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Dietary supplement

Holy Basil Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Herbs Etc.

Holy Basil label
See full label image
Liquid Category: Botanical
Most serious interaction: Moderate
Clinical methodology reviewed by · Updated Sep 23, 2026 · Label data from the NIH DSLD
What is this page for?

First and foremost: checking Holy Basil against your medications. The heart of this page is the interaction checker and the full interaction report — how this product’s ingredients may interact with prescription and over-the-counter medicines you may be taking.

Around that, we add a pharmacist’s high-level view of the product as a whole — what’s inside, the evidence for its stated use, how transparent the label is, and what safety data exists — so you can see the full picture in one place. It’s educational information from our licensed clinical databases and the clinical staff at HelloPharmacist — not medical advice — and we don’t sell or endorse products. Our editorial policy

The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Moderate

Holy Basil is a dietary supplement by Herbs Etc. with 1 active ingredient. Its ingredients are commonly taken for stress and anxiety, blood sugar support, respiratory complaints.Based on those ingredients, 212 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are Holy Basil. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

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Check Your Meds Against Holy Basil by Herbs Etc.

Ask about any prescription or over-the-counter medication and we check it for interactions with Holy Basil by Herbs Etc. — and tell you which ingredient is responsible.

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HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Holy Basil by Herbs Etc.

Our pharmacy team’s full take, with four database checks built into the cards below — a summary of what is known, not a grade of the product itself.

From our pharmacy team — supplement deep dive

Generated from HelloPharmacist’s pharmacist-curated databases and editorial rules · Last generated Aug 6, 2026

What’s inside

Low disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Low

Most active ingredients don't disclose an individual amount — you can't tell how much of each you're getting.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 0 of its 1 active ingredient.

This product contains one active ingredient: holy basil (also called Tulsi), a traditional herb from Ayurvedic medicine. The liquid form also holds 50% grain alcohol and purified water as inactive ingredients.

Does it work?

Couldn't assess
Evidence for Intended Use · database check
By FDA rules, dietary supplements can’t claim to treat, cure, or prevent disease — so labels speak in careful marketing language. We discern each product’s intended use from its name, label claims, and label statements, then grade the clinical evidence for that use. How these ratings are computed
Not assessable

This is a single-ingredient Holy Basil product and its label doesn't state a use — see Holy Basil's own graded uses on its monograph.

Why this rating?
  • We looked at the product name, claims, and label statements and couldn't find a stated purpose to grade.

Holy basil is proposed for generalized anxiety, asthma, headache, respiratory infections, dental plaque, and diabetes — but the evidence we hold rates all of these as having insufficient reliable data to know whether it works. If you're thinking about it for one of these uses, that's a conversation worth having with your doctor or pharmacist about what the current science actually supports.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Holy Basil

How safe is it?

Well-documented data
Safety Information · database check
Well characterized

Adverse-effect, pregnancy, and general safety data are on file for most of these ingredients.

Why this rating?
  • We hold adverse-effect (side-effect) data for 1 of the 1 matched ingredient.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 1 of 1.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 1 of 1.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

Holy basil extract is generally well tolerated in the short term, though long-term safety data in humans are limited. The most common side effects when taken by mouth are loose stools and nausea — a small number of trial participants experienced these.

Topical use in the mouth can cause a bitter taste. During pregnancy, the safety data advise against it.

While breastfeeding, there isn't enough reliable information, so it's best avoided. If you're pregnant, planning pregnancy, or breastfeeding, talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking this product.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Holy Basil

Meds to double-check

Moderate interaction found
Known Interaction Concern · database check
Moderate identified

The most serious documented interaction for these ingredients is Moderate. Check your medications for a personalized result.

Why this rating?
  • 1 of the 1 matched ingredient can interact with medications — Holy Basil.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • Some involve high-stakes drug classes: anticoagulant / antiplatelet drugs; diabetes medications.
  • For scale: 212 individual medications appear in the full list. A big number alone doesn't make a product dangerous — what matters is whether YOUR medication is on it, so run yours through the interaction checker on this page.

Before you take this product, double-check your medications against blood thinners (anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs), diabetes medications, and sedatives like pentobarbital — all have documented moderate interactions with holy basil. Use the search tool on this page to see if any of your prescriptions are affected.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFormula with limited ingredient disclosure with no assessable stated purpose. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

Holy Basil by Herbs Etc. may be worth considering if you're interested in traditional herbal support, but the evidence for its claimed benefits isn't yet established in our data. The bigger concern is its interactions with blood thinners, diabetes drugs, and sedatives — if you take any of those, check your exact medications with our tool before starting.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding are off-limits. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist before you begin, especially if you're on any prescription medications.

