One very effective approach for supporting the adrenals, reducing anxiety and providing general anti-stress support is using a herbal adaptogen. One of my favorite herbal adaptogens and one that I have found to be very effective and well tolerated by my clients is tulsi, also known as holy basil or the “Elixir of Life” in Ayurveda. I also really like rhodiola. ashwagandha and licorice root but we’ll cover these in another blog.
As stated in this 2017 paper, The Clinical Efficacy and Safety of Tulsi in Humans: A Systematic Review of the Literature
Tulsi, also known as holy basil, is indigenous to the Indian continent and highly revered for its medicinal uses within the Ayurvedic and Siddha medical systems. Many in vitro, animal and human studies attest to tulsi having multiple therapeutic actions including adaptogenic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective, and immunomodulatory effects.
The above paper is a review of the literature and the 24 studies that were included, reported favorable therapeutic effects of tulsi for humans and no significant adverse effects. Only one clinical trial reported mild nausea that lasted a short while.
The authors conclude that the outcome of this review
reinforces traditional uses and suggests tulsi is an effective treatment for lifestyle-related chronic diseases including diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and psychological stress.
With regards to psychological stress, three of the clinical studies reviewed
reported significant reduction in anxiety and stress levels with higher doses of tulsi given over a longer time period.
The positive effect of tulsi on mood was demonstrated … with two studies reporting reductions of 31.6%–39% in overall stress-related symptoms in patients with psychosomatic problems compared to a control group.
In two of these stress studies the dosage ranged from 300mg to 400mg 3 x day and was taken either before or after a meal. In one stress study, 3g (3,000mg) twice a day was used. In all the stress/anxiety studies improvements were observed in 4-12 weeks.
The review also looked at studies on metabolic disorders i.e. type 2 diabetes with “measures of blood glucose, lipids, and blood pressure” and studies on immunity, all showing benefits. In one of the immunity studies, the participants were given 10g (10,000mg) /day for viral hepatitis and symptoms all improved within 2 weeks. I’m sharing this so you can see that the dosage varies depending on the condition and severity of symptoms.
Adrenal support, anxiety, depression and radiation-protection
Here are some additional animal studies that support the use of holy basil or tulsi for adrenal support, for easing anxiety and even depression, and for the anti-stress effect it offers:
found to be effective in the management of stress effects, and anti-stress activity could be due to inhibition of cortisol release
With all the WiFi we are exposed to and the fact that research is now showing that EMFs (electromagnetic frequencies) are likely playing a role in anxiety, depression and ADHD, I’m really pleased to see there are also some animal studies on tulsi being protective against radiation.
Consuming tulsi tea on a daily basis
The review paper above mentions
the Ayurvedic tradition of consuming tulsi on a daily basis
and an easy and delicious way to do this is to drink it as a herbal tea.
Next time you’re ordering your amino acids and pyroluria supplements from my online store with Fullscript, be sure to add a few boxes of Organic India tulsi tea to your shopping cart. This way you can enjoy the healing and anti-stress benefits of tulsi together with the many other herbs included in their teas.
The Lemon Ginger Tulsi has been a long-time favorite of mine and is wonderful when flying to counter motion sickness. Based on the radiation research I uncovered when writing this blog. I’m thrilled I’ll be getting those benefits when flying too. I also enjoy the Peppermint Tulsi early in the day and have recently found a new favorite, the Tumeric Ginger Tulsi (not pictured below). Just so you know, you can also find the herbal teas in most health shops and natural food markets.
The adaptogenic Tulsi-Holy Basil product
Organic India also carries the wonderful adaptogenic Tulsi-Holy Basil product which is taken as a supplement. This is an option if you’re not a herbal tea drinker and/or you need some additional support.
If you’re interested in purchasing the tea or Tulsi-Holy Basil product, you can go to my online store with Fullscript, and simply search for “tulsi”.
How do I use tulsi with my anxious clients?
Where does recommending the tulsi herbal teas and/or the Tulsi-Holy Basil supplements fit in with the dietary and nutritional protocols of my anxious clients?
