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Home >
Research Department >
Supplement Articles
> Holy Basil |
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Supplement Articles |
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HOLY BASIL
Articles by a Naturopathic
Doctor ( N.D.)
The Queen of Herbs is the
natural remedy for stress! |
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HOLY BASIL |
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Holy Basil is used
as a natural way to
ward off stress. |
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Holy
Basil, also known as
Tulsi, has been used
in Ayurvedic
medicine for
centuries. It is
known for its
diverse medicinal
properties, most
significant of which
being its properties
as an adaptogen.
Adaptogenic herbs
are used in stress
reduction, as they
help us to adapt to
stressful situations
more effectively.
When stress is over,
adaptogens also help
to shut down the
adrenals more
quickly thus
preventing adrenal
fatigue and chronic
inflammation. |
Let’s step
back for a minute to fully
understand what high stress
levels are doing to the
body. Stress can elevate
cortisol levels. Cortisol,
among its other effects,
triggers the production of
inflammatory COX-2 enzymes,
the first step in a series
of inflammatory processes.
This cascade effect then
influences blood sugar
changes, which also
increases metabolic
inflammation, and the cycle
continues. It is important
to understand that although
inflammation is necessary
and useful in terms of
healing and protecting the
body, it can also be very
damaging to the body, as
well.
Almost every disease in the
body begins with an
inflammatory response. If
the body cannot repair the
damage and the inflammation
becomes chronic, not only is
the disease process
exacerbated, but other
problems like
Atherosclerosis, Type II
Diabetes, Metabolic
syndrome, Crohn’s/Collitis
and autoimmune disorders,
such as SLE and Rheumatoid
Arthritis are also more
likely to develop.
Holy Basil is an
anti-inflammatory, immune
tonic and an anti-diabetic,
as well as an adaptogen. In
terms of stress reduction
and disease prevention, holy
basil treats the root of the
problem, as well as major
disease processes that most
often branch off, regulating
blood sugar and reducing
inflammation. You can see
now why it is also often
called the Queen of herbs.
The dried leaves of Holy
Basil can be powdered and
used in capsule form or made
into an alcohol extract or
tincture. There is no known
maximum dosage in terms of
safety, although a typical
dosage ranges anywhere from
300 mg to 2g/day. Although
Holy Basil is considered
safe and harmless,
individuals already
undergoing pharmaceutical
intervention for high blood
sugar or to prevent blood
clotting should be careful
of the additive effect that
Holy basil has with these
medications. It has not yet
been determined safe in
pregnancy or lactation.
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Holy Basil –
QUICK FACTS
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PARTS USED
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·
Dried
leaves. |
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APPLICATIONS |
· Stress,
tension,
Type II
diabetes,
inflammation,
flu,
bronchitis,
and free
radical
damage. |
OPTIMUM
DOSAGE
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·
300 mg –
2g/day |
WORKS WELL
WITH
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Ashwaganda,
Eleutherococcus,
Licorice and
Schisandra |
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IMPORTANT
INFORMATION
click for products |
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Use caution
if already
taking
anti-coagulant
or
hypoglycemic
medications.
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For
informational
purposes only.
Please consult your
health care
practitioner before
taking natural
health care
products. Click here
for full disclaimer. |
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All articles
copyright National Nutrition
2001 - 2011. For educational
purposes only. Please note
that while National Nutrition
supports your right to use
natural health care products for
any therapeutic purpose that you
see fit, that the information on
this website should not be
considered as a claim or as a
substitute for medical advice. |
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