Tulsi (Holy Basil) Benefits: What the Research Shows
Tulsi, also called holy basil, is a fragrant herb at the heart of Ayurvedic tradition, where it's taken for everyday balance and resilience to stress. In a 2022 placebo-controlled trial, adults under stress who took a holy basil extract for eight weeks felt less stressed, slept better and had lower cortisol. A review of 24 human studies found favorable results across stress, metabolic health and immunity, with no serious side effects.
Tulsi has been grown in courtyards and temple gardens in India for thousands of years, and it's now one of the most popular adaptogenic herbs in the West. Here's what it is, what the human research shows, how it differs from the basil on your pizza, and how to take it.
What is tulsi?
Tulsi is Ocimum tenuiflorum (also known as Ocimum sanctum), a bushy, aromatic member of the mint family native to the Indian subcontinent. In India it's revered as the "queen of herbs", and in Ayurveda it's classed with the adaptogens, herbs traditionally taken to help the body cope with the load of a demanding week. Its leaves are usually dried for tea, or extracted into tinctures and capsules.
Holy basil vs sweet basil
They're cousins, not the same plant. Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) is the kitchen herb with large, glossy, bright green leaves. Holy basil has smaller, slightly fuzzy leaves, often with purple-tinged stems, and a spicier, clove-like scent. It's tulsi that has been studied in the research below; the basil in your pesto isn't a substitute.
Tulsi benefits: what the research shows
Stress and cortisol
This is tulsi's best-supported use. In an eight-week randomized, double-blind trial, 100 adults aged 18 to 65 who were experiencing stress took a holy basil extract or a placebo twice a day. Compared with placebo, the holy basil group:
- Reported lower perceived stress
- Had lower cortisol, the main stress hormone, measured in their hair at eight weeks
- Reacted more calmly to a lab stress test, with lower salivary cortisol and blood pressure responses
Sleep
In the same trial, people taking holy basil scored better on an insomnia questionnaire than those on placebo. The authors noted that the sleep findings were based on what people reported and need confirming with more objective measures, so this is a promising signal rather than a settled one.
Everyday resilience
A systematic review of 24 human studies found that every study reported favorable results, across areas including metabolic health, the heart, immunity and mental performance, and none reported any significant side effects. The authors called for more research on which forms and amounts work best, but concluded that the studies support tulsi's traditional uses.
How tulsi works alongside ashwagandha
Tulsi and ashwagandha are both Ayurvedic adaptogens, and they're often taken together. Ashwagandha has the larger body of research on stress, and what ashwagandha does is now well studied, while tulsi brings its own lighter, more aromatic profile. Traditional formulas combine them with other herbs that cover different sides of a busy life, rather than relying on one.
How to take tulsi
- Tea: the most traditional form. Steep the dried leaves in hot water for a few minutes
- Capsules: a measured amount of dried leaf or extract
- Tincture: a liquid extract taken by the dropper, easy to stir into water or tea
Whatever the form, follow the label, take it with a meal and give it time. The trial above measured results after eight weeks of daily use, so tulsi is a daily habit rather than a quick fix.
Is tulsi safe?
In the human studies, tulsi was well tolerated, and the review found no significant side effects across 24 studies. A few sensible precautions:
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding: tulsi hasn't been studied in pregnancy, so it's best avoided then
- Blood sugar medication: several studies looked at tulsi and blood sugar, so if you take diabetes medication, check with your doctor first
- Prescription medication or surgery coming up: mention it to your doctor
- Children: ask your pediatrician before giving any herbal supplement
Our Ashwagandha Herbal Tincture, with tulsi
Our Ashwagandha Herbal Tincture brings tulsi together with two other adaptogens in one dropper: ashwagandha root for calm and stress resilience, tulsi leaf for everyday balance, and rhodiola root for energy and focus, finished with sweet orange peel. It's made with vegetable glycerin, so it's alcohol-free, with no burn and nothing to swallow. One dropper a day with a meal.
If you prefer drops to capsules, ashwagandha tincture is a gentle, traditional way to take these herbs every day. It's prepared slowly by hand in small batches in Holmes County, Ohio, and sits in our herbal tincture range.
Frequently asked questions
What is tulsi good for?
Tulsi is traditionally taken for everyday balance and stress resilience. In an eight-week trial, adults under stress who took holy basil felt less stressed, slept better and had lower cortisol than those on placebo.
Is tulsi the same as holy basil?
Yes. Tulsi is the Hindi name for holy basil, Ocimum tenuiflorum. It's a different plant from sweet basil, the kitchen herb.
Can you take tulsi every day?
Daily use is how it was taken in the research, for eight weeks in the stress trial. Follow your product's label, and check with your doctor if you take prescription medication.
Does tulsi help you sleep?
In one trial, people taking holy basil reported better sleep than those on placebo. The finding is promising but based on self-reports, so it needs confirming.
Can I take tulsi and ashwagandha together?
Yes. They're both Ayurvedic adaptogens and are often combined. Start with the serving on your label, and check with your doctor first if you take prescription medication or are pregnant.
Who should not take tulsi?
Avoid it during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and check with your doctor first if you take diabetes medication or other prescription medication, or have surgery coming up.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. This article is general information and not medical advice. Talk to your healthcare provider before starting any supplement, particularly if you are pregnant or nursing, take prescription medication or manage a health condition.