- If you have stress in your life (and who doesn’t?!), drinking the tulsi herbal tea on a daily basis is beneficial. You can mix-and-match with other naturally caffeine-free and healing herbal teas such as rooibos
- If you have done adrenal testing and cortisol results are outside of the reference ranges (either high or low) drink the herbal tea and use an adaptogenic herbal supplement such as tulsi (or rhodiola, licorice or ashwagandha), together with a B-Complex, extra vitamin C and extra pantothenic acid
- Assess for low serotonin and low GABA anxiety with the questionnaire and do trials of amino acids for the low GABA physical anxiety and/or tryptophan for the worry-in-the-head anxiety
- If you are tapering from a benzodiazepine and are not able to initially tolerate high doses of GABA, tulsi is often gentle enough to provide some additional healing support. Research shows the immune modulating effects of tulsi may be mediated by GABAergic pathways).
- Make all the dietary changes and address gut health, blood sugar control, low levels of various nutrients like low zinc, reduce stress etc.
Organic India’s ethic and mission
I really love that Organic India works “with thousands of small family farmers in India to cultivate tens of thousands of acres of sustainable organic farmland”, the fact that their “farmers and tribal wildcrafters are educated in organic and regenerative agricultural practices”, and that they have global wellness as part of their bigger mission.
I would like to disclose that Organic India has sponsored me on a number of occasions, providing samples of herbal tea for me to share at conferences such as IMMH. I’ve blogged about this in the past thanking Organic India and other companies.
I do also want to mention that the review paper discloses that one of the authors, Professor Marc M. Cohen, “receives remuneration as a consultant and advisor to Organic India Pty. Ltd., which is a company that manufactures and distributes tulsi products. This article is the independent work of the authors and Organic India did not have input into the article’s content or the decision to publish it.” I appreciate this disclosure.
Do you drink tulsi tea on a regular basis and have you seen the anti-stress and calming benefits? If you drink Organic India tea, which one is your favorite one?
Have you used tulsi or holy basil in supplement form as an adaptogenic herb and what benefits have you observed? Have you used it while tapering from a benzodiazepine?
If you’re a practitioner do you use tulsi with clients/patients or recommend tulsi tea?
Feel free to post questions here too.
I have a cup of Tulsi Sleep tea every evening and it helps me to relax before bed. I also have it growing in my herb garden.
Krissy
I also like this one especially when traveling – the chamomile and cardamom make it quite delicious.
I love that you have it growing in your herb garden. Do you happen to know which type? Do you use it in cooking or to make your own tea?
It’s just called Holy Basil and it has been growing very well over our hot Brisbane summer.
I have tried it in a salad although it is very strong. I am drying it to make tea.
I love the Organic India tea range – especially Sleep
The other thing I do for fantastic sleep is rub some diluted Frankincense essential oil over my forehead – it is supposed to open the brain detox pathways.
My local herbalist recommended This to me a few months ago during an agonizing few weeks of major panic/anxiety. I took two capsules and literally felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I would describe the feeling as an extreme calm. I’m very high strung and there was a few times I had to check my own pulse to make sure my heart was still beating (I’m so used to feeling it pound all the time). It helped me to not have to turn to benzodiazepines to calm down.
I recently purchased a tincture containing holy basil and ashwaganda
It is recommending not to take it before bedtime
I wonder why that is?
Marie
I’d check other ingredients as Ashwagandha typically helps improve sleep (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5313221/)
Where did you find that combination?
