Benefits and Uses of Basil/Tulsi

Basil (Tulsi)

Tulsi, an Ayurvedic herb widely used in therapeutic herbal tea and true tea blends, may be called tulsi, holy basil, "The Incomparable One," "Elixir of Life," or "Queen of the Herbs." Native to India and cultivated throughout Southeast Asia, it's considered a foundational herb that, combined with other adaptogenic herbs, can help the body withstand many forms of stress.

Fast Facts

• Origin: Indian subcontinent
• Alternative Names: Elixir of Life, Queen of the Herbs, holy basil
• Caffeine: None, though often combined with black, green, or white tea leaves

What Is Basil/Tulsi?

The tulsi plant (Ocimum sanctum or Ocimum tenuiflorum) is a member of the mint family closely related to culinary basil (Ocimum basilicum), but it is differentiated by its medicinal properties and some physical characteristics. It's been harvested for use in Ayurvedic treatments for 5,000 years and has a strong aroma and a flavor that can range from peppery to astringent.

Basil Benefits

Tulsi is effective or safe for long-term use. Talk to your doctor before using tulsi supplements to avoid unexpected interactions.

Stress and Anxiety

Tulsi prevented stress-induced changes in blood levels of corticosterone (in rats; comparable to cortisol levels in humans).

Tulsi constituents ocimarin and the ocimumosides A and B show antistress activity including normalizing blood sugar level and cortisol level.

Diabetes and Blood Sugar

Tulsi lowers fasting blood sugar level and post-meal blood sugar level. A water-based extract of tulsi decreased blood sugar level.

Immune Function

Tulsi appears to increase both the Th1 and Th2 immune responses.

Bone Healing

A tulsi extract significantly reduced the healing time after a jaw fracture. Tulsi may increase calcium uptake, bone calcification, or enzymes involved in bone remodeling, such as alkaline phosphatase.

Inflammation

Tulsi essential oil had strong anti-inflammatory effects in an animal model of granulomatous disease.

COX-2 is a molecule commonly targeted by anti-inflammatory medications. Tulsi is a natural COX-2 inhibitor.

A study on tulsi extract showed significant anti-inflammatory activity in human cells, validating its traditional use in treating cardiovascular disease.

A purified extract of the fresh leaves and stems of tulsi yielded appreciable amounts of eugenol, as well as the following compounds: cirsilineol, cirsimaritin, isothymusin, isothymonin, apigenin, and rosmarinic acid.

The anti-inflammatory activity of these compounds was comparable to ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin.

Cognitive Function

Tulsi promotes memory and attention by inhibiting acetyl cholinesterase, thus increasing acetylcholine levels.

A water extract of dried tulsi protected against drug- and aging-induced memory problems, indicating that tulsi may be beneficial in the treatment of cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

Heart Health

An alcohol extract of tulsi leaves reduced heart tissue inflammation in a mouse model of a heart attack (myocardial infarction), possibly due to its high phenol content.

Tulsi leaf essential oil was shown to lower cholesterol and protect the heart via its antioxidant effects.

High Blood Pressure

Tulsi is rich in potassium (18,991 µg/g), according to a trace element study, some researchers are studying whether it can reduce blood pressure.

Liver Health

An alcohol extract of tulsi leaf at 200 mg/kg body weight per day was shown to protect the liver from toxin-induced damage.

Stomach Ulcers

An alcohol extract of tulsi leaves (eugenol content 5%) at a dose of 50 – 200 mg/kg, twice daily for five days orally, was dose-dependently protective against some types of stomach ulcers (alcohol-induced, but not aspirin-induced).

Antioxidant

Strong antioxidant capacity was measured from Tulsi essential oil and was particularly correlated with its eugenol content.

Tulsi leaf powder was shown to combat cadmium-produced free radicals and restored liver and kidney functions.

An extract of tulsi increased the levels of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase.

Pain

Tulsi contains an effective painkiller for humans.

Radiation

Two flavonoids in tulsi, orientin (a derivative of luteolin) and vicenin (an apigenin), have been shown to protect human blood cells from radiation-induced DNA damage.

Antibacterial

Tulsi essential oil showed strong antibacterial activity against antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus, Enterococcus, and Pseudomonas bacteria species.

Antiviral

Apigenin, a compound derived from Tulsi, has shown effectiveness against H1N1 and Swine Flu [R].

Candida

Tulsi inhibits the growth of Candida albicans in cell.

Biofilms

Breaking down biofilms and disrupting quorum sensing is important for eradicating bacterial infections. Eugenol, a compound found in tulsi, is a natural biofilm disruptor. Rosmarinic acid, another compound found in tulsi, also disrupts biofilms.

Testosterone

Tulsi leaves significantly increased testosterone levels over a 30 day period. It is unclear what kind of effect tulsi could have on human testosterone levels.

Histamine

Tulsi seed oil blocks histamine release from mast cells.

Cataracts

Tulsi extract reduced the incidence of cataracts by 20% and 60% respectively, in part by raising levels of antioxidant enzymes.

Graying Hair

Tulsi increases catalase, an enzyme that breaks down hydrogen peroxide, and therefore may keep hair from graying.

Cancer

Tulsi is currently being studied for its potential usefulness against skin cancer, lung cancer, and breast cancer and potential preventative effects against liver cancer, stomach cancer, and oral cancer.

Skin Cancer

An alcoholic extract of tulsi leaves applied topically was protective against chemically-induced skin cancer.

Lung Cancer

A tulsi alcohol extract induced cell death in human lung cancer cells and suppressed the growth of lung cancer cells.

Breast Cancer

Cell studies have shown that tulsi leaf extract prevented the spread of breast cancer and prevented an increase in the levels of COX-2/inflammation.

Carnosic acid and rosmarinic acid were shown to inhibit the growth of human breast cancer cells.

Liver Cancer

Tulsi (leaf alcohol extract) protected liver cells from DNA damage and increased antioxidant levels in response to cancer-causing chemicals and drug exposures.

Stomach Cancer

Studies have shown that including tulsi leaves in the diet prevented chemically-induced stomach cancer.

Oral Cancer

Tulsi combined with turmeric was shown to be highly potent against Oral Submucous Fibrosis (OSMF), which if not treated, can progress to oral cancer.

Tulsi Side Effects & Precautions

There is no evidence of any toxicity at the highest dose.

Supplementation

Holy basil is available as a supplement or as a fresh herb for cooking or steeping into tea. Look for recipes incorporating holy basil on Indian and Thai cooking sites.