36901

Submitted by admin on Wed, 08/17/2022 - 18:33
Top Product Attributes

  • Common Name

    Holy Basil

  • Botanical Name

    Ocimum tenuiflorum

  • Part Used

    Leaf

  • Clinical Summary

    Click here

  • Monograph

    Click here

  • Alcohol

    60% alcohol

  • Dose

    20 to 50mL weekly

Holy basil is considered unique amongst medicinal herbs for its wide variety of actions and ability to treat and prevent a range of diverse conditions.

Main Product Attributes
A guide to Holy Basil and its properties

  • Traditional Use

    The emerging science on holy basil, which reinforces ancient Ayurvedic wisdom, suggests that it is a tonic for the body, mind and spirit that offers solutions to many modern-day health problems.

  • Actions

    Adaptogen, relaxing nervine, antidepressant, anxiolytic, neuroprotective, antioxidant, immune modulator, analgesic, chemopreventive, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, expectorant, cardioprotective, hypolipidaemic, hepatoprotective, aromatic digestive

  • Indications

    •    Fatigue, stress and related conditions, mood disorders (anxiety and mild depression), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), poor memory and cognition, Alzheimer’s disease
    •    Cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, stroke
    •    Viral infections, fungal infections, skin infections, respiratory tract infections such as colds and influenza, herpes simplex virus (HSV), acne, allergic rhinitis, asthma, tooth decay, gingivitis
    •    High blood sugar, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance
    •    Peptic ulcers, indigestion
    •    Pain, headache, arthritis
    •    Hepatic disease, fatty liver disease
    •    Cancer prevention, adjunct to radiotherapy, heavy metal toxicity
    •    Issues and physical demands faced by modern air travellers such as infection, fatigue, thrombosis, dealing with anxiety, low oxygen in the body tissues (hypoxia), radiation, industrial chemicals and poor sleep.

  • Energetics

    Warming, drying, pungent, sweet

  • Use in Pregnancy

    High doses of holy basil are best avoided in pregnancy. It has been used traditionally throughout pregnancy however there is preclinical evidence to suggest that high doses may have antifertility and abortifacient effects. Further research in humans is necessary to confirm this as experimental evidence cannot be extrapolated to human use.

  • Contraindications & Cautions

    Holy basil has been used for countless generations, in different cultures and systems of medicine, without any specific safety concerns. Patients should discontinue holy basil at least two weeks before elective surgical procedures due to potential antiplatelet and hypotensive effects, which might cause excessive bleeding and interfere with blood pressure control if used perioperatively.

  • Drug Interactions

    While these interactions have not been reported, and they may not be clinically significant, monitor with anticoagulant/antiplatelet drugs due to theoretical additive effects, phenobarbital due to theoretical risk of increased sedation and hypoglycaemic medications due to holy basil’s anti-diabetic action.

  • Dietary Information

    Vegan friendly. Gluten and dairy free.

  • Substitutes

    Withania, Korean Ginseng, Reishi, Liquorice, Rhodiola, Siberian Ginseng, Gotu Kola