Educational only — not medical advice; always confirm with your pharmacist. Our editorial policy · How we use AI

Assessment coverage: 1 of 1 active ingredient matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Sep 25, 2015.

This Scorecard evaluates available label information, ingredient evidence, and known medication-safety considerations. It does not independently verify product identity, purity, potency, contamination, or manufacturing quality. How these ratings are computed

At a glance

General information

Key facts about Holy Basil, straight from the product label.

Brand Herbs Etc.
Net contents 8 Fluid Ounce(s); 236 mL
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Sep 25, 2015
DSLD ID 50376
Product type Botanical
Supplement form Liquid
Dietary claims / uses No Claim
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years)
From the label
Everything in this section is reproduced from the manufacturer’s own product label — it’s the label speaking, not HelloPharmacist. We show it so you can see exactly what the maker states; we don’t verify or endorse those statements.

Supplement Facts

The label details for Holy Basil by Herbs Etc., sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.

Supplement Facts

Daily Value (DV) Target Group(s):
Adults and children 4 or more years of age
Minimum serving Sizes:
0 Not Present
Maximum serving Sizes:
0 Not Present
IngredientAmount% DV
Holy Basil0 NP--

Other ingredients: 50% Grain Alcohol, purified Water

Tap any ingredient to jump to its full detail below.

Label statements
These statements are the manufacturer’s wording, reproduced from the product label — the label is saying it, not HelloPharmacist. We don’t verify or endorse them.
Formula

Ocimum tenuiflorum

FDA Statement of Identity

Fast-acting dietary supplement

General

99113

General Statements

For dispensing purposes only

Professional strength

Dried herb extract

Herbal Single

Is this label outdated? Report a formula or label change and our pharmacy team will review it.

See for yourself

Holy Basil by Herbs Etc. label

The label scan from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Tap to enlarge.

Holy Basil label

Label images are published by the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database for the version of this product on file. Always read your actual product label.

View the full label (PDF)
What’s inside

The Ingredients in Holy Basil by Herbs Etc.

This is the 1 active ingredient this product is made of. Select it to open its full monograph.

Serving size0 Not Present Dosage formLiquid Amounts shown are per serving.

Holy Basil

Interacts with
212 drugs
0 NP per serving Form: Krishna tulsi, Rama tulsi

Holy basil (tulsi) is a traditional Ayurvedic herb most often used today for stress and general wellness, but the human evidence is mostly small and p...

Holy Basil monograph & interactions

Other (inactive) ingredients: 50% Grain Alcohol, Purified Water. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Holy Basil by Herbs Etc. Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Holy Basil?

Ask about interactions with your drugs in plain English — “Can I take it with lisinopril?” — and we find you the answer in seconds, ingredient by ingredient.

 Go to the checker
212Drugs
212 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Holy Basil 212

Individual Drug Interactions

The ingredients in Holy Basil interact with 212 drugs. Click any drug to see the details.

1 of the 1 ingredient in Holy Basil interact with drugs. Each result below shows which ingredient is responsible. Holy Basil

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Holy Basil with known interactions, here are the types of medications it can affect. Open any type for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

Holy Basil3 drug types · 212 drugs

Anticoagulant/Antiplatelet Drugs

Theoretically, holy basil seed oil might increase the risk of bleeding when used with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.
Animal research shows that holy basil seed oil can prolong bleeding time, possibly due to inhibition of platelet aggregation. However, it is not known if this occurs in humans.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Antidiabetes Drugs

Theoretically, holy basil might increase the risk of hypoglycemia when taken with antidiabetes drugs.
Small clinical studies show that taking holy basil can decrease fasting blood glucose and other measures of glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Likelihood Possible Evidence B
Pentobarbital (Nembutal)

Theoretically, holy basil seed oil might increase the sedative effects of pentobarbital.
Animal research shows that holy basil seed oil increases pentobarbitone-induced sleeping time. However, it is not known if this occurs in humans or if this applies to other barbiturates or sedatives.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Holy Basil full monograph & interactions
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Holy Basil, from the product label.

Herbs Etc.

