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3Medicinal

Holy basil

Also sold as Tulsi, Ocimum sanctum

Traditional use for stress; evidence is early and small-scale.

3TrustedSupp Tier System™ · Tier 3Take as a defined course
Check before you startThis one has documented interactions with medication classes where the consequences are serious. If you take any prescription medicine, run it past a pharmacist before starting.

How long to take it

Short courses of eight to twelve weeks.

Who it's actually for

People exploring stress support.

Safe upper limit

Unverified
No formal limit; 300–600 mg extract daily
May lower blood sugar and has a mild antiplatelet effect. Some evidence of reduced fertility in animals.
No source attached yet. Treat this as a starting point, not a citation, until reviewed.

Interactions to know about

  • Diabetes medicationMetformin, insulin, gliclazide, SGLT2 inhibitors
  • Blood thinners / antiplateletsWarfarin, apixaban, rivaroxaban, clopidogrel, aspirin
  • Sedatives / sleep medicationBenzodiazepines, zopiclone, zolpidem, opioids

Other supplements:

Run your full list through the interaction check.

Practical notes

  • Avoid when trying to conceive, given the animal fertility data.
  • Stop before surgery.