Holy Basil for Stress and Anxiety
Holy basil or Tulsi (Ocimumn sanctum) is a revered herb from ayurvedic medicine often used to help reduce stress and restore health. In principle, holy basil has similar properties to other herbs that are often used as adaptogens—herbs that are thought to help balance stress and improve overall function. More well known adaptogens include ginseng, ashwagandha and rhodiola.
While there isn’t nearly as much research on holy basil, the human studies that have been performed appear to suggest benefits. A study from 2008 found that patients with generalized anxiety disorder supplemented with holy basil extract showed benefits (Bhattacharyya 2008). Patients had improvements in anxiety, stress levels and depression. A separate study in healthy subjects also found potential benefits on anxiety traits with holy basil (Sampath 2015).
Animal studies appear to confirm significant anxiety relieving properties of both water and alcohol extracts of holy basil. A review of the research from 2024 found that, for animals at least, holy basil extracts were able to reduce anxiety levels as effectively as Valium (Kamal 2024). While these results are impressive, I would be cautious to expect such striking results in humans.
Use for Stress and Anxiety
Holy basil is available in a number of different forms, as a pleasant tea, as whole herb in capsules and as extracts. Side effects are typically mild, usually limited to gastrointestinal upset. Some individuals could also be allergic to holy basil, as the herb is similar to other mint family plants.
It can be important, like with any herb, to also make sure you purchase holy basil from a reputable company that tests for common contaminants, including heavy metals. Ayurvedic herbs have been found in some studies to have concerning levels of heavy metals like lead or arsenic.
Conclusion
Holy basil is a fascinating herb with centuries of use in ayurvedic medicine as an adaptogen. While less well known in the West, research is beginning to confirm the potential of holy basil to help with stress and anxiety. For anyone struggling with increased anxiety, holy basil could be a potential choice to help with reducing symptoms.
