Holy Basil-------Why is it known as the "King of Spices"?

1. Adaptogens---Holy basil

Adaptogens are growing in popularity as people move toward organic, all-natural foods. The term adaptogenic herbs or substances was first coined by Russian scientists in 1947 to describe this non-specific effect of enhancing the body's ability to resist stress. In other words, adaptogens help your body "adapt" to external stressors that may affect your health. More specifically, adaptogens are a theory centered around the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which regulates stress responses, metabolism, and immune system responses. By affecting the HPA axis, these adaptogens can keep your stress levels in a more neutral state.

Holy basil contains active compounds such as eugenol, ursolic acid, rosmarinic acid, and basil glycosides A and B, which have adaptogenic properties. The stress-fighting properties of basil glycosides A and B may include supporting blood sugar balance and hormone markers such as corticosteroids, and helping to manage adrenal health. Considering the HPA axis, holy basil may support multiple glands in the stress response.

All adaptogens have three things in common:

1) They must be non-toxic in normal doses;

2) They should have the ability to cope with stress;

3) They should help the body return to a state of homeostasis.

2. Safety and Benefits of Holy Basil

1）Improve Metabolic Status

Numerous test tube and animal studies, as well as human clinical trials, have shown that holy basil has antidiabetic activity. Studies using diabetic laboratory animals have shown that holy basil can lower blood sugar, correct abnormal lipid profiles, and protect the liver and kidneys from metabolic damage caused by hyperglycemia. In laboratory animals fed a high-fat diet, it has also been shown to improve lipid profiles, prevent weight gain, hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and insulin resistance, and protect organs and blood vessels from atherosclerosis. Similarly, in human clinical trials, holy basil has been shown to lower blood sugar levels, improve blood pressure and lipid profiles, and alleviate many diabetic symptoms in patients with type 2 diabetes.

2）Reduce Inflammation and Boost Immunity

The anti-inflammatory effects of holy basil have been observed in both acute and chronic inflammatory models in animals and have been attributed to the eugenol and linoleic acid content of holy basil, as well as the inhibition of the cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways of arachidonic acid metabolism. This makes holy basil exert anti-inflammatory effects comparable to those of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Modern research shows that holy basil also has antimicrobial activity, including activity against many pathogens that cause human infections. The broad spectrum of activity of holy basil includes activity against Streptococcus mutans, an organism that causes tooth decay, as confirmed by clinical trials showing that rinsing with holy basil was as effective as 0.2% chlorhexidine and Listerine in reducing levels of S. mutans, and that herbal mouthwashes containing holy basil tasted better.

Holy basil’s unique antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties also make it useful for wound healing. This is supported by experimental evidence showing that holy basil can increase wound breaking strength and accelerate wound healing in experimental animals.

3）Improves Stress and Brain Health

By supporting the HPA axis, holy basil may help control cortisol secretion, thereby reducing the effects of stress. A randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial evaluating holy basil for improvements in cognitive function showed that 40 healthy young adults (17-30 years old) taking 300 mg of holy basil daily for 4 weeks showed improvements in cognitive flexibility, short-term memory, and attention. Various animal studies have explored the psychotherapeutic properties of holy basil, and the results showed that holy basil has antianxiety and antidepressant properties, with effects comparable to those of diazepam and antidepressants. Animal studies further suggest that holy basil may enhance memory and cognitive function and protect against memory deficits caused by aging. Similarly, in human studies, holy basil has been observed to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, with a 6-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study reporting that holy basil significantly improved general stress scores, sexual and sleep problems, and symptoms such as forgetfulness and fatigue.

4）Others

Holy basil also has antioxidant properties due to the high concentration of polyphenols (such as flavonoids, phenolic acids, and tannins) in its extract. Holy basil and its components (such as linalool, eugenol, rosmarinic acid, and terpenoids) are reported to have preventive effects on asthma. Holy basil juice has also been shown to be effective in improving sore eyes and night blindness caused by vitamin A deficiency. Holy basil has shown potential to support hormonal balance in conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Many cases of PCOS are also accompanied by insulin resistance, which makes holy basil a potential option.