Holy Basil
Holy basil, or tulsi, refers to plants including Ocimum tenuiflorum, also called Ocimum sanctum, which is used in Ayurvedic medicine.
Also listed as Ocimum sanctum, Green Tulsi, Sacred Basil, Tulsi
What it is studied for
The strongest rated effects first. Bars show the size of the effect, the letter grades the evidence, and each rating lists the studies behind it.
What is holy basil?
Holy basil, or tulsi, refers to plants including Ocimum tenuiflorum, also called Ocimum sanctum. Human studies have used different varieties and preparations, so the name alone does not describe a uniform treatment. 1
Which compounds are researchers studying?
The plant contains compounds including eugenol, ursolic acid and rosmarinic acid. The stress trial explored whether an extract could influence the hormonal stress-response system. That is a mechanistic research question, not proof that any one constituent caused the observed symptom changes. 2
Key studies
The most recent publications linked to Holy Basil's ratings.
Why people take it
SuppCo community snapshot, 2026-09-28. Reasons for use are not evidence that it works.
Questions people ask
Is tulsi a proven sleep treatment?
The studied extract improved insomnia questionnaire scores, but objective sleep duration and efficiency did not improve significantly against placebo. 2
Does lower cortisol prove better long-term health?
No. The trial measured cortisol and symptoms over eight weeks, not long-term disease outcomes. 2
Can the studied dose be translated into cups of tea?
The trial used a defined extract, so its milligram dose does not establish an equivalent amount of tea. 2