An estimated 40 million Americans suffer from some form of anxiety, a mental disorder that can cause feelings of worry, fear, uneasiness and apprehension that can significantly impact day-to-day activities. While it’s normal to feel stressed or worried occasionally, anxiety disorders can affect a person’s ability to function and may require medical treatment.
Though there are many pharmaceutical approaches to treat anxiety disorders, they may be costly or cause undesired side effects. And although a pharmaceutical approach is warranted in many cases, many individuals like to have natural treatment options as alternatives or to try before they start taking pills.
Tulsi has been used as an herbal remedy for anxiety for a very long time though many westerners are not familiar with the plant or its benefits. Here we will outline what tulsi is, how it helps anxiety, and how to consume it.
What is Tulsi?
Tulsi, also known as “Holy Basil”, is a type of medicinal plant that is native to India and other parts of Asia. The tea made from the leaves of the tulsi plant is known to be an effective treatment for reducing symptoms of anxiety. Tulsi has been used for nearly 3000 years in Ayurvedic medicine, which is the traditional medicine of India. The plant itself is a flowering shrub and is closely related to the basil plant that is used to flavor Italian food.
Tulsi is renowned for its protective, anti-aging properties and is commonly used in teas and salads. Though very old in the Indian tradition, it is gaining more and more popularity in western societies.
How Tulsi Helps Reduce Anxiety
Tulsi has numerous benefits and properties. Just one of those is its ability to help you cope better with stress. Tulsi has shown to be a powerful antioxidant and protects the cells in your body from both physical and mental stressors. It has shown to have anti-anxiety and antidepressant properties similar to common antidepressant drugs (source). One 6-week randomized control study showed that tulsi improved general stress, sleep, and sexual health. It found that the group given tulsi was 39% more effective in managing stress symptoms then the control group.
So tulsi isn’t just some home remedy that has been passed down from generation to generation. This is a well-studied herb that has shown scientific significance in its stress management properties among other benefits. It has other cognitive benefits such as memory improvement and slowing of cognitive decline with aging. What it does is strengthen and protect your cells so that when the stressors arise, its doesn’t affect your health as much. Since tulsi is more preventative, it is best to consume regularly for a long period of time to improve general resilience.
How to Consume Tulsi
As mentioned, the best way to consume tulsi is to make it a part of your daily diet. Tulsi tea is one of the most popular ways to consume tulsi. The dried leaves of tulsi are steeped in hot water for about 5-10 minutes. The tea tastes a lot like peppermint or spearmint and is a great daily drink. Sometimes it is mixed with other flavors as well such as lemon and ginger. Some even consume the leaves in a salad form.
Organic India has multiple variations and flavors of tulsi tea bags so you have a more convenient way to consume it versus boiling the leaves yourself.
It can be consumed at any time but I would recommend either at night to also aid in your sleep or in the morning to help you start the day calm and with a strong mind. Be mindful as you drink it and use it as a time to relax and unwind.
Conclusion
Tulsi tea has been established as an aid for anxiety both by modern studies as well as 3000 years of eastern medicine. With or without anxiety difficulties, you would do well to implement tulsi into your diet. Whether you want to feel less anxiety or just live longer and with less disease, tulsi can be a helpful tool in your journey to total wellness.
As always, consult a doctor if you are struggling with severe anxiety as herbal aids may not suffice for all cases.
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