Holy Basil - Top 12 Health Benefits of Tulsi + Tea Recipe

Holy Basil - Top 12 Health Benefits of Tulsi + Tea Recipe

Whether you use it to relieve stress, improve sleep, or boost your immune system, holy basil – also called tulsi – is an amazing herb. According to the Hindu religion, the plant is an earthly manifestation of the goddess dedicated to Vishnu, the god who preserves creation and life. Tulsi is often grown around Hindu shrines and offered as a sacred plant in worship. Because of its role in this religion, some consider chewing the leaves to be a disrespectful act. Because of its many therapeutic properties, Ayurvedic practitioners have used holy basil for centuries (source).

What is basil?

Holy basil ( Ocimum sanctum , sometimes too Ocimum tenuiflorum called) is a green, leafy plant with purple flowers (source). This aromatic shrub belongs to the mint family and is originally from India. Do not confuse holy basil with sweet basil (also called Thai basil), which is commonly used in cooking. Although related, they are two different plants. The leaves, seeds and flowers of holy basil contain many nutrients, including vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, zinc and iron (source).

The Benefits of Taking Holy Basil

Both ancient tradition and modern science attribute a number of health benefits to holy basil (source).Natural healthcare providers use this herb to promote lung, liver, eye, kidney, bone, thyroid, metabolic and respiratory health. In the past, healthcare providers also used basil for skin conditions and to calm digestive problems. Below are the most common benefits that holy basil provides.

1. Reduces occasional anxiety and stress

Holy basil is a natural adaptogen, a substance that reduces occasional anxiety and stress. Adaptogens help your body adapt to stress by strengthening your immune system, increasing stamina, and balancing moods. When several people took 500 mg of holy basil twice daily, they reported an improvement in their overall mood (source). Two antioxidants this herb contains, rosmarinic acid and carnosic acid, help protect cells. These powerful antioxidants counteract free radicals and radiation and combat environmental stress at the cellular level (source).

2. Supports balanced blood sugar

The positive support of blood sugar levels provided by Holy Basil is one of the most powerful and important benefits. When people with non-insulin-dependent diabetes took 2.5 g (2,500 mg) of holy basil leaves daily for four weeks, they had more normal blood sugar levels (source). It can cause a significant reduction in fasting blood sugar levels and blood sugar levels. If you're trying to get this under control, check out our article on natural ways to lower blood sugar.

3. Helps with heart health

It turns out that holy basil can also benefit your heart health. A team of researchers examined how eugenol essential oil - one of the components of holy basil - affects diabetes. They found that it promotes healthy cholesterol levels ( source ). Other studies have shown that the herb may help promote normal blood pressure in people (source). In short, holy basil can strengthen the cardiovascular system and promote heart health.

4. Freshens your breath

If you grow the plant yourself, you can chew holy basil leaves as a mouth freshener (source). Holy basil is an herb that can deter the germs in your mouth and give you fresher breath and better oral health care. You can also purchase holy basil powder, which is ground leaves, and use that instead of toothpaste. Simply sprinkle some on your toothbrush and brush as usual. To find other ways to freshen your breath, check out our 7 Herbs for Bad Breath article.

5. Improves sleep

You may want to add holy basil to your nightly routine to help you sleep better. After a group of researchers from India gave adults ages 18 to 65 1,200 mg of holy basil before bed, they experienced more restful sleep and felt less tired during the day (source).

6. Relieves occasional headaches

One of the most popular uses of holy basil is to relieve headaches (source). Ayurvedic practitioners believe that the herb balances the three doshas, ​​which are energies in the body. Holy basil is also used in Ayurveda to relieve body tension that causes headaches. Studies have shown that patients who regularly take holy basil supplements experience fewer headaches (source).

7. Relieves ear pain

If you have an earache, holy basil may help. A drop of juice from the leaves can apparently relieve and improve ear pain in both children and adults (source). This could be related to its ability to reduce pain sensitivity as well as swelling and irritation in the body (source).

8. Protects the stomach

Ancient Ayurveda practitioners used holy basil for stomach ailments; Science has since confirmed its benefits for the digestive system. Researchers found that holy basil oil promotes healthy stomach lining (source). It can even prevent you from getting a stomach ache in the first place (source).

9. Reduces body fever

People have used holy basil – particularly the juice from fresh leaves – for centuries to reduce fever and boost the immune system (source). In ancient times, people even used holy basil to treat malaria. The eugenol in holy basil has been used against mosquito larvae that cause malaria (source).

