Evidence supporting the use of: Holy Basil Herb
For the body system: Cortisol

Links: Go back one page, Tool main page, Ingredients list, Health conditions list, Body systems list

Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 3

Holy Basil (Ocimum sanctum, also known as Tulsi) has a long history of use in Ayurvedic medicine as an adaptogen—a substance believed to help the body adapt to stress. Modern research has begun to explore Holy Basil’s effects on stress and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which regulates cortisol production in the body. Several animal studies and a handful of human clinical trials suggest that Holy Basil extract may help reduce stress markers, including cortisol, and improve subjective measures of stress and anxiety. For example, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial published in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2012) found that 500 mg of Holy Basil extract twice daily for 60 days significantly reduced stress symptoms and serum cortisol levels compared to placebo. However, the number of rigorous clinical trials is limited, and existing studies often have small sample sizes and varying quality. While the traditional use for stress and “adaptogenic” effects is strong, the current scientific evidence, though promising, remains preliminary. Thus, the use of Holy Basil to support the cortisol body system is justified by both tradition and emerging scientific validation, but further high-quality research is needed to confirm its effectiveness and safety for this purpose.

More about Holy Basil Herb
More about Cortisol

Products containing Holy Basil Herb

We currently have no products on Vitabase that contain this ingredient.