Holy Basil (Ocimum sanctum) Leaf Extract

COMMON NAME

Holy Basil | Sacred Basil | Tulsi | Tulasi

TOP BENEFITS OF HOLY BASIL

Supports a calm mood*

Supports cognitive function*

Support healthy stress responses*

Supports general immune health* 

WHAT IS HOLY BASIL?

Holy Basil (Ocimum sanctum; synonym Ocimum tenuiflorum) is a culinary and medicinal aromatic herb that has been used within Ayurvedic medicine for more than 3000 years [1]. In Ayurvedic medicine holy basil is called “tulsi,” which translates as “the incomparable one.” It is one of a small number of herbs categorized as Rasayana, the category applied to elixirs and tonic herbs prized for rejuvenation and revitalization. It was believed to guard the body from stress of all types while keeping the mind sharp and the body healthy. In modern times, holy basil is categorized as an adaptogen, supporting a healthy stress response. Holy basil also supports mood, cognition and immunity. Holy basil’s bioactive molecules include ursolic acid, rosmarinic acid, eugenol, ocimumosides A and B, ocimarin, apigenin and lutein [2,3].

NEUROHACKER’S HOLY BASIL SOURCING

Holy Basil is a leaf extract standardized to contain not less than 2% ursolic acid.

Holy Basil is Non-GMO and Vegan.

HOLY BASIL FORMULATING PRINCIPLES AND RATIONALE

Because holy basil is an Ayurvedic Rasayana herb, we consider dosing to follow hormetic principles similar to herbal adaptogens (see Neurohacker Dosing Principles ). Herbal adaptogens tend to have a hormetic zone (or range) where there’s a favorable biological response. It’s important to be in this zone; it’s just as important not to be above it. For herbs that are adaptogens, especially when they will be used for extended periods of time, we think it’s important to identify the lowest amount that can produce many of the desired responses. Different amounts of holy basil have been used in human studies. Functional benefits have occurred at low amounts (~300mg) and at amounts four-fold higher (1200mg). Considered collectively, human studies suggest holy basil dosing may be somewhat akin to the Pareto Principle (i.e., 80-20 rule), where 80%+ of the benefits happen at 20% of the dose. Our goal with holy basil, as with all ingredient choices, is to select the appropriate serving keeping in mind both the ingredient and the other ingredients being used in a formulation. In other words, if we are also supplying other adaptogen extracts, we are likely to use less holy basil than if the only herbal adaptogen we were using was holy basil.*

HOLY BASIL KEY MECHANISMS

Supports healthy mood and stress responses*

Supports a calm mood* [4–11]

Supports a positive mental-emotional bias* [6,9]

Supports healthy stress hormone levels* [4,7,8,12,13]

Supports brain function*

Supports memory and learning* [5,14,15]

Supports working memory* [4]

Supports executive function* [4]

Supports attention* [6]

Supports sleep* [5]

Supports serotonin signaling* [16–18]

Supports dopamine signaling* [16–18]

Supports adrenergic signaling* [17,18]

Supports acetylcholine signaling* [14,19–21]

Influences acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity* [19,22]

Supports brain antioxidant defenses* [18,23–25]

Supports neuroprotective functions* [15,18,23–27]

Supports healthy immune system function*

Supports innate immunity* [28]

Supports adaptive immunity* [28–31]

Promotes general health and wellbeing*

Supports gastroprotective functions* [32,33]

Supports healthy metabolism* [34,35]  

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

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