Herb Profile
Holy Basil / Tulsi Ocimum Tenuiflorum
Ocimum tenuiflorum
Holy basil is best framed for stress adaptation over time, not acute anxiety relief.
Last reviewed: •1 source citedReport a correctionProfile-wide ·B Moderate
Use extra caution — Generally well tolerated; may lower blood sugar or blood pressure; caution with glucose lowering, antihypertensive, and anticoagulant medications; avoid pregnancy/breastfeeding unless clinician supervised. Details
- Evidence
- Moderate Evidence
- Typical onset
- Varies by prep
- Safety rating
- High caution
- Best for
- Stress Response, Oxidative Stress, Metabolic Health, Neurobiology
- Avoid / review if
- Diabetes (Monitor Glucose), Antidiabetic Drugs, Anticoagulants (Theoretical)
Safety
Safety & Cautions
Generally well tolerated; may lower blood sugar or blood pressure; caution with glucose lowering, antihypertensive, and anticoagulant medications; avoid pregnancy/breastfeeding unless clinician supervised.
High caution
Caution level: High. Multiple caution categories apply, or the record uses avoid/contraindication language.
- Pregnancy/Breastfeeding CautionPregnancy or breastfeeding caution language is present.
Detailed safety fields
Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and contraindications
- Diabetes (Monitor Glucose)
- Antidiabetic Drugs
- Anticoagulants (Theoretical)
Safety classifications
- Pregnancy/Breastfeeding Caution: Pregnancy or breastfeeding caution language is present.
Full safety note
- Generally well tolerated; may lower blood sugar or blood pressure; caution with glucose lowering, antihypertensive, and anticoagulant medications; avoid pregnancy/breastfeeding unless clinician supervised.
Safety labels
- Pregnancy/Breastfeeding Caution
Evidence-based safety
Caution when combined
Severity and certainty are shown separately. A high-priority caution can still be theoretical: these pairings are screened from shared contraindication mechanisms and are not automatically documented clinical interactions. Provenance identifies the source fields that produced each flag; it does not upgrade the certainty of the pairwise claim.
High-Priority Caution
147 flagged pairingsBleeding / anticoagulant risk
High-Priority Caution
147 flagged pairingsBleeding / anticoagulant risk
Representative pairings are shown below. Large mechanism groups are intentionally summarized to keep profiles focused and crawl-efficient.
Bleeding / anticoagulant riskCertainty: Theoretical
Data provenance recorded for 147 of 147 pairings in this mechanism group.
- aescin — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Aged Garlic Extract — Theoretical interaction certainty
- ajoene — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Ajwain — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Allicin — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Garlic — Theoretical interaction certainty
- American Ginseng Extract — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Andrographis — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Angelica Archangelica — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Angelica Dahurica — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Angelica Pubescens — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Angelica Root — Theoretical interaction certainty
+135 more pairings share this mechanism. Use the Safety Checker to review a specific combination.
Moderate Caution
110 flagged pairingsBlood-sugar lowering
Moderate Caution
110 flagged pairingsBlood-sugar lowering
Representative pairings are shown below. Large mechanism groups are intentionally summarized to keep profiles focused and crawl-efficient.
Blood-sugar loweringCertainty: Theoretical
Data provenance recorded for 110 of 110 pairings in this mechanism group.
- Acarbose — Theoretical interaction certainty
- ajoene — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Allicin — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Aloe Vera — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Alpha-Lipoic Acid — Theoretical interaction certainty
- American Ginseng Extract — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Andrographis — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Anemarrhena Asphodeloides — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Tarragon — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Ashoka — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Astragalus — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Astragalus Membranaceus — Theoretical interaction certainty
+98 more pairings share this mechanism. Use the Safety Checker to review a specific combination.
Evidence
Evidence Summary
Evidence lens
Useful signal, but study design, dose, and population still matter.
ModerateModerate Evidence
Human clinical evidence: Present in source signals
Mechanistic / preclinical: Mechanism mapped — Inflammatory Signaling Modulation · Oxidative Stress Modulation · Metabolic Regulation
Research maturity: Established research — Long Term Human Evidence May Be Limited.
Safety boundary: Safety note available — Generally well tolerated; may lower blood sugar or blood pressure; caution with glucose lowering, antihypertensive, and anticoagulant medications; avoid pregnancy/breastfeeding unless clinician supervised.
This profile cites 1 human study.
Study design details
Evidence Grade
Grade B: Moderate Evidence
Evaluation of methodological rigor, population reach, and evidence alignment.
- Design Match
- Systematic review
- Risk of Bias
- Low
- Consistency
- Consistent
Strongest recorded design is a systematic review, drawn from 4 recorded studies, 3 in people. No disagreement is recorded across them.
