I recently discovered that my hair was becoming greyer, with some white hairs ‘popping’ up randomly. I was finding it harder to keep up with dying my dark hair as the grey hairs just kept getting worse.
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However, after I started taking Holy Basil (one dose each night), I started noticing less and less white strands of hair coming through and my grey/white hair around the top of my head and around my face, appeared to be less noticeable?
My number of grey/white hair started to reduce and I wasn’t sure at first what was going on? I was really excited about this new development but also confused as to WHY this was happening so I started to investigate the various herbs and vitamins I was taking. After doing some research, I discovered that it was the Holy Basil I had added to my vitamin regime. One really surprising benefit of Holy Basil is that it helps restore an enzyme in the hair follicle that helps neutralize white and grey hair!! It has to do with Hydrogen peroxide being neutralized in the hair follicle to keep from bleaching. I originally started taking Holy Basil for my anxiety and (surprisingly) gained the ADDED benefit of less grey hair!! BONUS!!
So, What is Holy Basil?
Holy basil (or Tulsi) has been used medicinally in India for over 3,000 years and it’s known there as the “Queen of Herbs”. It has been one of India’s most important healing plants. It is an adaptogen, meaning it brings balance to the entire body and protects it from all kinds of stresses (anti-stress agent). In Ayurvedic medicine, it is a very important herb. It is particularly great for reducing anxiety, stress, and depression.
Holy Basil is good for the liver and promotes its healthy functioning. It can eliminate harmful chemicals in the bloodstream and protects against liver disease. As the liver is the key organ that is linked to our mind, this function is key to assisting in reducing anxiety, depression & OCD. Holy Basil does a lot more than simply lowering stress levels. It is known to help in various ways:
Other Benefits of Holy Basil
Holy basil provides a huge range of health and stress-busting benefits:
• Reduces psychological stress
• Nourishes the mind in a manner similar to yoga
• Offers antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-fungal properties
• Fights metabolic syndrome, which is the precursor to diabetes, stroke, heart disease, and cancer
• Detoxifies your body
• Promotes weight loss
• Improves skin and hair
• Digestive system benefits
• Cardiovascular benefits
• Enhances your overall well-being
Side Effects
There are a few factors to consider when taking Holy Basil so it’s important to consider these:
1. Blood Thinning – Holy Basil has the property to thin the blood in our bodies. So, it should not be taken along with other anti-clotting medications.
2. Hypoglycemia – As Holy Basil is known to reduce blood sugar, it is important for people on medication for diabetes to watch their consumption of this herb. It could lead to an excessive reduction in blood sugar, which can be dangerous.
3. Pregnancy – Holy Basil should not be taken whilst pregnant as it can increase uterine contractions and this is dangerous to the unborn child.
How much to use
The amount to use seemed to vary depending on the person. A standardized dosage of holy basil is 400 mg per day.
Top 5 on the market – Best Holy Basil (2019)
(Passed all ingredient quality standards)
1. Tulsi – Holy Basil (Organic India) – 300mg per serving
2. Holy Basil Force (New Chapter) – 1072mg per serving
3. Holy Basil Extract (Now) – 500mg per serving
4. Holy Basil Leaf (Gaia Herbs) – 964mg per serving
5. Holy Basil (Solaray) – 900mg per serving
