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Native Herbal Spotlight: Tulsi


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Holy basil by Thangaraj Kumaravel


Latin binomial: Ocimum tenuiflorum, syn. Ocimum sanctum (many Ocimum spp. have similar uses)


Common names: holy basil, sacred basil, tulasi, basilisk, bush basil


Family: Lamiaceae


Parts used: aerial parts


Native to: Primarily known from India, tulsi is native to tropical and subtropical regions of Asia and Australia. In Australia tulsi is found in the Northern Territory and Queensland


Taste: Pungent, bitter, sweet.


Affinities: Nervous, digestive, upper respiratory, immune, endocrine


Energetics: warm, dry, relaxed, stimulant


Tissue States: depression, stagnation, tension


Astrology:  Jupiter


Primary Actions: Nervine sedative and trophorestorative, thymoleptic, adaptogen, immune modulator, amphoretic, aromatic digestive, carminative, blood sugar regulator.


Secondary Actions: nootropic, circulatory stimulant, spasmolytic, diaphoretic, expectorant, diuretic, galactagogue, antimicrobial, inflammation modulating, alterative, cordial, mucolytic, bitter Other Actions: neuroprotective, antioxidant, radioprotective, hypolipidaemic, cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, antiviral, antifungal


Constituents: Essential oils (eugenol, methyl eugenol), flavonoids (ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, ocimumoside A and B, rosmarinic acid, orientin, vicenin), saponins, triterpenoids, tannins, alkaloids, glycosides along with nutrients such as vitamins A and C, zinc, calcium, iron and chlorophyll.


Possible Clinical Patterns:

  • Stress. fatigue, burnout, brain fog

  • Nervous tension, anxiety

  • Melancholy

  • Neurodivergence, overstimulation

  • Insulin resistance

  • Damp, cold respiratory conditions

  • Cold, stagnant, tense digestion


A herb of warmth, tulsi stokes the digestive fires increasing metabolism, stimulates blood flow, and drives off dampness and cold. An amphoretic, tulsi stimulates the nervous system when depressed and relaxes when overstimulated

Tulsi is another of my go to herbs, and one that many of my peers and teachers seem to overlook, likely because it wasn't mentioned in the university courses we took. Tulsi is my first-line adaptogen, along with ashwagandha (Withania somnifera). This is for a number of reasons, firstly, most adaptogens are roots and thus harvesting them kills the plant, and usually need to be multiple years old before harvesting. Due to this, many of the adaptogens used in commerce are either expensive and/or endangered. In comparison, ashwagandha can be harvested after one year, and is incredibly easy to grow. And tulsi can be harvested at anytime, repeatedly, as taking the aerial parts doesn't kill the plant.


Tulsi is another of those herbs with a thousand uses. It's actions are numerous, and as such it works synergistically in many formulas. For this reason I have broken the actions down into primary, secondary, and other (mostly biomedical) actions. The primary actions are the main ones that makes me reach for this herb, the secondary are actions I take into consideration to better holistically match the herb to the client, and the other actions are extra biomedical information.


As someone who doesn't reach for adaptogens as soon as a stress picture presents itself in a case, I often reach for tulsi for its nervine sedative and trophorestorative actions. In pictures of stress I tend to prescribe nervines predominantly (burnout stage 1-2), this is mainly due to the fact that adaptogens can increase energy levels and resilience which can often allow clients to push themselves further and result in worse burnout in the long run. Once stage 3 of burnout (and occasionally 2) is reached, then I will use adaptogens. This mirrors their use in Ayurveda (rasayanas) and traditional Chinese medicine (chi tonic) of being used predominantly in exhausted, bed ridden, or elderly patients. I would describe tulsi as a nervine first, adaptogen second; in contrast to ashwagandha being an adaptogen first, nervine second. In this way I tend to use tulsi with other nervines in stages 1 and 2, and with other adaptogens and adrenal tonics in stages 2 and 3. Honestly, if it wasn't for studies showing HPA-modulating effects, I'd likely define tulsi as an amphoretic nervine trophorestorative.