10. Improves skin health

The eugenol found in holy basil – a compound also found in clove oil – deters harmful organisms. Bacteria like Cutibacterium acnes (earlier called Propionibacterium acnes ) can cause acne and minor skin blemishes. Various herbal anti-acne gel combinations with combinations of basil, crepe jasmine and tea tree oil are just as effective as other products on the market for acne (source).

11. Boosts brain function

Like the Ayurvedic herb ashwagandha, holy basil supports cognitive function – in other words, memory and learning. It strengthens the anti-stress agents in the brain. Specifically, holy basil improves brain activity by increasing glutathione peroxidase activity – an enzyme that protects your cells from oxidative damage (source). Holy basil can even protect neurons in the brain from damage (source).

12. Promotes eye health

Traditionally, practitioners used holy basil eye drops for a variety of conditions, including cataracts, glaucoma, or conjunctivitis. Eye drops containing the leaf extract have soothing antioxidant activity that reduces redness and irritation and improves eye health (source).

Tulsi – Holy Basil Nutrition Facts

One gram of fresh holy basil has 0 calories and 3 mg of potassium, but no fat, cholesterol, sodium or sugar (source). Holy basil also contains traces of vitamins A and C, calcium and iron. Concentrated extracts and essential oils can provide more of these nutrients.

How to take basil

Holy basil is available in many forms, such as powders, essential oils, extracts, and teas. You can grow holy basil or buy it fresh. The seeds, leaves and flowers can all be used.

tea

To make a cup of holy basil tea, check out this calming recipe that combines tulsi with other herbs that help with anxiety. You can put the ingredients in a self-filled tea bag or a metal strainer or simply boil everything together in a pan or kettle and then strain the herbs.

Stress Relief Tulsi Tea Recipe

Ingredients

• 1/4 Teelöffel getrocknete Rosenknospen
• 1 Teelöffel Pfefferminzblätter
• 1 Teelöffel Kamille
• 1 ml flüssiger Tulsi Extrakt
• 1 Tasse heißes Wasser
• 1 Teelöffel Stevia oder roher Honig

preparation

1. Die getrockneten Rosenknospen, Pfefferminzblätter und die Kamille 10 Minuten in heißem Wasser einweichen.
2. Den Tulsi-Extrakt absieben und zum Tee geben.
3. Auf Wunsch mit Stevia oder rohem Honig süßen.
4. Genießen Sie Ihren beruhigenden Tee!

Essential oil

Holy basil has a warm, spicy, sweet aroma. When using basil essential oil, remember that it is extremely concentrated. Therefore, you need to dilute it in a carrier oil such as almond oil or coconut oil before applying it to your skin. By adding holy basil oil to a diffuser, you can enhance the aroma of your home. You don't need to dilute essential oils when using them in a diffuser. Never take an essential oil orally unless it is certified for food use.

Supplement tablets

There are many holy basil supplements available. These usually come in 500 mg per tablet and you can take several at a time to get the desired serving amount.

extract

Always look for the purest, highest quality organic extracts. We recommend avoiding ethanol-alcohol based extractions.

Tulsi – Holy Basil Side Effects

In human clinical trials, researchers found that holy basil had no side effects (source), but some studies have found that it reduces fertility in animals (source). Holy basil may affect spermatogenesis due to the ursolic acid it contains (source). Therefore, avoid it if you are trying to father a child. It is not known how this herb affects pregnant and breastfeeding women. Therefore, avoid it unless a healthcare provider says otherwise (source). However, in general, holy basil is safe to use and has many healing properties.

Growing Holy Basil

If you want to grow your own holy basil, it thrives indoors but can also be grown outdoors depending on the climate. In the United States, the plant grows best in U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) plant hardiness zones 10 and 11 – or equivalent worldwide. It cannot handle frost, so it is best to keep the plant above 10°C.

A holy basil seed requires warm temperatures to germinate. Therefore, it is best to plant this herb in spring. The plant thrives in full sunlight and moist soil. In general, holy basil can reach a height of 50 cm, allowing you to harvest the leaves several times during the growing season.

Points to remember

Holy basil – also called tulsi – is a popular herb that offers many health benefits. As an adaptogen, holy basil reduces anxiety and lowers stress. The herb also supports healthy blood sugar, relieves headaches and earaches, protects the stomach, and promotes skin, brain, and eye health.

Holy basil is available in teas, extracts, oils and supplements. You can also use basil essential oil. Avoid ethanol-based extracts. If you prefer to grow your own, do it indoors unless you live in a warm climate without getting frost.