How evidence grades work
Each grade reflects the strength and consistency of published human evidence — not marketing claims. Grades are based on study count, design quality, effect size, consistency, and recency.
- Strong
- Multiple RCTs, consistent direction, adequate effect size
- Moderate
- Some RCTs or consistent observational data in humans
- Preliminary / Mixed
- Animal or in-vitro only, or conflicting human data
- Traditional / Theoretical
- Traditional use only; no controlled human trials
Clinical Study Summaries (3)2 human evidence sources · 2 human trials · Participant totals not consistently reported · Consistency not yet classifiable
Filter by study class
Showing 3 of 3 studies.
What the evidence actually shows
This table contains 3 structured sources, including 2 human evidence sources; 2 are human trials.
| Study | Design | N | Dose | Duration | Population | Outcome | Result & magnitude | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Background | Randomized controlled trial Randomly assigns participants to interventions or controls, reducing many sources of bias when the trial is conducted well. | — | — | — | — | — | Perceived stress and insomnia scores improved, with lower hair cortisol and stress-test responses reported versus placebo. | PubMed → |
Background | Randomized controlled trial Randomly assigns participants to interventions or controls, reducing many sources of bias when the trial is conducted well. | — | — | — | — | — | Adds comparative randomized evidence for a multi-herb stress formula containing Rhodiola, holy basil, and Schisandra. | PubMed → |
The Clinical Efficacy and Safety of Tulsi in Humans: A Systematic Review of the Literature PubMed · Evid Based Complement Alternat Med · 2017 Background | Narrative review Summarizes selected literature without the full prespecified search and selection methods of a systematic review. | — | — | — | — | — | — | PubMed → |
Dosing & Timing
- Dose guidance
- 300 1,000 mg/day standardized extract; common trial range 500 600 mg twice daily
How Holy Basil / Tulsi Ocimum Tenuiflorum works
Simplified mechanism pathway based on preclinical and pharmacological evidence. Does not confirm clinical efficacy.
Mechanism Pathway — How Holy Basil / Tulsi Ocimum Tenuiflorum Works
CompoundTarget / ReceptorMechanismEffect / Outcome
Mechanisms & biological pathways (preclinical)
- Inflammatory Signaling Modulation
- Oxidative Stress Modulation
- Metabolic Regulation
- Neurotransmitter Modulation
- Hormonal Signaling Context
- Stress Response Modulation
- AMPK
- Oxidative Stress
- Neurotransmitter Signaling
- Glucose Metabolism
Active Compounds
Key constituents studied in Holy Basil / Tulsi Ocimum Tenuiflorum, with full pharmacology and safety profiles.
- Eugenol — active compound in Holy Basil / Tulsi Ocimum Tenuiflorum
- Luteolin — active compound in Holy Basil / Tulsi Ocimum Tenuiflorum
- Methyl Eugenol — active compound in Holy Basil / Tulsi Ocimum Tenuiflorum
- Rosmarinic Acid — active compound in Holy Basil / Tulsi Ocimum Tenuiflorum
- Ursolic Acid — active compound in Holy Basil / Tulsi Ocimum Tenuiflorum
Compare related active botanicals
Explore botanicals with similar chemistry, effects, or safety considerations in the Botanical Activity Atlas.
Compare & Sourcing
Compare side-by-side tradeoffs or verify active marker guidelines.
Sourcing options
Holy Basil (Tulsi) product picks
Recommendation status
Product recommendations are not shown for this profile because the current site safety and monetization policy does not permit them.
Product form & quality guidelines
When sourcing Holy Basil / Tulsi Ocimum Tenuiflorum, verify the label for:
- Standardized extract: Confirm active content percentages on the supplement facts panel (e.g. standardized to specific marker compounds) rather than simple raw herb weights.
- Third-party testing: Look for independent purity labels (USP, NSF, ConsumerLab, or Eurofins) to ensure the product is free from heavy metals, solvents, and contaminants.
- Form bioavailability: Ensure the form matches evidence-supported configurations (e.g. standardized active extracts like bacosides, withanolides, or curcuminoids) for optimal onset and digestion tolerance.
Safety first · Harm reduction
This information is educational and not medical advice. Start low, avoid risky combinations, and consult a licensed clinician before making health decisions—especially if you use medications, have diagnosed conditions, or are pregnant/breastfeeding.
Learn how we evaluate confidence, safety, and intensity on the methodology page.
Founder & Head Researcher · Oak Ridge, TN · Last reviewed August 2026
Editorial Review
Checked against primary sources, cited evidence, and contraindication language before publication. Evidence claims, safety language, and affiliate modules are reviewed independently. Not personal medical advice.
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