Tulsi, more commonly known as Holy Basil, is one of the best superfood herbs on the planet. “Tulsi” means “The Incomparable One” and is reflective of the powerful health benefits it contains. Holy Basil was a staple of Hindu mythology and the Indian royalty considered this herb sacred. Modern scientific evidence supports that this herb supports balancing the body, mind, and spirit.
The plant is part of the Labiatae or mint family. The Holy Basil shrub has scented leaves which contain its life saving compounds. It is native to South Asia where it has been used for centuries. It serves an important role in Ayurvedic medicine (the ancient medical system of India) believed to increase the body’s resilience, balance, and adaptive abilities.
Holy Basil: An Adaptogenic Power Food
Holy Basil is classified in natural medicine as an adaptogenic herb. Adaptogens equip the body to better handle stress. Holy Basil and other adaptogenic herbs do not influence a person’s mood but rather optimize the function of the body during periods of high or chronic stress. Adaptogens regulate the synthesis of stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol.
Chronic stress is a modern day problem and epidemic that afflicts many individuals and results in chronic inflammation, abnormal immune responses, and a slow metabolism. High levels of cortisol lead to digestive complications such as leaky gut syndrome, weight gain, increased appetite, thyroid disorders, and an increase in the degeneration of brain neurons.
High cortisol levels are a common problem in people struggling with psychological disorders such as depression and anxiety. Several autoimmune conditions, including cancer, are also associated with chronic and high concentrations of stress hormones. These hormones serve as a catalyst for an abnormal immune response.
Why You Need Balanced Cortisol Levels
Adaptogenic herbs provide the unique health benefit of lowering and improving cortisol levels. Elevated cortisol levels drain the ability of many other compounds to produce sex hormones like estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone.
Without a sufficient supply of the precursors needed, sex hormones become deficient − which rapidly increases the aging process of an individual.
Healthy individuals will have a spike of cortisol levels in the morning which then decreases and remains low throughout the day, and reduces dramatically in the evening. This cycle allows the body to wake up energized in the morning while maintaining energy until the need for sleep arises again at night.
Balanced cortisol levels improve your ability to have better memory and mental clarity. With balanced cortisol you feel less anxious, less agitated, and better able to live a higher quality of life.
Tulsi Contains Cancer Fighting Antioxidants
One of the many benefits of Holy Basil (Tulsi) is that it contains essential oils. Essential oils serve unique abilities for promoting total body health. Holy Basil contains phytonutrient-potent oils such as rosmarinic acid, caryophyllene, eugenol, and ursolic acid, among others. These plant oils naturally stimulate mood and the spirit. Eugenol alone has been shown in several studies to decrease stress and promote mental clarity.
Holy Basil regulates cortisol and insulin by stabilizing both stress levels and blood sugar levels. One study published in the Indian Journal of Clinical Biochemistry provides evidence that Holy Basil can even reverse some of the devastating effects of diabetes such as neuropathy and retinopathy.
Tulsi contains vitamin C, vitamin A, and essential oils which are all anti-oxidants that go through the body scavenging free radicals and improving cellular integrity, blood flow, and genetic expression. Holy Basil is especially beneficial for improving brain function and cardiovascular health aiding in the protection against brain degeneration and heart disease.
How Holy Basil Supports Immune Function
Holy Basil aids in strengthening the immune system supporting the body against the invasion of parasites like Candida, MRSA, staph infections, and viruses. Like other adaptogens, Holy Basil modulates the immune system, stimulating it when a toxic invader is present.
When the immune system is in overdrive and results in increased inflammation without any cause for this increased response, Holy Basil will also inhibit this over-activity. A healthy and well supported immune system is essential to preventing and destroying cancer cell growth.
A Study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food in 2007 shows how Holy Basil is able to fight against the development of cancer. The study showed that Holy Basil causes a reduction in the formation of individual cancer cells, and stimulates healthy enzyme activity while increasing antioxidant levels.
Anticancer Properties of Tulsi
Holy Basil contains the powerful antioxidant ursolic acid. As explained above, ursolic acid is one of several phytonutrients exhibiting antioxidant effects. Ursolic acid has been shown in various studies to inhibit the replication of abnormal DNA while preventing tumor growth and metastasis. One possible reason for this anticancer potential of ursolic acid is its ability to destroy specific cancer “bodyguards” that protect the survival of cancer cells.
