Tulsi)

Adaptogenic basil used for stress and blood sugar.

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Blood Sugar ManagementMood & Anxiety

Overview

Adaptogenic basil used for stress and blood sugar.

Natural sources
  • Whole dried plant material (root, leaf, flower, or aerial parts depending on the species)
  • Standardized hydroethanolic or aqueous extract (capsule, tincture, or tea)
  • Powdered traditional preparation used in Ayurvedic, TCM, or Western herbal practice
Common forms
  • Standardized extract capsule
  • Liquid tincture (alcohol or glycerin)
  • Powdered whole herb
  • Traditional decoction or tea

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

Effects on the body

Decreases
perceived stress and anxiety

Organ system effects

Brain & CNS

Holy Basil (Tulsi) modulates monoaminergic and GABAergic tone relevant to mood and anxiety regulation.

Evidence-based benefits

Reduces perceived stress and anxiety

Moderate evidence

Potential side effects

Common
  • · GI upset
Rare
    Serious

      Drug interactions

      Prescription medications (general)
      Always disclose Holy Basil (Tulsi) use to your prescriber — additive, antagonistic, or pharmacokinetic interactions are possible.
      minor

      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
      • A high-quality multivitamin
        Covers micronutrient cofactors that support most supplement pathways.
      • Omega-3 (EPA/DHA)
        Foundational anti-inflammatory support that complements most regimens.
      Avoid combining with

      No specific avoidances listed.

      Dosing & bioavailability

      Typical dose
      300–600 mg standardized
      Best form
      Most evidence is based on the standardized extract capsule form.
      Timing
      Consistent daily timing recommended; split larger doses if GI tolerance is a concern.
      With food?
      With food

      Where to buy

      Affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Amazon code supplementsch-20 is auto-applied at checkout. We don't endorse specific brands; verify third-party testing (USP, NSF, Informed Sport) before purchase.

      Buy on AmazonCode supplementsch-20 auto-applied
      Scientific evidence8Show studies
      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.

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