Holy Basil Plant

Holy Basil

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Ocimum sanctum L. or Ocimum tenuiflorum

Herbal Actions: Adaptogen – Antiseptic – Antispasmodic – Antiviral – Bitter – Carminative – Decongestant – Diaphoretic – Expectorant – Immonomodulator – Nervine

Known as the “Queen of Herbs” by traditional herbal practitioners, holy basil is an important herb in Ayurvedic medicine. Although more clinical studies are needed, holy basil seems to hold promise for many health conditions such as balancing stress hormones, eye health, headaches, oral health, controlling blood glucose, respiratory issues and even the treatment of certain types of cancer.

Holy basil’s effect of balancing stress hormones may possibly be due to two of its phytochemical compounds which may lower blood corticosterone. The most researched benefit of holy basil is its ability to lower symptoms of anxiety by keeping hormone levels balanced.

Holy basil has anti-inflammatory properties which may be beneficial in relieving conjunctivitis, commonly referred to as pink-eye. Making a compress by soaking a clean cloth in tea made from holy basil leaves and applying the cloth to your eyes (closed, I would imagine) is said to relieve the symptoms of conjunctivitis. 

Holy basil is recommended by practitioners of Ayurveda for headaches and to relieve migraine pain. Simply drinking tea made from holy basil leaves is said to relieve headaches and migraine pain. 

For oral health, using a mouthwash containing an extract of holy basil leaves is believed to fight bacteria and germs which can lead to plaque, cavities and gingivitis.

Human clinical trial as well as the dreaded animal experiments appear to reveal holy basil’s ability to control blood glucose levels. Researchers in a randomized placebo-controlled, single blind trial concluded that holy basil may be useful for people with mild-to-moderate non-insulin dependent diabetes as part of their treatment plan.

The components in holy basil leaves help provide relief from congestion and other symptoms of respiratory issues. I would like to see more studies on the effectiveness of Holy Basil for relief of asthma symptoms. It appears to be effective in “liquefying” phlegm, thereby relieving the symptoms of allergic bronchitis and asthma. 

One of the many benefits of holy basil may include it’s ability to not only treat but to prevent cancer. According to researchers, by consuming holy basil on a regular basis, people are less likely to have a compromised immune system, thereby cutting the risk of developing cancer cells. Research published in the Journal of Nutrition and Cancer indicates that holy basil may in some cases, prevent chemical-induced lung, liver, oral and skin cancers and may inhibit angiogenesis (the formation of new blood vessels) and metastasis. More research is of course needed, but this could be be wonderful news as holy basil leaves are believed to be non-toxic and have potential anti-cancer properties.

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Holy Basil

Ocimum sanctum L. or Ocimum tenuiflorum

Holy basil is a bushy shrub which grows to about 18 inches in height and is indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. The leaf color of the holy basil plant ranges from light green to dark purple, depending upon the variety and the shape of the leaves is oval and serrated. When in bloom the plant is easily recognized by its delicate lavender to dark purple flowers. 

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Holy Basil Plant

In the Kitchen

Use holy basil freely in your cooking and in making freshly brewed tea. The taste is spicy and bitter and works well in Asian dishes.

To make a tea, pour 1 cup boiling water over 2 to 3 teaspoons holy basil leaves, cover and let steep for 5 to 6 minutes. Strain the leaves before drinking.

In the Garden

Holy basil is a warm season annual, but can be grown as a perennial by trimming the plant before it forms seeds.

To grown from seeds, start indoors by planting the seeds 1/4 inch below the surface in rich potting soil. Water the seeds with a spray bottle and place in a warm sunny spot such as a windowsill or under grow lights, where they will receive 6 to 8 hours of sunlight a day. Keep the soil moist until they seeds germinate in about 14 days. Continue to keep the soil moist and the plant will form its first set of true leaves two to three weeks later.

Carefully plant seedlings into pots or your garden when the seedlings reach about 6 inches in height, but don’t rush them outdoors if the temperature is still cool. Holy basil prefers fertile, moist but well drained soil and lots of sunshine, but will tolerate partial shade.

Precautions and Contraindications

The longest independent study on the clinical effects of holy basil was only 13 weeks in duration, but the results were favorable irrespective of dose, formulation or age and gender of participants. The data does not rule out the possibility of side effects when it is used for more than 13 weeks. Long-term use safety has not been established, but holy basil should be safe when taken for up to 6 weeks.

Holy basil may slow the rate of blood clotting, so it should not be used by individuals taking blood thinning medications. Anyone using this herb should stop using it two weeks before a scheduled surgery and for two week after surgery.

Women of childbearing age who wish to become pregnant should not use holy basil as it may cause uterine contractions and impact fertility.

The safety of use in pregnant or breastfeeding women has not been established, so it is best to not use holy basil if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Making Medicine

To benefit from the health-promoting effects, nibble on a few leaves every day.  You can grow your own holy basil plant to always have fresh leave on hand for tea, food and medicine.

Holy basil can be made into an alcohol extract or ground into a powder for capsules. Dosages will depend on your particular health concern. Talk to your health care practitioner to determine what dosage of holy basil would be best for you.

Did You Know?

Holy basil is a sacred herb in Hinduism known as Tulsi (or Tulasi), which it shares with the Hindu goddess. Tulsi is thought to be the incarnation of Lakshmi, wife of Vishnu, and a symbol of the Divine Mother, longevity and compassion. Tulsi is believed to help bring purity and serenity to the heart and mind.

Many Hindu families offer Tulsi a proud place in their home also speaks to their reverence for the goddess, as well as the plant’s many protective benefits.  Hindus consider all parts of the plant holy, including the very soil it’s planted in. Some use the plant to repel insects and symbolically place it near the head of the dying.

Learn about herbs in Herb of the Month

Every month we explore one herb. Throughout the month we will learn about the benefits of the herb, it's herbal actions and uses. We will turn our knowledge into herbal recipes and concoctions to gain a fuller understanding of how these herbs actually work.

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