Ocimum sanctum, best known in the West as “holy basil,” has been revered in India as a sacred herb and used as medicine for 3,000-5,000 years! Ayurvedic medicine refers to the herb as “tulsi” which is Sanskrit for “the incomparable one” or “beyond compare” (de la Foret, Tierra). Tulsi has an array of medicinal properties and has been referred to throughout India as the “Elixir of Life,” “Queen of the Herbs,” “Mother Nature of Medicine,” and “Vishnupriya” meaning “beloved one of Vishnu” (de la Foret, Khalsa). According to The Way of Ayurvedic Herbs, tulsi is thought of as one of the three most sacred plants in India along with soma and the lotus. Its claim to fame in the West is as an adaptogen, but Eastern traditions that have revered this herb for millenia know that this herb’s healing properties are far-reaching.
Botanical Information
Tulsi is a member of the Lamiaceae (mint) family. It has green or purple opposite leaves that are usually somewhat toothed and has hairy, square stems. The flowers of tulsi range from white to reddish-purple in color and grow on a long raceme, blooming in mid-summer. Generally speaking, holy basil is a perennial, bushy shrub. There are three main types of holy basil, referred to in Ayurveda as Rama tulsi, Krishna tulsi, and Vana tulsi. These three varieties have slightly different properties but are used interchangeably (Khalsa).
Rama tulsi (Ocimum sanctum) is the most commonly cultivated. It grows up to 3 ft tall with stems about ½ inch in diameter. Rama is commonly used for supporting digestion. Krishna tulsi is a rare variety of the same species with dark purple leaves. Energetically, Krishna tulsi is considered to be hotter than Rama and has traditionally been used to support detoxification. Krishna tulsi can grow to be a small tree up to 6 ft tall and 5 ft wide with stems 2 inches in diameter (Khalsa).
Vana tulsi is a different species (Ocimum gratissimum) and sometimes referred to as “grove” tulsi, growing wild throughout the forests of India. It has many of the same properties as the Rama and Krishna varieties. For daily use of the herb, it is recommened to use a blend of all three tulsi varieties, Rama, Krishna, and Vana, in a 2:2:1 raito (Khalsa).
Varieties of tulsi are not to be confused with culinary basil, Ocimum basilicum. Though all types of basil share aromatic properties, culinary basil can not be used interchangeably with tulsi. Holy basil has larger leaves than culinary basil and is more pungent and bitter in taste and boasts a wider array of therapeutic actions.
Holy Basil in the Garden
Holy basil grows best in tropical and subtropical climates and is native to tropical Asia. It does well in containers and has been traditionally grown in pots around temples and homes throughout India, thought to purify the air and sanctify the space. It prefers hot, sunny weather and well-draining, rich soils. Seeds should be planted 8-12 inches apart, will germinate within 5-10 days, and can be harvested within 60-80 days. The aerial parts of the plant, most commonly the leaves, are harvested for use, although traditional use of the flowers, seeds, and even woody stems has been documented. The seeds can be direct-seeded in spring following the last frost or started indoors during winter 6 weeks before transplanting.
Herbal Constituents and Actions:
Depending on the source, tulsi is described as being analgesic, antispasmodic, antifungal/viral/microbial, antidepressant, anxiolytic, cardiotonic, carminative, demulcent, diaphoretic, expectorant, immunomodulating, relaxing nervine, and radioprotective in action (de la Foret, Khalsa, Thompson).
Khalsa and Tierra state that tulsi acts on the blood, plasma, marrow, nerves, and reproductive system tissues of the body. From a traditional Chinese medicine perspective, tulsi is said to act on the blood, lungs, heart, liver, and kidney meridians (Thompson).
The constituents of tulsi vary based on its growing conditions and species, but overall it has been documented to have high flavonoids, volatile oils (including apigenin, rosamarinic acid, and eugenol), camphor, ursolic acid, tannins and more. Additionally, it contains vitamins A and C, beta carotene, calcium, zinc, manganese, iron, and chlorophyll (Thompson).
Traditional Uses of Tulsi
The Way of Ayurvedic Herbs outlines several of the traditional uses and recipes that feature Tulsi, as the herb has been used for millenia for a variety of ailments from coughs and stagnant digestion, to blood sugar regulation and fevers. The energetics of holy basil are warming, drying, stimulating and relaxing, making this herb a great match for cold, damp, “stuck” conditions. In Ayurvedic tradition, its energetics are thought to be quite hot overall (tulsi is considered a high Pitta herb), said to increase Pitta dosha while reducing both Vata and Kapha doshas (Khalsa). The book also states that, when taken as medicine, tulsi sharpens awareness, aids meditation, promotes compassion, energetically clears the aura, draws prosperity near, and stimulates the immune system (Khalsa).