Name
Herbs, Etc.
Street Address
1340 Rufina Circle
City
Santa Fe
State
NM
ZipCode
87507
Web Address
www.herbsetc.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Holy Basil by Herbs Etc.: Common Questions

Does Holy Basil by Herbs Etc. interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Holy Basil has a known interaction with 212 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Holy Basil contains a single active ingredient, and that one ingredient can interact with many different medications on its own. We check it against each medication and show the mechanism responsible.
Where does this information come from?
The product label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD); the interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database and reviewed by HelloPharmacist pharmacists.
What are the most common side effects?
Loose stools and nausea are the most common effects when taken by mouth. If you apply it to your mouth (like a mouthwash), it may taste bitter. A small number of trial participants experienced nausea or loose stools.
Can I take this while pregnant or breastfeeding?
No — the safety data advise against it during pregnancy, and there isn't enough reliable information to use it while breastfeeding. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you're pregnant, planning pregnancy, or nursing.
How long has this herb been tested for safety?
Holy basil extract appears to be well tolerated in the short term, but high-quality long-term safety data in humans are limited. We don't yet know what happens with extended use.
Does this product actually work for anxiety, asthma, or diabetes?
The evidence we hold on holy basil for generalized anxiety, asthma, headache, respiratory infections, dental plaque, and diabetes all rates as insufficient reliable data — meaning we can't yet say whether it works for these. If you're considering it for one of these uses, ask your doctor what the current research actually supports.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Not sure if Holy Basil is safe with your meds?

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Label information is sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database and reflects the product version on file; always read your actual product label. This page is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before combining supplements and medications.

Holy Basil label
Go deeper

The Full Monographs Behind Holy Basil’s Ingredients

Every ingredient we hold a full HelloPharmacist monograph for — uses, evidence, safety, and the complete interaction list.

Herb & supplement monograph

Holy Basil

Interacts with 212 drugs

Holy basil (tulsi) is a traditional Ayurvedic herb most often used today for stress and general wellness, but the human evidence is mostly small and preliminary. It is generally well tolerat...

Read the full Holy Basil monograph →
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Holy Basil's label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database; the ingredient interaction data is from the Natural Medicines database, reviewed by our pharmacists.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

The 8 references behind this product’s interaction data

Every citation that drives the interaction findings for this product’s ingredients, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Open an ingredient to browse its citations — links open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Holy Basil 8 references
  1. Agrawal P, Rai V, Singh RB. Randomized placebo-controlled, single blind trial of holy basil leaves in patients with noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther 1996;34:406-9.
  2. Sakina MR, Dandiya PC, Hamdard ME, Hameed A. Preliminary psychopharmacological evaluation of Ocimum sanctum leaf extract. J Ethnopharmacol 1990;28:143-50. PubMed
  3. Singh S, Rehan HM, Majumdar DK. Effect of Ocimum sanctum fixed oil on blood pressure, blood clotting time and pentobarbitone-induced sleeping time. J Ethnopharmacol 2001;78:139-43. PubMed
  4. Mondal, S., Varma, S., Bamola, V. D., Naik, S. N., Mirdha, B. R., Padhi, M. M., Mehta, N., and Mahapatra, S. C. Double-blinded randomized controlled trial for immunomodulatory effects of Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum Linn.) leaf extract on healthy volunteers. J PubMed
  5. Agarwal, P. and Nagesh, L. Comparative evaluation of efficacy of 0.2% Chlorhexidine, Listerine and Tulsi extract mouth rinses on salivary Streptococcus mutans count of high school children--RCT. Contemp.Clin Trials 2011;32(6):802-808. PubMed
  6. Vohora, S. B., Garg, S. K., and Chaudhury, R. R. Antifertility screening of plants. 3. Effect of six indigenous plants on early pregnancy in albino rats. Indian J Med Res 1969;57(5):893-899.
  7. Khanna S, Gupta SR, Grover JK. Effect of long term feeding of tulsi (Ocimum sanctum Linn) on reproductive performance of adult albino rats. Indian J Exp Biol 1986;24(5):302-4.
  8. Somasundaram G, Manimekalai K, Salwe KJ, Pandiamunian J. Evaluation of the antidiabetic effect of Ocimum sanctum in type 2 diabetes patients. Int J Life Sci Pharma Res 2012;2(3):75-81.

See these in context on the Holy Basil monograph →

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

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