How to Use Holy Basil Essential Oil to Promote Balance

by Christine Pressler, CA

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The Cherished Adapting Energy of Tulsi Essential Oil

You’re likely familiar with Sweet Basil essential oil, with its warm herbaceous aroma and supportive nature. Holy Basil essential oil is a relative with much the same properties and it excels at adapting to our needs! Also known as Tulsi, it is a sacred plant in India with a long history of use in Ayurveda and traditional medicine. Holy Basil/Tulsi essential oil has been gaining in popularity due to its therapeutic and energetic properties. It’s complex aroma makes it a beautiful addition to almost any essential oil blend.

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In this Post:

A Little About Holy Basil Essential Oil & Herb

One of my favorite essential oils and herbs, Tulsi is called the “Queen of Herbs.” It’s venerated in India as the avatar of the goddess Lakshmi (Tulasi), symbolizing prosperity and transcendence.

Holy Basil essential oil is distilled from the flowering tops and leaves of Ocimum sanctum (do you see where the “holy” comes from?) or Ocimum tenuiflorum.

Its aroma is a mosaic of sweet, fresh, peppery, and somewhat clove-like aromas. It is both breath-opening and comforting. The complex aroma of Tulsi essential oil enhances blends with citrus, wood, floral, spice, and/or minty essential oils.

Like the herb, the essential oil has adaptogenic properties. It helps balance our bodies and minds, providing us the support we need for mental and physical resilience and well-being.

I enjoy creating blends with Tulsi, whether its an essential oil blend or an herbal tea, like my Orange Mint Herbal Tea where Tulsi brings together Orange Peel, Mints, and Rose—this would be a lovely essential oil blend, too!

⭐Adapting Energy Shield

• 2 drops Tulsi/Holy Basil (Ocimum sanctum/O. tenuiflorum)
• 3 drops Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)
• 2 drops Black Pepper (Piper nigrum)
• 1 drop Copaiba Balsam (Copaifera officinalis)

🌺See my Recommended Suppliers below

Holy Basil Essential Oil Chemistry

The main chemical constituent in Holy Basil essential oil is eugenol, which is an important contributor to the aroma and therapeutics of the oil. Eugenol can help reduce pain, inflammation, and itching. It’s antimicrobial and antioxidant and can help ease allergic response. The amount of eugenol in Holy Basil essential oil ranges from 31% to 50%.[1]

Holy Basil essential oil also contains significant β-caryophyllene, about 25%,[2] which is, as you’ll see, the chemical constituent this blend is creating a synergy around!

The action of β-caryophyllene on the body is unlike any other (known) essential oil constituent. It interacts directly with our endocannabinoid system as a CB2 receptor agonist. This makes β-caryophyllene extraordinarily effective at modulating pain and inflammation as well as being therapeutic for neuropathic and neurodegenerative disease.[3]

Read more about essential oils for Cognitive Support and the exciting results of the Olfactory Enrichment Study at University of California Irvine.

Using Tulsi Essential Oil Safely

Whenever you use an essential oil that’s new to you, understanding how to use it safely is key. Some essential oil constituents have contraindications or other safety concerns. The constituent eugenol is one of these.

Oral eugenol is not recommended for people with clotting disorders or those using blood thinners. Oral eugenol may interact with MAOI or SSRI medications.[1] Please note that these safety concerns are for oral use of eugenol.

When it comes to topical use, high doses of eugenol can irritate mucous membranes, but is less likely to irritate skin, and in low doses, eugenol can actually ease inflammatory response. The maximum dermal limit of eugenol 0.5%.[1]

Since we are neither ingesting these essential oils nor applying them neat (undiluted) to our skin, Adapting Energy Shield essential oil blend is safe for use in a diffuser, inhaler, or topical lotion/cream/butter.

When formulating Adapting Energy Shield, I’ve assumed a Tulsi essential oil with 50% eugenol. When the essential oil blend is diluted into 1 ounce of carrier, the amount of eugenol in the entire formulation is about 0.15%. And when diluted into 2 ounces of carrier, the amount of eugenol is about 0.08%. Both are well below the 0.5% dermal limit. Safety first!

