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Dietary supplement

Tulsi Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Banyan Botanicals

Liquid Category: Botanical
Most serious interaction: Moderate
The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Moderate

Tulsi is a dietary supplement by Banyan Botanicals 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 organic Holy Basil. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Tulsi by Banyan Botanicals

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

What’s inside

Full disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Full

Every active ingredient lists its own amount on the label.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 1 of its 1 active ingredient.
  • No proprietary blends here — you can verify the dose of every single component.

This product contains one active ingredient: organic holy basil (also called Tulsi). It's formulated as a liquid extract made with organic grain alcohol and deionized water.

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.

The evidence for holy basil isn't established in the data we hold. Effectiveness ratings for generalized anxiety, asthma, headache, respiratory infections, dental plaque, and diabetes all show insufficient reliable evidence to rate — meaning the studies so far haven't been robust enough to call it proven for any of these uses.

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 is generally well tolerated over short periods in adults, but long-term safety data are limited. The most common side effects reported in small studies are loose stools and nausea when taken by mouth.

During pregnancy, the safety data advises against use. There isn't enough reliable safety information to recommend it while breastfeeding either — talk with your doctor or pharmacist for personalized advice if you're pregnant or nursing.

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.

Check with your pharmacist if you take blood thinners or antiplatelet drugs (warfarin, aspirin, clopidogrel), any diabetes medications, or pentobarbital. The most significant concerns are bleeding risk with anticoagulants and low blood sugar with diabetes drugs.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with no assessable stated purpose. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

Holy basil has been used traditionally, but the evidence for its benefits isn't solid yet. If you take blood thinners, diabetes medications, or pentobarbital, you'll want to check with your pharmacist first.

Pregnant or breastfeeding individuals should avoid it. For anyone else considering this product, it's worth a quick conversation with your pharmacist or doctor.

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 Nov 21, 2019.

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 Tulsi, straight from the product label.

Brand Banyan Botanicals
Barcode (UPC) 618192026212
Net contents 1 fl. Oz.; 30 mL
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Nov 21, 2019
DSLD ID 210224
Product type Botanical
Supplement form Liquid
Dietary claims / uses All Other
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years), Women (not pregnant or lactating), Organic
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 Tulsi by Banyan Botanicals, 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:
1 mL
Maximum serving Sizes:
1 mL
Servings per container
30
UPC/BARCODE
618192026212
IngredientAmount% DV
organic Holy Basil500 mg--

Other ingredients: organic Grain Alcohol, deionized 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.
Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Suggested use: 30 drops in water or juice, 1-3 times daily, or as directed by your health practitioner. Shake well before using.

Precautions

Not to be used during pregnancy or lactation. If you are taking medications, or have a medical condition, please consult with your health care practitioner prior to the use of this product.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Formulation

Certified Organic by New Mexico Department of Agriculture

General Statements

Ayurvedic herbs

Seals/Symbols

USDA Organic

FDA Statement of Identity

Dietary Supplement

See for yourself

Tulsi by Banyan Botanicals label

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

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Tulsi by Banyan Botanicals

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

Serving size1 mL Dosage formLiquid Servings per container30 Amounts shown are per serving.

Organic Holy Basil

Interacts with
212 drugs
500 mg per serving

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...

Organic Holy Basil monograph & interactions

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

Interaction report

Tulsi by Banyan Botanicals Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Tulsi?

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

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Tulsi 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.

organic 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
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Tulsi, from the product label.

Banyan Botanicals

See all Banyan Botanicals products
Name
Banyan Botanicals
City
Albuquerque
State
NM
ZipCode
87113
Phone Number
1-800-953-6424
Web Address
www.banyanbotanicals.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Tulsi by Banyan Botanicals: Common Questions

Does Tulsi by Banyan Botanicals interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Tulsi 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?
Tulsi 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.
Can I take Tulsi if I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?
No. The safety data advises against holy basil during pregnancy. If you're breastfeeding, there isn't enough reliable safety information either — talk with your doctor or pharmacist about what's right for you.
What are the most common side effects?
Loose stools and nausea are the most common when taken by mouth. In one small study, two out of 24 people taking holy basil experienced these effects. If you use the mouthwash form topically, you may notice a bitter taste.
Is there proof that Tulsi actually works?
Not yet, based on the data we hold. Studies haven't been rigorous enough to establish that it works reliably for anxiety, asthma, headache, respiratory infections, dental plaque, or diabetes.
What is holy basil used for?
It's been studied for generalized anxiety, asthma, headache, respiratory infections, dental plaque, and blood sugar control — but the evidence isn't strong enough to confirm benefits for any of these.

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

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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.

Tulsi label
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Tulsi'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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