Modern Studies Support the Benefits of This Ancient Herb

• Tulsi’s botanical profile — Tulsi is part of the mint family (Lamiaceae) and falls under the genus Ocimum. Ocimum tenuiflorum, also known as Ocimum sanctum, is the species that’s commonly used for medicinal purposes.

Tulsi’s therapeutic benefits come from the bioactive compounds concentrated in its leaves and stems. These include eugenol, ursolic acid, rosmarinic acid, apigenin, and linalool, which have been studied for their antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties.

• Tulsi is called “the queen of herbs” for a reason — In Ayurvedic practice, this foundational herb is valued for promoting long life, increasing resilience, and restoring balance throughout the body. It’s been useful against fevers, respiratory conditions like cough, asthma, and bronchitis, and even malaria and digestive infections like diarrhea. It was also used to treat skin conditions like rashes, wounds, and insect bites.

• The herb can be used in different forms — Aside from using it fresh, tulsi can be brewed into soothing teas, ground into herbal powders, or infused into essential oils.

• One of the most striking findings was how consistently tulsi improved blood sugar and cholesterol levels — Human trials showed lower fasting blood sugar, reduced HbA1c (a long-term blood sugar marker), and better lipid profiles in people who supplemented with tulsi extract.^3,4

• The benefits weren’t limited to metabolism — Tulsi’s adaptogenic properties helped regulate the stress hormone cortisol that, when elevated long term, leads to fatigue, fat gain, immune suppression, and blood sugar crashes.

In a six-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled human trial, participants taking tulsi extract reported improvements in sleep, reduced anxiety, better focus, and more energy. They even showed better sexual function and reduced forgetfulness.⁵

• The effects were attributed to tulsi’s high eugenol and ursolic acid levels — These compounds are known for modulating neurotransmitters like serotonin and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). They help calm the nervous system without dulling alertness.

• Tulsi also supported immune function under pressure — In preclinical trials, tulsi enhanced macrophage activity (your body’s first line of defense), improved the performance of natural killer cells, and increased lymphocyte production. These are all signs of a more responsive and resilient immune system.⁶

• Tulsi defends the body from dangerous everyday toxins — These include common pharmaceutical residues like acetaminophen and antibiotics, heavy metals such as mercury and lead, household chemicals, pesticide residues in food, and environmental radiation from medical procedures. Tulsi works on multiple fronts, shielding your liver, kidneys, brain, and immune system from the oxidative stress and inflammation triggered by these substances.

• One of tulsi’s strengths is its ability to ramp up your body’s detox systems — Tulsi increases glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and catalase levels, which are three of your most powerful antioxidant enzymes. These antioxidants help eliminate toxic byproducts, neutralize free radicals, and prevent cellular breakdown and DNA damage.

Tulsi also activates liver enzymes like cytochrome P450, which is responsible for converting harmful chemicals into a form that your body will safely excrete.

• Evidence shows tulsi helps reverse damage from radiation exposure — Animal studies found that tulsi helps reduce radiation-induced organ damage, preserve bone marrow integrity, and improve survival rates among test subjects. It did this by scavenging free radicals and stabilizing chromosomes, similar to the effects of pharmaceutical radioprotectants but without the associated risks.

• Tulsi also offers specific protection for the brain — In studies where animals were exposed to excessive noise or physical restraint to simulate stress, tulsi improved mitochondrial function in brain tissue, reduced inflammation, and stabilized neurotransmitter levels. These results confirm that tulsi not only soothes psychological tension, but also physically protects neurons from damage caused by overstimulation and environmental stressors.

• The key is regular use — Tulsi isn’t a spot treatment, but a daily system reset that works by restoring physiological balance in an increasingly toxic world. So if you’re concerned about chronic exposure to environmental toxins, tulsi offers a layer of defense that’s been built into traditional medicine for centuries and now validated by science.

• Tulsi works to counteract modern-day psychological stress — The review examined three clinical trials that used different tulsi extracts and formulations to measure changes in stress levels, cognitive function, and sleep. In each case, the results were statistically significant and practically meaningful for people struggling with high stress.

In one trial using an extract derived from the aerial parts of the tulsi plant, 1,000 adults who were under daily stress were tracked using both psychological tools and objective markers like Fitbit sleep tracking and hair cortisol analysis.

After just eight weeks, the participants showed significant reductions in perceived stress scores, sleep disturbances, and cortisol levels (the hormone directly linked to the body’s stress response). Salivary cortisol, blood pressure, and self-rated stress all dropped considerably (p-values ranged from 0.001 to 0.025), confirming both biochemical and subjective improvements.

• Another trial showed how tulsi improved cognitive performance — The researchers used an ethanolic extract of Tulsi leaves standardized for ursolic acid content, which they administered to healthy men for 30 days. They then studied the participants’ cognitive performance. Compared to the placebo group, those who took Tulsi had notable improvements in mental reaction time, memory recall, and attention span.

• Preclinical animal studies also investigated how tulsi works to reduce stress — One experiment found that the tulsi extract Holixer™ actively reduced cortisol production by up to 73.6% and blocked a receptor called CRF1, which plays a key role in initiating the body’s stress response via the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis.

This receptor-blocking activity is especially important for people dealing with chronic stress because it helps the body avoid the biochemical cascade that leads to burnout, fatigue, and hormone imbalance.

• Tulsi’s impact on mood and mental well-being goes beyond stress relief — Animal studies found it helps address depression and anxiety, which are often triggered or worsened by long-term stress exposure. In rats, tulsi extract increased key mood-regulating neurotransmitters and produced effects similar to those seen with conventional anti-anxiety medications, but without side effects.¹¹

• Tulsi works effectively on localized and systemic inflammation — According to the review, pastes made from tulsi leaves were traditionally applied to insect bites, eczema, and wounds, where they reduced swelling, pain, and visible redness. Tulsi also helped resolve bacterial and fungal skin infections.

• Internally, tulsi was used for respiratory infections such as bronchitis, cough, and sinus congestion — Tulsi tea helps relieve mucus buildup and open airways. These effects were especially pronounced in people with long-standing respiratory issues who experienced chest tightness, chronic throat irritation, or night coughing fits.

• Another powerful area tulsi impacted was urinary and gastrointestinal infections — The researchers noted that tulsi seeds and leaf infusions were commonly used to treat urinary tract infections (UTIs), loose stools, and stomach cramps caused by bacteria or foodborne illness.

• Tulsi tea is available in tea bags or loose-leaf brands — If you have a tulsi plant, consider harvesting and drying the leaves to make your own dried tea leaves.

• What’s a safe dosage for oral supplements? According to an article from the Ohio State University, most healthy people can safely take a daily oral dose of 500 mg for three months.¹⁴

• Tulsi is generally well tolerated, but there are a few key considerations to keep in mind — For example, if you’re taking blood-thinning medications (anti-coagulants or antiplatelet) medications, talk to your practitioner before using tulsi regularly, which can increase your risk of bleeding.

• Be wary when using tulsi during pregnancy or while nursing — There’s limited safety data in these populations, so although traditional use suggests it’s generally safe, it’s best to err on the side of caution. If you’re trying to conceive, consult your physician before taking tulsi.