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You are here: Home / Stress / Holy Basil for Stress

Holy Basil for Stress

February 15, 2017 By Leave a Comment Last Updated: February 15, 2017

Revered Indian herb holy basil seems to help the body adapt to stress.

Holy basil. By GourangaUK [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Viewed as a symbol of well-being for thousands of years, holy basil is now considered a potent adaptogen. It may help with stress through:

  • Reducing cortisol. Holy basil has been shown to reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol.
  • Supporting neurotransmitter function. Holy basil may help with stress by supporting healthy function of neurotransmitters.
  • Antioxidant activity. Holy basil contains multiple antioxidants.

Table of Contents

Toggle
  • Overview
  • How Holy Basil May Help With Stress
    • Reduction of cortisol
    • Interacting with neurotransmitters
    • Helping neutralize oxidative molecules
  • Holy Basil Benefits & Uses for Stress
  • Research
    • Animal Research
    • Human Research
  • Dosage for Stress
  • Supplements in Review Says

Overview

Holy basil (Ocimum sanctum) is a shrub is native to India and cultivated throughout the tropical regions of Southeast Asia. Its stem, purple flowers, and strong-scented leaves have been used for religious and medicinal purposes for centuries.

Hindus regard holy basil to be a sacred plant and have granted it the name Tulsi, or “the incomparable one” for its ostensibly mysterious powers.

Holy basil seemds to have a wide variety of applications, most notably as a nootropic and an adaptogen, due to the belief that it helps the body adapt to stress.

A special poly herbal formulation, EuMil®, may help with stress.  EuMil® – a mixture of Ayurvedic adaptogens including holy basil, ashwagandha, asparagus, and Indian gooseberry – has demonstrated significant anti-stress activity.1
An Indian holy basil altar. By Kannadiga (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons

How Holy Basil May Help With Stress

Although researchers have yet to fully understand how holy basil reduces stress, animal research indicates that its mechanisms of action include:

Reduction of cortisol

Several studies have reported that holy basil seems to reduce levels of cortisol – the main stress hormone. 2

Interacting with neurotransmitters

Several mouse studies have shown that holy basil helps regulate neurotransmitter function during times of stress, particularly in the context of noise-induced stress.

Helping neutralize oxidative molecules

The antioxidant compounds found in holy basil help neutralize oxidative molecules that may be involved in increasing stress in the body. 3

Holy basil contains  several bio-active compounds, most notably:4

  • Saponins such as rosmarinic acid
  • Flavonoids such as cirsilineol, cirsimaritin, apigenin, isothymusin
Fried holy basil with minced pork is a Thailand staple. By Takeaway (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Holy Basil Benefits & Uses for Stress

As an adaptogen, holy basil is used to help the body adapt to stress and a wide variety of stressors, including exposure to cold and loud noise, fatigue, and ischemia. In addition, it is also used it for helping with stress-related issues such as anxiety, depression, and poor immune system function. 5 6 Research evidence seems to support these uses and benefits, although more clinical trials are needed to say anything conclusive.

High doses of holy basil can lower sperm count. One of the few possible side effects of taking holy basil at high doses is reduced fertility.7

Research

Animal Research

Animal research displays the potential of holy basil to diminish anxiety.

Holy basil (50 mg/kg) may be a potential therapeutic agent against anxiety

In this investigation, mice treated with 50 mg/kg holy basil were found to experience less anxiety based on the light dark, elevated plus maze, and holeboard tests.

  • The study concluded that “the OS extract shows antianxiety and antidepressant properties at the same dose and can be a potential therapeutic agent against mixed anxiety and depressive syndrome.”8

Holy basil may prevent noise stress

In this investigation, mice were shown to experience significantly less noise stress as indicated by unaltered corticosterone levels.

  • The study concluded that “treatment of animals with ethanol extract of Ocimum sanctum prevented the changes in plasma level of corticosterone induced by exposure to both acute and chronic noise stress, indicating the antistressor property of the plant against noise.”9

Human Research

Clinical studies demonstrate the adaptogenic benefits of holy basil, including relieving anxiety, stress, and depression.

