Herb
Holy Basil (Tulsi)
A fragrant basil revered as a calming, balancing tea that helps the body weather stress.
⤢📊 How it ranks (our editor score) — 78/100Tap to see the breakdown
🌱 What it is
Holy basil, also called tulsi, is a fragrant relative of common basil grown across India and Southeast Asia, where its leaves have long been dried for tea or chewed fresh.
📜 Where it comes from
Tulsi has been grown around Hindu households in India for thousands of years and holds a place in Ayurveda as a sacred, balancing herb thought to protect the body and spirit. Traditional healers brewed its leaves into tea for colds, stress, and digestion, and it was often planted near temples and homes. It entered Western herbal use more recently as interest in Ayurvedic adaptogens grew.
✨ Why it's good for you
- May help support a calm mood during stressful days
- May help support healthy blood sugar already in a normal range
- May help support the body's natural resilience to everyday stress
- May help support digestive comfort after meals
🥗 Nutrition
Per 1 cup brewed tea (240ml) · about 2 calories
- Eugenol (bioactive)
- Trace vitamin A and C
- Negligible macronutrients
Source: Nutrition estimate (per typical serving)
🥄 How to use it
Steep 1 teaspoon of dried holy basil in hot water for 5–10 minutes and drink one to three cups a day; the fresh leaves can also be chewed or added to food.
How much: As teaA warm drink made by steeping herbs in hot water. How to make a tea →, 1 teaspoon dried herbA plant, or part of one, used for flavor, food, or gentle health support. More → per cup, one to three cups daily.
Why it works: Adaptogen that supports mood and immune function.
Show full details & how to prepare it
Holy basil, or tulsi, is a fragrant basil long revered in its homeland as a calming, balancing herbA plant, or part of one, used for flavor, food, or gentle health support. More → — the kind taken daily as a teaA warm drink made by steeping herbs in hot water. How to make a tea → to help the body and mind handle the wear of stress, and to support steady energy and resilience.
It makes a warm, slightly clove-like teaA warm drink made by steeping herbs in hot water. How to make a tea → that's pleasant to sip through the day. It's gentle for most, though because it can lower blood sugar and mildly thin the blood, those on related medicines often use it with extra caution.
Ways to prepare it
⚠️ Cautions
- May lower blood sugar — use caution with diabetes medication.
- Can mildly thin the blood; avoid before surgery and use caution with blood thinners.
- Avoid medicinal amounts in pregnancy or when trying to conceive.
📚 Learn more
🌿 Deeper natural detail
🩺 The conventional view
💬 Ask Remy about Holy Basil (Tulsi)
📚 Resource confidence
Based on mentions in health references
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