Ursolic acid from Tulsi has been found to exhibit anti-inflammatory and total anti-cancer effects on cancers including:
- Colon
- Breast
- Lung
- Pancreatic
- Skin
- Prostate
- Cervical
- Oral
- Myeloma
- Esophagus
Holy Basil Helps Alleviate Side Effects of Radiation Treatment
Conventional cancer treatments using radiation have inherent toxic side effects on the total body. Holy Basil has recently been found to provide protection against the instability of genes caused by radiation. These effects are found to be a result of the presence of the flavonoids eugenol, orientin, and vicenin. These exhibit not only antioxidant abilities but also aid in the removal of toxins from the body. They also prevent against inflammation and healthy tissue damage.
The beginning stages of clinical testing have also shown that these same antioxidants also have the ability to protect against sickness and mortality resulting from radiation treatment. Studies indicate that orientin and vicenin from Holy Basil leaf extract are especially capable of protecting organs highly sensitive to radiation toxicity. It seems to be particularly effective in protecting the gastrointestinal tract and the various organs that produce blood such as the bone marrow and spleen.
The unique and rich combination of phytochemicals in Holy Basil provides a chemopreventive and radioprotective response in the following ways:
- Inhibits inflammation and reduces fever
- Natural painkiller or analgesic relief
- Stabilizes blood sugar
- Prevents liver damage and toxicity
- Stabilizes lipid levels
- Total stress relief
- Regulates a healthy immune response
- Induces apoptosis (“cellular death”) in cancer cells
- Prevents DNA damage
- Inhibits the spread and progression of tumors
Prevent Lifestyle-Related Disease With Powerful Holy Basil
Holy Basil is a powerful and ancient holistic herbal tool used to promote optimal health and prevent disease. While many lifestyle-related chronic diseases are preventable, they are still one of the greatest causes of mortality today worldwide.
Regular consumption and use of Holy Basil and other adaptogenic herbs can significantly benefit physical, physiological, and psychological health. Holy basil is an excellent natural anti-depressant which supports systemic health protecting the human body against a wide variety of pathogenic and carcinogenic substances in today’s industrialized world.
It’s not regarded as the “elixir of life” for no reason… adding Holy Basil to your diet daily can protect your body from the stressors of everyday life while helping to prevent and treat chronic diseases such as cancer.
Can this plant be grown in temperate climates?
great article! left me wondering the best way to buy, grow or ingest it. Looking for tea leaves (in the store) now, Any suggestions
I use Organic India tulsi tea.
https://us.organicindia.com/
I grow Tulsi on the coast of GA USA and drink it daily usually with hibiscus (dried) and lemon grass (which I grow). It will die with a frost but is still growing here in Dec 27th! You could dig it up and take inside in the winter but I let some of mine go to seed for next spring.
The growing zones for Holy Basil are 10 and 11.
I live in the northern half of the UK, and have a pot on the kitchen window sill, grown as an ‘indoor pot plant’. It’s then handy for snipping off leaves to add to all kinds of dishes.
How do you eat it? Eating the leaves in salads etc.?
Grown as an annual in temperate climate.
Can you tell me where to get this plant. We are living with cancer and it’s treatment side effects. Feeding tube and chronic jaw pain from radiation. Any help would be appreciated.
I have stage 4 cancer too but I’m doing well using many integrative methods, including drinking Organic India tea.
https://us.organicindia.com/
How do you recommend one consume Tulsi?
Anuradhapura, add leaves to salads, add chopped leaves to pattie mixture, make pesto, steep leaves in hot water to make a tea, crush leaves and breathe in the aroma, tulsi essential oil can be applied to carrier oil and rubbed on your skin. It is quite versatile.
Hi Ty. Wish you would indicate what the article will be about in your “teaser” email…That aside, are you suggesting this as an additional spice to be added to food, or as a supplement, and if so, how much per day. Thanks for your great work….
How do you suggest we ingest this-as a tea? Supplement?
I’m always thankful for the information supplied my The Truth About Cancer. Thank you and God bless!
I just bought some Krishna Tulsi tea from Organic India. It was inexpensive and very tasty!
And what is the french name or the latin scientific name?
Is there a difference between the Berber Basil and Holy Basil?
My last comment should be ordinary Basil and Holy basily
see reply below for clarification
Sorry, the reply was not posted by sight moderator.
it was posted after Rich’s comment of Dec 26 10pm, my mistake.
Why aren’t any of these so-called “studies ” referenced properly so that they can be read and researched? Where is the supporting documentation?
Hi Meg,
Please refer to the sources and references tab that is directly below the article for more information. Thanks!
