Botanical Index No. 512

Holy Basil

ocimum tenuiflorum

Medicinal Actions

Alexeteric, Analgesic, Antidepressant, Antibacterial, Antifertility, Antihistaminic, Antiinflammatory, Antioxidant, Antipyretic, Antisecretory, Antiseptic, Antispasmodic, Antispermatogenic, Antistress, Antithyroid, Antiulcer, Candidicide, Carminative, Cholagogue, Contraceptive, COX-2 Inhibitor, Cyclooxygenase Inhibitor, Diaphoretic, Expectorant, Fungicide, Hepatoprotective, Hypoglycemic, Hypotensive, Larvicide, Lactagogue, Laxative, Lipoxygenase Inhibitor, Negative Inotropic, Radioprotective, Sedative, Stimulant, Stomachic, Colic

Primary Conditions Treated

Abortifacient Adaptogen Bitter Demulcent Vermifuge Alzheimer’s Arthrosis Asthma Bacteria Bite Bronchosis Cancer colon liver spleen Candida Cardiopathy Catarrh Cholera Cold Constipation Cough Cramp Depression Dermatosis Diarrhea Dysmenorrhea Dyspepsia Dyspnea Dysuria Earache Encephalosis Enterosis Epistaxis Escherichia Fever Flu Fungus Gas Gastrosis Gonorrhea Gravel Headache Heatstroke Hemiplegia Hepatosis Hiccup High Blood Pressure Infection Inflammation Insomnia Leukoderma Lumbago Malaria Mycosis Nervousness Neurosis Ophthalmia Otosis Ozena Pain Pulmonosis Radiation Respirosis Rheumatism Rhinosis Ringworm Salmonella Snakebite Splenosis Staphylococcus Stress Swelling Tuberculosis Typhoid Ulcer Urogenitosis VD Virus Wart Worm Yeast

General Dosage

2 g dried powder herb decoction 2–3 ×/day; 500–1000 mg concentrated herb powder extract 2–3 ×/day. 1–2 tsp herb/cup water 2–3 ×/day; 0.5–1 tsp herb tincture up to 3 ×/day.

Safety & Contraindications

Class 2b, 2c, 2d. Not recommended for infants or over a long period. AHP evaluating Ocimum basilicum. As the source of eugenol, perhaps second only to some varieties of clove, and cinnamon, and allspice, basil and holy basil are spices source of eugenol, which has all sorts of biological activities.

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