AOR's Holy Basil is known for its diverse therapeutic benefits, which include supporting healthy glucose metabolism and anxiety relief.

• antioxidant
• reduces anxiety
• anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and analgesic effects due to e.g. eugenol and ursolic acid
• supports healthy blood sugar balance

A Traditional Remedy
Ocimum tenuiflorum (syn. sanctum) is a medicinal plant with a long history of traditional use in India. The plant is commonly known as “Tulsi” in Hindi and “Holy Basil” in western countries. Traditionally this plant has been used for the treatment of bronchitis, bronchial asthma, malaria, diarrhea, dysentery, skin diseases, arthritis, painful eye diseases, chronic fever and insect bites.

Backed by Science
Research into the therapeutic potential of holy basil supports a role for this traditional herb as an effective anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antibacterial agent. Holy basil is also a powerful antioxidant. Furthermore, human clinical trials have shown that holy basil helps reduce anxiety and effectively lowers blood glucose levels in type 2 diabetics.

Benefits Beyond Compare
The meaning of Tulsi is “the incomparable one”, and holy basil does truly have an amazing array of benefits and therapeutic activities. This sacred herb has developed a reputation as a veritable panacea, promoting a sense of well-being, relieving stress and supporting the immune system.

Ocimum tenuiflorum (also known as Ocimum sanctum, Tulsi or Holy Basil) is a medicinal plant with a long history of traditional use in India and in Ayurvedic medicine. Although closely related to the type of basil typically used in cooking (Ocimum basilicum), it is not the same species, and has different pharmacological and therapeutic properties. Holy basil contains a number of active constituents including tannins, phenolic compounds and flavonoids. The primary active compounds responsible for this herb’s diverse benefits include eugenol, oleanolic acid and ursolic acid.

Traditionally, various parts of the plant have been used to treat a number of conditions, including bronchitis, malaria, diarrhea, dysentery, skin diseases, arthritis, painful eye diseases, chronic fever and insect bites. In addition to this, holy basil has been suggested to possess anticancer, antidiabetic, antifungal, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, antispasmodic, analgesic and adaptogenic actions. Scientists have begun to investigate the pharmacology and therapeutic potential of this herb, and these studies have established a scientific basis for the use of this plant for many of these conditions.

Anti-Anxiety Effects
Holy basil has been reported to induce relaxation, promote a feeling of calm and reduce stress. In one study, thirty-five individuals with generalized anxiety disorder were given 500 mg of holy basil twice daily for 60 days. It was observed that holy basil attenuated generalized anxiety symptoms and reduced stress and depression. In animal studies, holy basil helped to balance cortisol levels in rats exposed to acute and chronic noise stress.

Antioxidant Activity
The active components of holy basil are powerful antioxidants with a significant ability to scavenge highly reactive and dangerous free radicals. In test tube and animal studies, extracts from holy basil have been shown to increase levels of antioxidant enzymes, prevent lipid peroxidation and protect against oxidative stress and damage. Lipid peroxidation is especially dangerous, as it has been linked to inflammatory conditions, cancer and cardiovascular disease. It also helps to prevent the oxidation of LDL cholesterol and has actually been shown to reduce cholesterol levels in animal studies.

Anti-Inflammatory, Analgesic and Anti-bacterial Properties
paw edema by 66%. Its mechanism of action appears to be as an agonist to histamine, and also as an inhibitor of lipoxygenase and prostaglandins. These properties may also be behind holy basil’s potential role as an antiulcer agent. Animal studies have also demonstrated significant pain relieving, or analgesic, effects. This seems to be due to the inhibition of the enzyme COX-2 by eugenol.

Holy basil’s wide-ranging properties also include significant antibacterial and anti-parasitic activity. It has been shown to eliminate the bacterial species Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus pumilus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in vitro. The active compounds in the plant are also effective in killing the parasite Leishmania and the parasite that causes malaria (plasmodium). Animal studies suggest that holy basil is an effective immune-system modulator, helping to promote a healthy immune response.

Blood Sugar Balance
Studies in both mice and humans have demonstrated a role for holy basil in the support of healthy blood sugar balance. In one eight week, randomized, placebo-controlled trial including 40 type-2 diabetes patients, a significant reduction in fasting blood sugar levels, postprandial blood sugar levels and even cholesterol levels was demonstrated.

an Incomparable Herb
This is just the beginning of this amazing herb’s potential actions. In addition to these, it also appears to be effective for bronchitis, coughing, and possibly even for cataracts! With all of these benefits holy basil truly is an incomparable herb.