Wondering how best to use it on a regular basis for my husband who has an extremely stressful job as a doctor and higher than normal cortisol levels…
Can you get the benefits by drinking tulsi tea, and if so, how much/frequency?
In the summertime in Ottawa, Canada, I grow a pot of basil outside my house in my front steps. I use basil for cooking such as pasta sauces, as a bouquet garni for my rise, pizza, and rice dishes. However, when fall comes and the first frost arrives, it just dies and I have to buy them at my local supermarket.
Holy Basil or Tulsi is a very different plant than the basil used for culinary purposes. I grew all the different types of basil in Charlotte NC for much of the year except the coldest months in winter.
The basil in this article is holy basil also called Tulsi it’s different from the sweet basil. I don’t think you will put Tulsi in your pizza.
Holy basil, or just basil the spice? They’re not the same.
I wish something could be done to stop the writers of recipes from recommending canola oil . I have many from years ago, but I thought they hadn’t gotten the message, yet then. But today it’s still being recommended.Most of the boxed cakes , muffins etc. contain aluminum , among other nasty ingredients, but they are still recommending people ruin what is made from scratch. Until people start taking charge of their health and stop listening to conventional doctors, nutritionists and the rest of the health robbers, things are not likely to change. Schools would be the best place to start, but that isn’t going to happen. They are one of the ‘bad guys.’
Dee Sune, I am with you there too. I see cooking demonstrations where they are attempting to show how to eat healthier, and then out comes the canola oil, tinned foods, sodium chloride salt, other vegetable oils, etc, pop in the microwave, etc, margarine (trans fats), white rice, and more.
But is this basil, that you grow, the same kind that they call “Tulsi” or “Holy Basil” wich has medicinal virtues? And what is the name in french or the scientific latin name of Holy Basil? Or does any type of basil have the same medicinal qualities?
I drink organic tulsi tea regularly, along with many other holistic treatments, and I have been doing great keeping my stage 4 breast cancer u Dee control for 2.5 years.
I am growing mine in the ground, in Kona Hawaii, at 756′ above sea level, protected from wind by trees. Finest combination is with Noni, star fruit, and monster fruit (Hawaiian Ulu). A dash of rum doesn’t hurt the elements.
It was served to me in a salad at a café the flowers being particularly tasty, I had a small plant in my Perth Australia garden last year, so I will get another
Gay where abouts in Perth Australia did you get your plant. Would love to get some.
Jennifer, which health food store do you get tulsi tea? What sort of holistic treatments do you use for your stage 4 breast cancer? Where do you live? Where can you buy tulsi basil? I buy basil from my local Farmer’s market every summer and plant in a pot in front of my doorstep and I buy basil from my local supermarket in Ottawa, Canada, but I do not believe that it is the holy basil. How is your stage 4 breast cancer? Have the tumors shrank a lot or do you have no sign of this disease in your body? Have you tried conventional treatments such as radiation and chemotherapy?
I also have stage 4 metastatic breast cancer and am surviving on estrogen blocker pills, far infrared saunas, detoxing, low carb and no sugar diet.
I live near Los Angeles California. I find my tea at healthfood stores, but you can buy it online. https://us.organicindia.com/
I especially like their raspberry peach flavor.
My treatments have three goals-
1) I starve and weaken cancer cells. I starve them by a no sugar, low carbohydrate diet -ketogenic based diet. I get hyperbaric oxygen treatment twice a week. I weaken them by eating plenty of cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, chard, Brussels sprouts, etc, especially spiced with turmeric. I take supplements that weaken cancer cells including curcumin, melatonin, artimisinin, EGCG, vitamin D, Enduracell broccoli sprouts, etc.
2) I strengthen and activate my immune system with weekly IV vitamin C treatments and pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy. I activate my immune system by daily rebounding on a trampoline. I strengthen my immune system with food like garlic, onion, ginger, cumin, etc. I take supplements including vitamin C, astragalus, and mushroom blends.
3) I avoid distracting my immune system from the cancer fighting battle by avoiding toxins as much as possible and detoxing regularly. I avoid toxins by eating organic foods as much as possible, eating whole food rather than processed foods, my diet is vegan except for organic eggs and organic goat cheese. I avoid toxins by only using natural nontoxic products for body care and home cleaning. I try to avoid excess radiation. I detox by regularly having coffee enemas, occasionally have ion detox footbath, After PET scans I take SOD supplements to help detox.