Amphoretic: an herb that adjusts it's actions according to a body's need, usually along a specific pole. E.g. if too sedated it will stimulate, if too stimulated it will sedate.

As an amphoretic nervine, tulsi sedates overstimulation and anxiety, can raise mood when it's low, stimulates the mind and breaks through brain fog, and sooths and restores the nerves. This makes tulsi great for blending with other herbs for synergistic effects, or just doing everything needed as a simple (when you take one herb).


Here is where tulsi diverts from most of the other adaptogens, by being aromatic. While containing a multitude of aromatic compounds, the major ones it shares in common with the following herbs: clove (eugenol), eucalyptus (eucalyptol), cinnamon (cinnamyl acetate), and oregano (carvacrol). This lends it a pungency that makes tulsi an affective warming digestive, and antimicrobial. Another important affect of tulsi is likely on the enteric nervous system specifically, relaxing and stimulating the digestion as needed, and bringing blood flow to the GIT to better transport nutrients. These aromatic compounds also make tulsi an affective carminative, helping to treat excess gas, bloating, and spasms in the GIT. These same aromatic compounds also make tulsi effective in respiratory conditions. Tulsi is an effective expectorant, antimicrobial, antiviral, and immune modulator. I personally find tulsi most effective post-infection to clear out the residual toxins and mucus, and to aid in relieving post-viral conditions. Tulsi is also great in combination with other herbs in formulas during an active infection, or as a preventative.


In my own practice I personally tend to use tulsi in the following ways:

  • Reduce allostatic load (ie stressors) - Tulsi is a fantastic adaptogen and nervine sedative/trophorestorative. This is the primary way I use this fantastic medicine.

    • Neurodivergence - Here tulsi has a specific affinity both as an adaptogen to reduce the stressors often experienced by this group, especially sensory overstimulation. Here tulsi regulates the HPA-axis reducing overwhelm, calms the nervous system, while also uplifting mood and helping with focus and lack of drive. This population often has a number of comorbid conditions that tulsi is often helpful in such as: digestive issues such as IBS or IBD, POTS, mental health conditions, Chronic fatigue, etc.

  • Nervous tension and Anxiety - Tulsi is a fantastic mild nervine sedative and trophorestorative. Calming the mind and nervous system, and slowly building it back up.


  • Low Mood - As a thymoleptic tulsi is soothing and uplifting, breaking up stagnant thought patterns, emotions, and cutting through brain fog. Here tulsi has a lot in common with rosemary, both being amphoretic nervines.


  • Warming digestive tonic - I typically look to tulsi when there is a cold, stagnant, or tense digestive system. More specifically when there is also a stress or emotional aspect to the condition.

  • Respiratory conditions - Tulsi is great in damp, cold respiratory conditions breaking up stagnation and warming up the system.


  • Insulin resistance / metabolic syndrome - There are a number of studies in animal models, and emerging human studies showing tulsi increasing insulin sensitivity, increasing peripheral glucose uptake, as well as improving lipid profile.

  • Mold Exposure - Tulsi's unique profile of actions lends it perfectly to aiding in current and previous mold exposure. As well as the previously mentioned effects on the nervous system, hpa axis, mood, cognition, and respiratory system, tulsi is also anti-fungal.


  • Anthropogenic Pollution

    • Radiation - A special mention, there are a number of studies on tulsi as a radioprotective. Here tulsi may be used to protect from radiation. This is due to it's antioxidant properties protecting from reactive oxygen species, upregulating endogenous antioxidants, and modulating inflammation. Tulsi has shown to directly reduce damage to DNA via strand breaks from radiation, and to increase DNA repair enzymes.

    • EMF - Tulsi's antioxidant, inflammation modulating, and HPA-regulating affects may be effective in reducing the effects of EMF exposure, especially in those sensitive.

    • Pollution - tulsi has been shown to increase heavy metal chelation and detoxification, as well as protect the body and lungs from smoke/PM2.5 exposure.




Resources & References:

The Earthwise Herbal, volume I - Matthew Wood


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