Full profile
| Also known as | Tulsi, Ocimum sanctum, Ocimum tenuiflorum |
|---|---|
| Best for | Healthy stress response support · Cortisol balance under everyday stress |
| Evidence grade | Grade B — Moderate — several human trials, some mixed results |
| Studied dose range | 125 mg twice daily, up to roughly 1200 mg/day of standardized extract. |
| Time to effect | Stress/cortisol studies generally run 6–8 weeks of daily use. |
| Best form | Standardized leaf/stem extract — Holixer or OciBest are the best-studied branded forms. |
Evidence, honestly graded
Multiple double-blind, placebo-controlled stress/cortisol RCTs exist across more than one manufacturer's standardized extract (including Holixer and OciBest), which is the specific reason this clears B rather than the single-sponsor C ceiling that applies to many adaptogens — independent replication across sponsors, not just repeated trials from one.
See the full grading rubric — study type, replication, population match, and dose adequacy — in The Evidence Standard.
Side effects
- Generally well tolerated
- Mild GI upset in some users
Who should avoid it or check first
- Pregnant or breastfeeding without clinician guidance
- Scheduled for surgery (theoretical bleeding/glucose effects)
Interactions
- Theoretical antiplatelet effect — caution with anticoagulants
- Theoretical hypoglycemic effect — caution with diabetes medication — discuss with a clinician
Stacks well with
- L-Theanine
- Rhodiola Rosea
What to look for on a label
- Specify the branded standardized extract (e.g. Holixer, OciBest), not generic "holy basil leaf."
- Use structure/function language — cortisol balance and stress response, not disease treatment.
References
- Holy basil stress/cortisol RCTs across independent manufacturers. Multiple double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of standardized extracts (Holixer, OciBest) showing reduced perceived stress and/or serum cortisol versus placebo. Cross-sponsor replication is the basis for the B grade. Educational, not a product claim.
Primary citations for some entries above are still being compiled; those without a linked identifier are editorial summaries of the wider literature.
Grades and studied doses are our conservative reading of the human research, shown for education. They are not product claims, and a studied dose is not a recommended dose.
See how Holy Basil compares on grade, dose, and goal in the Evidence Explorer.
