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Holy Basil Ingredient Notes
Holy basil, also called tulsi, refers to Ocimum tenuiflorum, also known as Ocimum sanctum. It is different from common culinary sweet basil.
Holy basil, also called tulsi, refers to Ocimum tenuiflorum, also known as Ocimum sanctum. It is different from common culinary sweet basil.
Community experiences
Selected positive personal experiences from external communities, edited and summarized. These accounts do not establish effectiveness.
A contributor who used tulsi tea or capsules in tense situations such as meetings and presentations wrote that they felt less anxious and less tension in their abdomen. They described feeling calm but alert rather than sleepy, and selected a use period of at least two but less than five years. They said they were not taking prescription medication, but provided no product formula or clinical information. This is not a verified treatment for an anxiety disorder or evidence that it can replace medication.
Experience shared by external community contributor A
A contributor who experienced severe low mood after a sudden death in the family wrote that using holy basil alongside counseling made their emotions easier to manage. They described about five months of use, with some periods when troubling symptoms were less pronounced. Because counseling was part of the experience, the contribution of holy basil cannot be separated out. This is not a basis for replacing or stopping depression treatment.
Experience shared by external community contributor B
This page is for general reference only and is not medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or prescription. Ask a qualified professional if you need medical advice or diagnosis.
What is Holy Basil?
Holy basil, also called tulsi, refers to Ocimum tenuiflorum, also known as Ocimum sanctum. It is different from common culinary sweet basil.
On Supplecipe, you can search iHerb products that mention Holy Basil and compare single-ingredient products against broader supplement blends.
Evidence and limitations
An industry-funded, eight-week trial in 100 adults experiencing stress found improvements in stress and subjective insomnia scores with a specific extract versus placebo. The same results cannot be assumed for other extracts or tulsi tea.
Lopresti et al. (2022): holy basil stress trial · Merck Manual: Holy Basil
Forms and other names
Holy Basil and Tulsi should be read alongside the botanical name. Leaf, seed, oil, tea and extract preparations are not automatically equivalent.
Related ingredients
Related reading, not a recommendation to combine supplements.
Side effects and cautions
Nausea or diarrhea may occur. Avoid use during pregnancy or when trying to conceive; discuss breastfeeding with a professional. Check before use with glucose-lowering, anticoagulant or thyroid medicines, or before surgery.
Lopresti et al. (2022): holy basil stress trial · Merck Manual: Holy Basil
How to compare iHerb products
- Distinguish actual extract weight from herb-equivalent weight. In a mixed herbal product, check whether the individual holy basil amount and serving size are disclosed.
- Look for form, serving size, extra ingredients, allergens, and whether the product is a single ingredient or a blend.
- Compare brand, price per serving, ingredient form, and single-ingredient versus complex products.
- Use the search button below to compare iHerb products that mention this ingredient.
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