Holy Basil, or Tulsi, has been used in India for thousands of years. It is so revered in India that it was part of religious ceremonies and it was even customary to worship it twice a day.

Holy Basil can be classified as an "adaptogen”. An adaptogen is a herb that can normalize body processes and support our response to stress. Holy Basil accomplishes this feat by decreasing cortisol. Cortisol is a hormone that is produced by the adrenal glands in response to chronic stress. Raised cortisol levels cause the body to make glucose from amino acids, which causes blood sugar to rise. By helping the body to normalize cortisol levels, holy basil can help both the mood changes brought on by stress and also prevent the increase in blood sugar that stress brings.

Holy Basil: The list of benefits

• Promotes a sense of calmness --Use anytime you experience anxiety
• Mild sedative with analgesic qualities --Use anytime for pain relief
• Reduces cortisol spikes from chronic stress which aids in normalizing blood sugar --Use to help regulate blood sugar levels.
• Provides relief for coughs including bronchitis.--Use for all coughs or any type of congestion
• Relieves asthma by facilitating smoother breathing. Can heal viral, bacterial and fungal infections of the respiratory system.--Use for any type of lung disorder/condition
• Destroys germs and bacteria. --Use for any type of cold or flu or as a mouthwash or skin wash to destroy harmful bacteria
• Naturally antifungal.--Use as a wash or take internally for any type of fungal infection
• An excellent antioxidant--Use the tea as a daily source of antioxidants
• Boosts the immune system--Use the tea as a daily immune boost
• Contains phytonutrients that contain anti-inflammatory and cancer preventative qualities.--Use the tea as a daily "vitamin"

While there are holy basil supplements, tinctures, or glycerites, on the market that may work best for you to incorporate Holy Basil into your diet, my favorite way to get all of the benefits of this potent herb is in a tea or infusion. Many of the teas are labeled "Tulsi", and you should always read the label to see if other ingredients are included besides just holy basil or tulsi.

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Essential oil diffusion may be another way to get the benefits of stress reduction. For skin conditions, it is possible to use the essential oil at a maximum of 1% since it is a dermal irritant. The hydrosol is an excellent way to get the skin benefits of holy basil without the risk of dermal irritation.  While holy basil is considered by many to be safe for pregnancy, it is best to exercise caution and consume only in a tea.

Where to purchase Holy Basil or Tulsi

Mountain Rose Herbs has an excellent selection of holy basil teas.  These teas are a blend of holy basil and other herbs as well black tea.  Mountain Rose herbs also sell holy basil as a loose herb. You can purchase holy basil (see the next section for details on the types of holy basil) and make your own herbal tea blend or infusion with the loose herbs. An infusion is simply a stronger tea that has been allowed to steep in an airtight container for four or more hours. 

As we have said, a strong infusion or home-steeped loose leaf tea is the best for therapeutic benefits but if you want to try a few cups before committing to the larger, but more affordable, bag of herb, try this organic tulsi tea or this raspberry peach flavored tea. To get the best price all around, we recommend getting your tulsi from VitaCost and using eBates. 

Types of Holy Basil

There are three common types of holy basil, Krishna, Rama, and Vana.  Rama and Krishna are the same species, but all varieties belong to the mint family.  The leaves of holy basil smell of peppermint, cloves, licorice and/or lemon. Mountain Rose Herbs offers these three types of Holy Basil (information taken from the Mountain Rose Herbs Website):

Krishna (Ocimum tenuiflorum) is known for its medicinal value and peppery crisp taste. The plant has dark green to purple leaves, stems, and blossoms.

Rama (Ocimum tenuiflorum) is known for its cooling and mellow flavor. The plant has green leaves, white-to-purplish blossoms, and a green or purplish stem.

Vana (Ocimum sp.), aka. "forest type", is known for its fragrance. The plant has green leaves and stem, with white blossoms.

Remember…..don’t suffer from overwhelm!  Just take one small bite….one crunch…at a time!

Thanks for reading!

Sources:

http://www.unm.edu/~lkravitz/Article%20folder/stresscortisol.html

http://www.transformyourhealth.com/webnewsletters/sept07/findingcalmarticle.htm