The holy basil plant has attracted recent attention due to clinical studies supporting its effect on decreasing stress. Holy basil has been used for thousands of years in India and Asia to treat illness, such as depression, high blood pressure, heart disease and bi-polar disorder. Recent research has confirmed its benefits, as well as illuminating several ways holy basil is able to combat the stressors of modern life, and counteract the cortisol production that signals the start of stress related issues.
First, holy basil contains ursolic acid. Ursolic acid has been determined to inhibit the COX-2 enzyme. In addition, holy basil works to balance the neurotransmitters in the brain. These neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, serotonin, ephedrine, norephedrine and cortisol, not only reach more consistent and stable levels, but also open the brain’s receptors for the neurotransmitters allowing them to be more easily absorbed in the body.
The effects of stress, cortisol production has a drastic effect on glucose production. Differing levels of glucose create different problems in the body. Low blood glucose can create headaches and low blood pressure. High blood sugar can been seen with symptoms of high blood pressure and can even result in coma or death. When this is not consistently neutralized, diabetes can be a result. Diabetes is one of the worst results of extreme cortisol production. Cortisol tells the body to produce insulin.
Holy basil addresses this in two ways. Holy basil affects the amount cortisol produced in times of stress. When the body undergoes stress, the adrenal glands are told to produce more cortisol. Cortisol causes the body to produce additional blood sugar. When the adrenal glands are cleansed, and thus able to work at an optimum level, less cortisol is produced, thus signaling the body to produce less blood glucose.
In addition, holy basil also cleanses the blood, liver, pancreas and adrenal glands. The pancreas is especially important, as the pancreas is the part of the body that produces insulin. The amount of insulin the body contains determines the amount of blood glucose the body produces. Cleansing the pancreas allows it to function more efficiently and produce insulin more effectively and efficiently. Thus, less blood glucose is produced. The body would then react less to new cortisol production in times of stress.
Holy basil acts on the body in several ways. First it inhibits the COX-2 enzyme and allows more positive neurotransmitters to be readily absorbed. In addition, by both cleansing the pancreas (to produce less insulin) and the adrenal glands (to produce less cortisol) the body’s response to stress is reduced and the effect on the body’s blood glucose levels is also reduced.