Within a year of me starting my treatments, there was no evidence of active disease (NEAD). I then stopped having IV C and decreased my oxygen treatment, and 6 months later it showed up in a couple spots again. I then returned to my original plan, and since then, my last 2 PET scans showed it decreasing. I have another PET scan in a couple weeks, and I’m praying it’s NEAD again.
I do admit that I’m taking an integrative plan, but I have refused any chemo. I had mastectomy on original tumor and surgery removed Core of one tumor in my femur but others were not treated directly. My cancer is hormone receptive so I had ovaries removed and I take a hormone blocker drug, but those don’t describe how the cancer acted up and then decreased again when I returned to original plan. I also take a bone strengthening drug which my oncologist believes I the key to it, but I believe it’s a combination of all or many of my treatments.
Jennifer, I’m 2 years out from diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer to the sternum and also had a year worth of NED scans: No Evidence of Disease. In September my PET scan showed faint activity. I am doing some of the things you are doing and I also have Zometa IV bone infusions to strengthen my bones to make them inhospitable to breast cancer.
Great information. I use it for cooking.
Is Basil the same as Holy Basil?
Jennifer, my basil is not spice. I get the herb which is the plant, but I do not think that it is holy basil.
Silvia and AHp, please see my comment above. No, Holy Basil and Sweet Basil [ used for cooking ] are not the same You would not put Holy Basil in your tomato sauce. You find Holy Basil in the health food store!!
Get it right on Ebay search for Ocimum tenuiflorum.
Ocimum tenuiflorum appears to be the prefered binomial name; over the synonym Ocimum sanctum (via Wiki). It gets to be small shrub like plant in its native habitat in India/ Eurasia. It is not Ocimum basilicum the culinary basil, of which there are many types, nor is it the Thai basil type which has a similar look. There is a Thai Holy basil which is used in Thai cuisine and seems to be a specific strain of Ocimum santum/tenuiflorum. In India the green form is used for religious purpose and the purple leaf form is used for cuisine. It is an annual and can be grown from seed in temperate climates planted in the ground or in a pot so it could be moved inside during the colder part of the year. I have most often seen young plants being sold at farmers markets in the spring. Use its leaves as a tisane (herbal tea), fresh herb in cuisine, as a dried powder, as an addition to ghee(clarified butter), or the essential oil from the foliage or seeds, a more concentrated form, can be used medicinally. See the Johnny’s Selected Seeds catalog for an extensive listing of basils with their corresponding Latin name binomials, including Holy Basil.
That’s the brand I use too. I really like their raspberry peach flavor!
Seeds are available for purchase wherever seeds are sold. If you know someone with a plant, it flowers and produces lots of seeds and are quite easily grown. Can be grown in the vege garden, in pots, in the front yard as an ornamental. I live in a sub-tropical area.
Great article on the effects of Holy Basil on the body, well referenced also. I’ve known of it for years but not the detail of its actions in the body. It does need additional information on how best to utilize it. And sourcing it. Dr. Jockers, can you please add an addendum of your specific recommendations on how to use Holy Basil in its various forms, most effectively.
You can make it into a pesto to have with pasta or as a dip
Are you talking about Holy Basil or regular Basil? These are 2 different herbs.
I have a Tulsi plant in my house because my daughter in the Krishna Consciousness movement look at it as a Divine or Holy plant
How will I use it for optimal health benefits if I’m healthy?
Thanks
Anne-maroe
✨?✨ so moved by some of stories, and would like to send strength, courage and healing to you all✨?✨?
Oddly enough I have always called basil, Holy Basil, so reading the article was facinateing in a magical way, so having never come across
actual Holy Basil I shall be on the case, I’m in England ,London so shouldn’t be to hard to find.
So here’s to a healing 2017, ? Love and light surround you ? Glo rose
Try and family, my deepest appreciation xx
Excellent article. Thanks for posting it, Ty.
Keep up the good work.
Look into the Budwig Protocol for cancer–powerful.
Consider doing doTERRA essential oils. Do the research on this high quality certified pure theruputic grade doTERRA Badil essential oil can be applied topically aroma or infest. Go to YouTube.com & search doTERRA basil.
Thanks for this amazing & informative article (I use holy basil every day!)- you’re all angels in disguise (ps: would you mind letting us know what the product etc is in the main email, so we can see whether/not we already have it in our cabinets… rather than having to follow a time-consuming link)? Thanks so much!
Angie,
Sounds like we are on a similar plan with similar results. What holistic treatments do you do?
