Botanical Library
Holy Basil (Tulsi)
Ayurveda tradition
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At a glance
Where it's from
Native to the Indian subcontinent.
Look & taste
An aromatic basil with green or purple leaves. Peppery, clove-like
Signature compounds
Eugenol, ursolic acid and rosmarinic acid.
Traditionally used for
Tulsi - a sacred Ayurvedic adaptogen used for the chest and breath, the heart and digestion.
In Canada, we can say...
Used in Herbal Medicine as an adaptogen to help increase energy and resistance to stress over time. Traditionally used in Ayurveda to help relieve cough and colds, as a cardiotonic, and to aid digestion. Source of antioxidants.
Did you know?
Known as 'The Incomparable One' and the 'Queen of Herbs' in Ayurveda; often grown by doorways as a holy plant.
History & natural history
Revered as a sacred plant in India and grown in courtyards and temples for millennia.
What we're actually allowed to say
🇨🇦 Health Canada
✓ Permitted: Used in Herbal Medicine as an adaptogen to help increase energy and resistance to stress over time. Traditionally used in Ayurveda to help relieve cough and colds, as a cardiotonic, and to aid digestion. Source of antioxidants.
How to use it
As a tea, powder or capsule.
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Request Holy Basil (Tulsi) →Side effects & safety
Do not use if pregnant. Check with a practitioner if breastfeeding, if you have a heart condition or diabetes, or take heart or blood-pressure medication.
A note on how to read this page. Traditional (TCM / Ayurveda) and holistic notes are cultural and historical context, offered for education — not medical advice or health claims. Health Canada's permitted claims reflect what regulators have assessed. Emerging research is early, and not a promise of results. Nothing here is intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Always talk to your (or your pet's) health professional before starting a supplement.