Using Tulsi to Relieve Stress and Anxiety

Holy Basil Protects the Body Against the Damaging Impact of Stress

Nov 10, 2009

Tulsi, or holy basil, is a potent herb that acts to protect the body against the damaging effects of stress. Tulsi's anti-stress activity has be verified by research.

Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum), also known as holy basil, is a natural stress-reliever. In Indian medicine (Ayurveda), tulsi is classified as an "adaptogen" because of its anti-stress activity. Rich in alkaloids, tulsi strengthens the body’s natural capacity to adapt to a variety of stress factors. Tulsi also has powerful antioxidant properties enhancing the natural immune response.

Tulsi is a powerful calming herb, working to counteract many troublesome effects of chronic stress, including nervousness, sleeplessness, and digestive disorders. Animal research has verified that extracts of tulsi leaves prevented changes in plasma levels of the stress hormone corticosterone induced by both acute and chronic noise stress. In additional animal research, tulsi protected the digestive tract against the effects of stress, inhibiting the formation of stress-induced gastric ulcers.

Additional Research on Tulsi and Stress

Fresh leaves of the tulsi plant were evaluated for anti-stress activity against experimentally induced oxidative stress in rabbits. Animals in the test group received supplementation with fresh leaves of ocimum per rabbit for 30 days. The study results indicated that tulsi blunted the changes in cardiorespiratory parameters in response to stress. A significant decrease in blood sugar level was observed after 30 days of dietary supplementation. A significant increase in the levels of enzymatic antioxidants was also observed in the test group after the treatment with tulsi. These results suggest that tulsi’s anti-stress activity may be attributable to its antioxidant properties.

Tulsi May Help Fight Alzheimer’s Disease

Tulsi has been the subject of research for its potential in improving memory and learning in patients with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Tulsi’s active principle is classified as a nootropic agent, a class of substances believed to be useful in counteracting organic disruptions in learning abilities, such as that which occurs in Alzheimer’s and dementia.

A study was undertaken to evaluate tulsi’s nootropic and anti-amnesia activity in mice. An aqueous extract of dried whole plant was found to counteract the amnesic effect of scopolamine, diazepam and aging-induced memory deficits. The animals showed improved performance in various learning evaluations such as maze tests and passive avoidance models. These results strongly suggest that herbal preparations containing tulsi may be beneficial in the treatment of cognitive disorders such as dementia and Alzheimer's Disease.

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Dadkar VN, Joshi AG, Jaguste VS, Billimoria FR, Dhar HL 1988 Antistress activity of Ocimum sanctum (Tulsi). Indian Drugs 25 (5): 172

Jena GB, Nemmani KV, Kaul CL, Ramarao P. Phytother Res. 2003 Apr;17(4):306-10. Protective effect of a polyherbal formulation (Immu-21) against cyclophosphamide-induced mutagenicity in mice.

The copyright of the article Using Tulsi to Relieve Stress and Anxiety in Herbal Medicine is owned by Lucy Tashman. Permission to republish Using Tulsi to Relieve Stress and Anxiety in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.