I do Far infrared sauna treatments once/week and in the beginning I did 3x /week. Also, like you, coffee enemas to detox like they do in Gerson therapy. In the mornings I eat slow cooked oatmeal, drink unroasted green tea, and do oil pulling using coconut oil. I take digestive enzymes that Epigenetics sells and 5000 IU vitamin D3. Instead of sugar, I eat honey and coconut nectar that I found in Natural Grocers store. Also I drink essiac tea at bedtime. This is my 3rd time with breast cancer. How about you? I don’t know anyone around here who has this metastatic breast cancer, so it was good to be able to write you something. I would like to do some of the holistic Vit C and Oxygen treatments you do but need to find out where I can go near here.
Angie,
What city do you live in?
Portland, OR
How about you?
guy this is not your normal or ordinary basil. although they belong to the mint family, the tree can grow to over a meter high.the dried flowers have seeds which when crushed between the palms out pops little seeds similar to mustard seeds which can then be eaten or soaked overnight in either milk or water and drunk the next day.
add a little turmeric to this to obtain maximum overall body health.
mandy K. Moodley
Grows wild in my garden in Johannesburg, South Africa
Hi Diana
Please can you advise me where I can find Holy Basil. I live in Hermanus.
Have you tried Golden Paste? Turmuric User Group for info and recipe. Wonderful reviews.
Holy basil (Ocimum sanctum)
If you want fresh tulsi, just befriend someone in your local Indian community and they will happily share some with you, roots and all! It grows so easily and in such abundance, you will soon be sharing the wealth with others as well. I learned about it at a small ashram in La Habra, CA (Orange County) where I do yoga. It was the best tea I ever had, and I was soon growing, steeping and even chewing the leaves as well. The Mahatmas prepare it simply by picking the leaves, briefly rinsing them and tearing them up and dropping them into boiling water with grated ginger, a sprinkle of cardamom, and a small amount of black tea for color and taste. Sometimes they pick some lemongrass or mint to put in as well. Boil for four minutes or so, strain and enjoy!
I read a lot of interesting comments but no one really answered my question wich is: What is the french name of this plant or the latin scientific name? So I could indentifiy it clearly (because it seems that it is different from standard cooking basil), and I could check wether it is possible to grow it here up north in Québec. Thank you if you can light me.
Hi Guy, Holy Basil is “Basilic Sacre “.. Yes it is different from sweet basil,the one you use for cooking. You can find Holy Basil in a health food store or online.I use Organic Traditions, which is made in Toronto, in the health food store. Scott Wave commented on growing your own. Just a few lines up!
Hope this helps!
Martha, have you ever heard of the Smith’s pharmacy in Toronto? Do you know that they sell some sort of vitamin B17 called Nitrilosides? Vitamin B17 has not been FDA, because it consists of laetrile that can cause cycanide poisoning.
I have eaten 12 x2 = 24 Apricot kernels/ day, for 8 years- with no side effects – They contain
Amygdalin and Benzaldehyde – We must all educate ourselves and then make our own choices-
I also take 2 x 2 x 1100 mgm= 4400 mgm “PHYSICIANS NATURALS” 1100 MGM TABLETS OF CURCUMIN + 2 X 1.00O MGM FISHOIL /DAY. We are all different- Stay Well- Alex.
Organic India Tulsi Tea with Brahmi – is Amazing! Use it every day and the difference it has made is wonderful. Less pain, less stress, more comfort in my day and the ability to handle things. It’s properties are legion. If you go to Organic Indua tea website you can read more. Who thought a simple cup of Basil tea could be such a wonder! The best part is that the tea bags come in individual wrappers so you can share them out and carry them with you. Best tea ever.
I wonder if you could advise me. My sister has a suspicious oral tumour and also suspected crohn’s disease. Would Holy Basil be beneficial due to the Crohn’s? I hope you can let me know. She has been told to avoid so many foods and at the moment is unable to eat and drinking is even becoming a problem. I just feel helpless and would love to tell her there is something that can help her just now while she waits.
I appreciate all your information and feel blessed that the world has you.
Hi Karen,
The best advice we can give you is to consult with one of the doctors/experts that we interviewed in our Global Quest Series. Here is a link to get their information: https://thetruthaboutcancer.com/experts-info-sheet/
Is the green leaf different from the purple leaf? And does Ocimum tenuiflorum co e in both green and purple? Also I read I believe it was on WebMD , that it thins the blood and can interact with some medications? Is this accurate information?
Hi im from australia here born in cape town so were have you planted the holy basil just bought a plant so scared ill kill it shall i put it in pot on porch
How to use of lung cancer for basil oil.what is usage level of basil essential oil.