About the Other Essential Oils in the Blend

Copaiba Balsam has a soft, smooth, rich aroma, which is reflected in its nourishing nature. It quiets restlessness in mind and body, fostering peacefulness, and enhancing focus. Copaiba Balsam contains a significant amount of β-caryophyllene, sometimes as much as 54%![4]

Other blends with Copaiba include New Moon Hand & Body Lotion and Autumn Spice diffuser blend.

Black Pepper essential oil is another favorite of mine. It’s aroma is fresh and peppery (of course!) and, despite being a “spicy” oil, it’s surprisingly gentle on skin. Like Copaiba Balsam and Tulsi essential oil, Black Pepper essential oil is rich in β-caryophyllene, often as much as 30%.[1,5]

Do you see how the β-caryophyllene synergy among these three essential oils has formed?

Black Pepper also contains the feel-good phytochemcials d-limonene and α & β-pinenes. You’ll find d-limonene in abundance in the uplifting citrus essential oils. And the pinenes make up significant percentages in coniferous essential oils.

Other blends with Black Pepper essential oil include Clear Energy Synergy and Happiness Synergy.

Douglas Fir, like Holy Basil essential oil, has a complex aromatic profile. It’s fresh, sweet, piney, and resinous, with a touch of citrus. It’s rich in the phytochemicals I call “happiness makers”—the pinenes—which often comprise up to 25%.[1,6]

When you go out into a forest and come back feeling revitalized, one of the reasons is you’ve been exposed to the pinenes that are naturally in the air. This is why Forest Bathing is an excellent way to relieve stress and re-energize both mind and body.

Other blends with Douglas Fir essential oil include Energy Replenish and Fresh Evergreen trash can spray.

Learn about the science behind Forest Bathing (Shinrin-Yoku) and the positive impact it can have on mental and physical energy.

How to Use this Holy Basil Essential Oil Blend

To take advantage of the adaptogenic energy properties of Holy Basil essential oil and the supportive nature of β-caryophyllene, use this essential oil blend in the applications that work best for you.

Diffuser: Add to your diffuser to infuse your entire space with a balancing aromatic ambiance.

Inhaler: An aromatherapy inhaler makes it easy to access the energetic support of Tulsi essential oil where ever you are. Add double the essential oil blend to a small bowl, add the inhaler wick, then use tweezers to transfer the saturated wick to your inhaler. This inhaler can also help clear congestion and provide a mood boost!

Hand & Body Lotion: Stir the essential oil blend into 2 ounces fragrance-free lotion or body butter. Transfer to a container and take everywhere with you! Apply to hands and body as needed. This is a 0.6% concentration of essential oils (about 0.08% eugenol). For a stronger aroma, double the essential oil blend for a 1.25% concentration of essential oils (about 0.15% eugenol). I find this blend especially helpful when massaged into my shoulders and neck and it would be wonderful for a foot massage.

May Holy Basil/Tulsi essential oil help you find balance and healing in your life.

Be well!

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Mom’s Adapting Energy Shield Shopping List

These are my recommended sources for the essential oils in this blend.

• Holy Basil/Tulsi essential oil (Ocimum sanctum / O. tenuiflorum):
  • Aromatics International, sustainable
  • Plant Therapy (not currently available).

• Douglas Fir essential oil (Pseudotsuga menziesii):
  • Aromatics International, wildcrafted
  • Plant Therapy, conventional (Direct and Amazon).

• Black Pepper essential oil (Piper nigrum):
  • Aromatics International, organic💛
  • Plant Therapy, organic (Direct and Amazon).

• Copaiba Balsam essential oil (Copaifera officinalis / C. langsdorffii):
  • Aromatics International, wildcrafted
  • Plant Therapy, organic (Direct and Amazon).

This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. It is for educational purposes only.
All recipes provided are for personal use and are not designed for re-sale or large-scale manufacturing.
Please consult your doctor, naturopath, herbal practitioner, or other qualified health professional for medical advice and before starting any herbal regimen, particularly if you are pregnant or nursing, have any existing medical conditions, or are taking any medications.

Chris P | Author, Certified Aromatherapist, Natural Skin Care Formulator

Chris (“Mom”) enjoys formulating bespoke aromatherapy, skin care, and herbal products to support her family, pets, friends, and clients. She also loves experimenting with recipes in the kitchen. An avid reader, writer, and lifetime learner, Chris enthusiastically explores research rabbit holes and then writes about her discoveries.💚 (Learn more >>)