Holy Basil for Immunity

Early research is beginning to provide evidence for holy basil’s long history of use as an immune booster.

Holy basil is a medicinal herb native to India. It has been utilized for a wide range of conditions, and may have some potential as an immunity booster through:

• Immunodulatory activity. Early research indicates that holy basil can boost immune system activity, which could in turn provide improved protection from illness.
• Antipathogenic activity. Holy basil contains compounds that may possess antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties.

Overview

Also known by the name Tulsi, holy basil (Ocimum sanctum) is a plant native to India. Holy basil has been used by Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years to promote longevity and help with coughs, colds, asthma, bronchitis, digestive issues, skin problems, ear infections, fever, bites, and much more. Traditionally, holy basil is taken as tea, dried powder, or fresh leaf.

Similar to some other herbs used in Ayurveda, holy basil is considered an adaptogen – a plant that helps the body adapt to different kinds of physiological stress. Contemporary research is just beginning to provide evidence for Tulsi’s benefits and an explanation for how it might work. Current evidence suggests that it can help alleviate stress, and might also possess anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiviral, and immunomodulatory properties that may warrant its use as an immune system booster.

How Holy Basil Might Help With Immunity

Immunomodulatory activity

Holy basil has demonstrated the ability to affect the immune system in several ways, including:

• changing the levels of certain cytokines such as IL-2, IL-4, and IFN-γ, which in turn stimulate specific types of immune cells and processes
• enhancing the immune system’s antibody response to infection
• reducing inflammation by suppressing the cell-mediated immune response

Researchers hypothesize that these effects are achieved through some constituent of holy basil affecting the receptors of GABA, an inhibitory neurotransmitter.¹

Antipathogenic activity

Certain constituents of holy basil, such as eugenol and linoleic acid, have been suggested to possess antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties, which can aid the immune system in fighting these types of pathogens.

Holy Basil Potential Uses & Benefits for Immunity

Holy basil is mostly used for its stress and anxiety-reducing effects, but is also growing in popularity as an all-around immune system booster. While there is a long history of its successful use for everything from cold infections to fever, medical research backing Tulsi’s immunity benefits has only just begun, and there is a lack of studies looking at the use of holy basil for specific conditions, such as upper respiratory infections or allergies.

For now, most of the evidence is restricted to experimental animal and cell culture studies which suggest that holy basil can help with with a wide range of bacterial, fungal, viral, skin, wound, and urinary infections.

Research

Animal Research

Animal studies indicate that holy basil can:

• Increase antibody levels and white blood cell production in rats ²
• Fight bacterial infection and increase neutrophil and lymphocyte cell count in cows ³
• Promote the secretion of IL-2, a cytokine that in turn stimulates the activity of two white blood cell types – T and B lymphocytes ⁴
• Stimulate the immune system in fish, resulting in increased neutrophil activity, antibody response, and improved protection against bacterial infection ⁵
• Possess antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties, as tested against isolated pathogens ^{6 7}

Human Research

Holy basil (300 mg) may stimulate the immune system

This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover trial examined the immune system effects of holy basil. Twenty four participants were given Tulsi extract (300 mg) or placebo capsules daily for 4 weeks before switching groups after a 3 week washout period. Holy basil supplementation resulted in increased levels of IFN-γ, a cytokine that has antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-allergic effects, IL-4, a cytokine that promotes the activity of certain immune cells, and increased the numbers of T-helper and natural killer immune cells.

• The researchers concluded that “Tulsi extract have immunomodulatory effects in healthy volunteers without any side effects…“⁸

Dosage for Immunity

• The only high-quality clinical study of holy basil used doses of 300 mg
• Holy basil supplements typically provide 400 – 500 mg doses in capsule form

Available Forms

• Holy basil leaf extract capsules
• Holy basil leaf/flower infusion bag (tea)