In Canada
A tincture called Strest by St Francis Herb Farm
It also contains Rhodiola, Holy Basi,l Ashwagandha, Eleuthero, Milky Oat Seed Schisandra
Not sure which herb affects sleep
Marie
Hi Trudy,
Always read your info, you have such good knowledge. After going to two naturopathics and finally leaving as they sent me into a food disorder (both times) and I lost 60 pounds one time (gained it back) and 50 pounds the next time (am trying NOT to gain it back) and fell into ruminating and racing thoughts and heart palpitations both times. I resorted to an AD and an AA pill to help me get enough better to be who I used to be. Major anxiety, physically feeling like I could go nowhere without being hit “by a bus”, sitting in one place for hours at a time. Neither naturo was helpful. They said,”You should be better by now” and “ON paper you look great, you are thriving.” My MD is good about both methods, but I had to go on the meds as it was hurting myself and hard on my family. Yes, I seem better on the meds, but they never tried me on Sam E, Tulsi, amino acids or many of what you talk of. I don’t want to be on meds the rest of my life. My MD just 1 month ago, said my blood type A+ does well with cofffee. I have never even had a 1/2 a cup, but went on it and now think I might be getting addicted. Another wonderful MD Kelly Brogan says to conquer stress STEP 1; get off coffee. There is so much conflicting info out there. If someone is on meds like Effexor and Nature Throid and Lorazepam, can they start taking some of your natural ideas and get better? I will eat what I’m told, I love to exercise and basically live in a small forest and I occasionally eat a cookie or shake that is not healthy, but basically do great. Bone broth, kefir, organic everything I can; gluten free, dairy free and lots of veggies. How can I really get better and get off meds? These are strong meds and I have been on them 1 year. Any ideas? I’m at a point where I can think straight enough to try some new approaches. I’d appreciate anyone’s help! Mae
Mae, were you on a high fat/ protein, low fruit keto style diet before your anxiety started?
Thank you, Krissy for being so kind to read and comment. My eating habits had been poor all my life until I started having anxiety. Mainly carbs (wheat bread and peanut butter for breakfast every morning since I was 12) and lots of meats; chicken mainly, steaks, bacon. Never enjoyed fruit until 50 and ate little of it and few to no vegetables til 50. LOTS of sweets. Yet, I have changed dramatically. I was on the pill Lo Ovral 28 for slightly less than 10 years for my crazy periods; 20 a year and 8 days each time, terrible PMS. Now they say 70 percent who were on birth control are on anti depressants. THe medical profession is largely uninformed about nutrition and the body healing itself with food. I’m totally for it. But confused by so many conflicting (good doctors ND) opinions/studies. I appreciate any wisdom you have. Thanks again
Definitely high protein; meats and peanut butter and didn’t like veggies/fruit much at all so avoided it except grapes, apples, oranges sporadically and spinach salads some.
Tulsi tea not only didn’t help me, it made me worse. I drank 2-3 cups of tea a day for maybe a week trying to get it to “work” for my anxiety and spent an entire evening and night awake with the worst anxiety of my life. I felt completely overwhelmed, I was jittery and even involuntarily jerking sometimes. It was all I could do to not go to the ER. The next day, after not sleeping at all the previous night, it just eased up on its own. I have had the same reaction from drinking my own homemade bone broth after a few days. I actually bought some glutamine for sugar cravings and gut support, but then I read that bone broth is high in glutamine, so I’m afraid to try it. I see from the article Tulsi is good for diabetes. I have had blood sugar issues – feeling jittery and my anxiety is worse if I don’t eat. I wonder if that’s why I had a bad reaction?
You’re not alone, I felt the same on it. Made me worse. Didn’t sleep well, woke up too early, felt jittery. Totally opposite effect as what it’s purposed. Same thing happened, but worse, w/l-Theanine. Took it to lower cortisol. Also have Hashimoto’s. I don’t really know what it effected, one or the other, but it’s not for me.
Hi. Thanks for all the great info! I take holy basil capsules from Himalaya twice a day and sometimes have a cup of tulsi tea (my favorite is the Organic India Tulsi Chai) but my cortisol readings are still extremely high. I just did a hormone saliva test as I am considering bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. My estrogen and progesterone levels are very very low. However, I read that it is important to get the adrenal fatigue under control first before beginning hormone therapy and that entering into menopause with pre-existing adrenal fatigue or exhaustion is not a good thing. I believe the adrenals pick up the slack for the ovaries in creating estrogen after menopause. So my question is: exactly how much holy basil a day is safe, is it true that it decreases stomach acid (I have been having digestive issues for the past 2 years including reflux and don’t want to decrease my stomach acid, just stop it from going into the wrong place!). Also, I take dgl daily but not sure if it has the same healing affect on the adrenals as licorice. Thank you!
Kiminha
I do mention dosing ranges per the study I link to. I’d discuss with your practitioner in conjunction with the paper and this blog if you have further questions. I have found it to improve reflux symptoms.
I can share that I have had the best success with Seriphos when it comes to high cortisol https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/seriphos-original-formula-anxiety-insomnia-cortisol/ and frequently use both together.