Tulsi has been traditionally prepared in many different ways to be taken as medicine. Fresh Krishna tulsi juice blended with honey has been used for stagnant, mucousy coughs as an expectorant. A folk fever remedy involves cooking tulsi and onion in coconut oil and then applying the oil to the forehead. Another folk remedy to stop serious diarrhea involves cooking rice pudding with tulsi seeds. For a general heart tonic, tulsi has been traditionally combined with the more cooling arjuna. Tulsi has also been combined with ginseng and maca in a traditional stress reduction formula. Yet another formula combines tulsi with black pepper and ginger to treat asthma. The herb has even been used to treat grey hair, which is thought in Ayurveda to be a pitta imbalance condition, for which oil infused with tulsi is applied topically to the scalp. Finally, the essential oil of tulsi has been mixed with mustard oil and fresh garlic juice and then dropped into the ears to treat ear infections. This wide array of medicinal uses dates 3-5,000 years ago, and is now backed by a growing body of scientific evidence (Khalsa).
Scientific Evidence for Tulsi’s Medicinal Properties
Tulsi for Mental and Brain Health
In a study that lasted 2 months, 35 patients were administered 500 mg of holy basil twice daily after meals. The participants completed a questionnaires and psychological rating scales before, during, and after taking holy basil. The study concluded that those given holy basil experienced significantly less general anxiety, stress, and depression and that O. sanctum may be a promising anxiolytic agent that should be further explored (de la Foret). Rosalee de la Foret explains in Alchemy of Herbs that herbalist David Winston describes tulsi as a cerebral stimulant that can eradicate brain fog; he suggests combining it with other cerebral stimulants like rosemary, bacopa, and gingko to improve poor memory, reduce mental fog, reduce ADD and ADHD, and even to speed the recovery of head injuries (de la Foret).
Tulsi for Blood Sugar Regulation
A single blind, randomized placebo-controlled human study looked at the impact of holy basil leaves on fasting and postprandial blood glucose and blood serum cholesterol levels. The study found that holy basil leaves had a significant reduction in blood glucose and cholesterol levels compared with the placebo group (Agrawal).
Tulsi for Stress Reduction and Cardioprotection
In Way of Ayurvedic Herbs, a study is listed said to be placebo-controlled and double blind concluding that tulsi powder was able to reduce blood pressure on average 26 mm Hg in only 2 weeks (Khalsa). I was unable to locate the study cited, so I would invite you to do your own research into tulsi’s effectiveness for stress reduction and hypertension.
Tulsi for Pain Relief and Reducing Inflammation
Another study supports the traditional use of tulsi for pain relief. It looked the plant’s constituents and their impact on COX 1 and 2 inhibitor activity. The constituents cirsilineol, crismartinin, isothymusin, isothymonin, apigenin, rosemarinic acid, and eugenol were among the compounds observed to exert comparable COX 2 inhibitor activity to ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin without the negative side effects that these common over-the-counter drugs (Kelm).
Ursolic acid, another constituent of tulsi, has been shown to be anti-inflammatory, anti-arthiritic, and analgesic. An in-vivo study on rats explored O. sanctum leaf extract (OLE) lipid carriers for trans-dermal delivery of ursolic acid to areas of arthiritic pain and were then analyzed via radioanalyses. The study concluded that OLE demonstrated “excellent anti-arthiritic activity” and was comparable to other analgesic creams on the market (Ahmad, A. et al). More research on humans in-vivo is necessary to provide proof of the effectiveness in humans, but this study shows the potential for OLE’s place in providing pain relief for people with arthritis and through its anti-inflammatory action.
Tulsi for Protection Against Radiation and Cancer
A review that summarizes tulsi’s radioprotective and anti-cancer properties published in The Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics explores many different constituents of the herb and the mechanisms through which they achieve action. It states that eugenol and the flavonoids orientin and vicenin achieve radioprotection through their free-radical scavenging abilities. This review also cites that the extract of holy basil support glutathione level in the body, further attributing to the the herb’s actions to its anti-oxidants. The herb’s ability to support the body’s immune system provides additional support to its radioprotection and anti-cancer effects (Baliga).