Holy basil (1000 mg) may attenuate anxiety disorders and stress 

In this cohort investigation, 35 adults were given 500 mg of holy basil extracts twice daily for a period of 60 days. Holy basil was found to naturally attenuate generalized anxiety disorders (GAD) and correlated stress and depression. It also seemed to improve attention and willingness to adjustment.

  • The study concluded that “O. sanctum may be useful in the treatment of GAD in human and may be a promising anxiolytic agent in near future.”10

Holy basil (1200 mg) may significantly reduce symptoms of stress

In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled investigation, 79 patients with stress were given placebo or 1200 mg of holy basil in a formulation known as Ocibest for a 6-week period. Compared to the placebo group, the holy basil group seemed to have significantly improved stress status based on the symptom rating scale.

  • The study concluded that “the overall improvement in OciBest group was found to be 1.6 times or 39% more in the control of general stress symptoms with respect to placebo…[and] OciBest was found to be effective and well tolerated by all the patients.”11

Dosage for Stress

  • Research studies have used 1000 – 1200 mg doses of holy basil daily
  • Holy basil extracts can be found as 100 – 500 mg supplemental capsules taken 1 – 2 times per day

Supplements in Review Says

  • Holy basil extract 1000 mg for stress.

We recommend holy basil for reducing stress and related symptoms. Extracts of this plant seem to not only help the body deal with stress, but also reduce stress-related symptoms that include anxiety and pain.

Take holy basil extract as a tablet.  Holy basil supplements are best taken as extract pills for a total of about 1000 mg per day. The extract seems equally effective when consumed during the day or evening and with or without food.

Show 11 footnotes

  1. Muruganandam AV, Kumar V, et al. Effect of poly herbal formulation, EuMil, on chronic stress-induced homeostatic perturbations in rats. Indian J Exp Biol 2002;40:1151-60. ↩
  2. Sampath S et al. Holy basil (Ocimum sanctum Linn.) leaf extract enhances specific cognitive parameters in healthy adult volunteers: A placebo controlled study. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 2015 Jan-Mar;59(1):69-77. ↩
  3. Kelm MA, Nair MG, et al. Antioxidant and cyclooxygenase inhibitory phenolic compounds from Ocimum sanctum Linn. Phytomedicine 2000;7:7-13. ↩
  4. Jaggi RK, Madaan R, Singh B. Anticonvulsant potential of holy basil, Ocimum sanctum Linn. and its cultures. Indian J Exp Biol 2003;41:1329-33. ↩
  5. Cohen MM. Tulsi – Ocimum sanctum: A herb for all reasons. J Ayurveda Integr Med. 2014 Oct-Dec;5(4):251-9. ↩
  6. Prakash P, Gupta N. Therapeutic uses of Ocimum sanctum Linn (Tulsi) with a note on eugenol and its pharmacological actions: a short review. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 2005 Apr;49(2):125-31. ↩
  7. Kasinathan S, Ramakrishnan S, et al. Antifertility effect of Ocimum sanctum L. Indian J Exp Biol 1972;10:23-5. ↩
  8. Chatterjee M, Verma P, et al. Evaluation of ethanol leaf extract of Ocimum sanctum in experimental models of anxiety and depression. Pharm Biol. 2011 May;49(5):477-83. ↩
  9. Sembulingam K, Sembulingam P, et al. Effect of Ocimum sanctum Linn on noise induced changes in plasma corticosterone level. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 1997;41:139-43. ↩
  10. Bhattacharyya D, Sur TK, et al. Controlled Programmed Trial Of Ocimum Sanctum Leaf On Generalized Anxiety Disorders. Nepal Med Coll J. 2008 Sep;10(3):176-9. ↩
  11. Saxena RC, Singh R, et al. Efficacy of an Extract of Ocimum tenuiflorum (OciBest) in the Management of General Stress: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2012;2012:894509. ↩

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