Ocimum sanctum (Tulsi)
Sacred Ayurvedic adaptogen that helps the body manage stress, supports metabolic health, and promotes mental clarity.
Holy Basil, known as Tulsi in India, is considered the 'Queen of Herbs' in Ayurvedic medicine. As an adaptogen, it helps the body cope with stress while supporting cognitive function, blood sugar balance, and immune health. Rich in antioxidants and with a long history of traditional use, it's valued for promoting overall resilience.
Helps body adapt to stress
Rich in protective compounds
May help regulate blood sugar
How Holy Basil works — from molecular targets to health outcomes. Click an edge to see supporting research.This visualization is in beta — pathways are being refined and expanded.
300-600mg extract (2.5% ursolic acid)
Can be taken without food
| Form | Type |
|---|---|
| 💊Standardized extract (leaf) | Recommended |
| 💊Dried leaf capsules | Alternative |
| 🍵Tea | Alternative |
| 💧Tincture | Alternative |
Extracts are more concentrated. Tea is traditional and effective for milder effects.
Minimum: 4 weeks
Optimal: 8 weeks
Cycling: Traditional use suggests cycling. Try 6-8 weeks on, 2 weeks off.
Note: Can be taken any time. Morning dosing supports daytime stress management.
Better ability to handle stress
Improved focus and cognitive function
Modest glucose regulation
Avoid — traditional contraindication
May affect fertility; use with caution
May have mild antiplatelet effects — may affect platelet aggregation or vitamin K-dependent clotting factors, altering anticoagulant efficacy
May enhance blood sugar lowering
May affect thyroid hormone levels
Tip: Take with food
Tip: Reduce dose
Top studies from 38+ peer-reviewed papers
Vasincu A et al. • Nutrients (2025)
“Even though additional research is required to fully assess their potential as therapeutic agents for NDs, by diving into the specific mechanisms through which they improve neurodegenerative processes, important steps can be made towards this endpoint.”
Lopresti AL et al. • Nutritional neuroscience (2022)
“For most phytonutrients, the effects of supplementation on HPA-axis activity in humans is unclear.”
Firdaus A et al. • Recent patents on biotechnology (2025)
“These plants hold the potential to serve as novel therapeutic agents in the treatment of respiratory diseases.Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.”
K V et al. • Preparative biochemistry & biotechnology (2025)
“This review merges traditional and modern approaches to UA extraction, bioavailability enhancement, and sustainable use, offering new perspectives on its potential in medicine, food technology, and cosmetics.”
Kumari S et al. • Recent advances in food, nutrition & agriculture (2024)
“Thus, the diverse properties of Ocimum sanctum offer exciting opportunities for the development of functional foods that can promote specific health issues, so future research should focus on developing and analyzing novel Ocimum sanctum-based functional foods to meet the growing demand of the functional food industry.Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.”
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