Tulsi as an Adaptogen
An article published in the Journal of Ayurvedic and Integrative Medicine further explores the various ways that tulsi works on the body to achieve it adaptogenic effects. The article lists its abilities to protect and detoxify the body, reduce heavy metal toxicity, reduce physical, mental, and metabolic stress, and much more as evidence for holy basil’s use as a potent adaptogen (Cohen).
Herbal Preparations and Dosages
The therapeutic dosage of tulsi ranges between 1 tsp-2 cups daily by volume or 2g-113 g by weight of the fresh or dried herb. Tulsi can be made into a tea, eaten fresh, ground into powder and made into pastilles, infused in honey, ghee, or oils, or made into a tincture. Tinctures should be made from the fresh herb with 75% alcohol at a 1:2 ratio and used in a dose of 3-5 ml taken up to 3 times daily (de la Foret). The therapeutic dosage of tulsi powder is 250mg-1 gram daily (Khalsa).
Drinking a hot tea of tulsi is one of the simplest and most common ways to enjoy its benefits. Simply steep 1 Tbs of fresh leaves or 2 Tbs dried leaves in 1 cup of just-boiled water, cover, and let steep 10-15 minutes before drinking. You could also make a nourishing infusion of holy basil, steeping 1 oz of dried herb in 1 quart of just-boiled water for 6-8 hours, strain, and then keep in the fridge for up to 1 week (though it’s best to consume within a few days).
In addition to the traditional recipes and formulas previously listed, there are many suggestions for how one could use tulsi. Rosalee de la Foret lists a recipe for making holy basil and ginger syrup that could be used to soothe a sore throat during colds and flu. Simply bring ½ cup water to a boil, add 1½ tsp freshly grated ginger, 2 Tbs finely chopped fresh tulsi leaves (or 1 Tbs dried leaves) to the water and let steep covered 15 minutes. Strain through a fine-mesh strainer and stir in ½ cup honey until dissolved. Store the syrup in the fridge for up to 2 weeks to be taken on its own or added to drinks (de la Foret).
Considerations
Because tulsi’s impact on the body is somewhat blood thinning, it should be taken with caution by anyone who is currently taking blood thinners. Additionally, anyone that is dependent on taking insulin to control diabetes should use holy basil with caution due to its strong blood sugar regulating action. Finally, tulsi may have a slight antifertility effect on both men and women and should not be used by those who are pregnant or hoping to become pregnant (de la Foret). Because tulsi is considered to be an energetically hot plant, those with hot constitutions or Pitta dominant doshas should take this into account when working with tulsi long-term (Khalsa).
Works Cited
1. Agrawal P, Rai V, Singh RB Randomized placebo-controlled, single blind trial of holy basil leaves in patients with noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther 1996 Sep;34(9):406-9
2. Ahmad, A., Abuzinadah, M. F., Alkreathy, H. M., Banaganapalli, B., & Mujeeb, M. (2018). Ursolic acid rich Ocimum sanctum L leaf extract loaded nanostructured lipid carriers ameliorate adjuvant induced arthritis in rats by inhibition of COX-1, COX-2, TNF-α and IL-1: Pharmacological and docking studies. PloS one, 13(3), e0193451. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0193451
3. Baliga, Manjeshwar Shrinath, et al. “Radio Protective Effects of the Ayurvedic Medicinal Plant Ocimum Sanctum Linn. (Holy Basil): A Memoir.” Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2016, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27072205.
4. Cohen, Marc Maurice. “Tulsi - Ocimum sanctum: A herb for all reasons.” Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine vol. 5,4 (2014): 251-9. doi:10.4103/0975-9476.146554
5. De la Foret, Rosalee. Alchemy of Herbs. Hay House, 2017.
6. Khalsa, KP. Tierra, Michael. The Way of Ayurvedic Herbs. Lotus Press, 2008.
7. Kelm, M., Nair, M., Strasburg, G., & Dewitt, D. (2000). Antioxidant and cyclooxygenase inhibitory phenolic compounds from Ocimum sanctum Linn. Phytomedicine, 7(1), 7–13. doi: 10.1016/s0944-7113(00)80015-x
8. Thompson, Krystal. “Tulsi Monograph.” HerbRally, https://www.herbrally.com/monographs/tulsi.