Angst and stress are extremely common among adults today, more so than ever.
A survey conducted in February 2023 found that about 61% of Americans say their stress level is at an all-time high, 55% people say they are unable to enjoy life because of stress, while 59% assert that stress negatively impacts their relationships.1
Generationally, according to this survey, Millennials and Generation Z at 55% are nearly twice as likely as Baby Boomers at 30% to struggle to function due to stress.
High chronic stress is known to impact sleep duration and quality. According to 2022 data from The Sleep Foundation, 54.4% of respondents to a SleepFoundation.org survey said that stress and anxiety were the top reasons they have trouble falling asleep.
Further, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute estimates that up to 70 million people in the US alone have difficulty in sleeping.2
Stress is common among all age groups and generations causing various negative impact on life. Insufficient sleep and poor sleep quality are causing sleep dysfunctions affecting day-to-day life.
Elevated stress levels can have detrimental effects on the immune system, potentially compromising its functionality. This can increase tension and feelings of irritability, loss or interest, or nervousness. Additionally, stress often disrupts sleep patterns, causing racing thoughts that hinder restful sleep, which further causes sleep issues.
It can also strain relationships due to feelings of frustration and exhaustion, reduce productivity and focus, trigger anger issues, contribute to weight gain through unhealthy coping mechanisms like overeating and impede concentration as the brain remains vigilant for potential threats.
Furthermore, everyday stress has significant implications on long-term health. Therefore, reduction in stress levels can support healthy living and healthy aging.
Historical use of Holy Basil (tulsi)
Commonly used in Ayurveda, Holy Basil is an adaptogen, balancing different processes in the body and is also helpful for adapting to mental and physical stress. Marc Cohen, author of a published review, states that the cultivation of Tulsi plants has both “spiritual and practical significance that connects the grower to the creative powers of nature” and that organic cultivation offers “solutions for food security, rural poverty, hunger, environmental degradation and climate change”. The review states: “The use of Tulsi in daily rituals is a testament to Ayurvedic wisdom and provides an example of ancient knowledge offering solutions to modern problems.”3
In Ayurveda, as its English name implies, Holy Basil/Tulsi is the second most holy plant in India, followed by lotus. It is sattvic, which means “essential purity”. It is also known as “The Incomparable One”, “Mother Medicine of Nature”, “The Queen of Herbs”, “Elixir of life”.4 In Ayurveda, Holy Basil is considered one of the foremost adaptogenic herbs, and helps the body cope with stress, promotes mental clarity, supports rejuvenation and promote sleep.5,6,7
Modern research
The total publications on O. tenuiflorum are 1014, with 24 human clinical studies. A comprehensive literature review of human studies with Holy Basil had a positive conclusion about its use as a supplement for promoting health.8 The authors pooled data from 24 studies reporting therapeutic effects on immunity, metabolic health, cardiovascular health and brain function.
The authors noted that “the reviewed studies reinforce traditional uses” and suggest that Holy Basil is an effective botanical supplement for promoting health and wellness. With such a strong platform of traditional use and recent human clinical trials, Natural Remedies’ R&D began the journey of developing Holixer™, the Holy Basil with the X-factor in stress and sleep management. Natural Remedies’ R&D worked diligently for five years to create Bioactive Optimization.
Technology (B.O.T.TM), a systematic technique that preserves the multiple bioactive compounds in Holy Basil and optimizes their innate capabilities. This bioactives-enhancement technology results in Ocimum-Bioactive Complex (OBCTM), providing our brand partners and their consumers with a measurable, distinctive Holy Basil herbal extract that is unparalleled.
In vitro and in vivo research on Holy Basil (Holixer) has shown that it works through two closely related mechanisms. One is by inhibiting and/or reducing cortisol release from the adrenal glands.
The other is through acting to block a corticotropin-releasing hormone – corticotropin releasing factor type 1 (CRF1) – which is secreted when a stressor is encountered. Both mechanisms provide a useful approach to alleviate the physiological effects of stress.9 A two-arm, parallel-group, randomized double-blind placebo-controlled human trial showed that Holy Basil provides measurable and perceived benefits to alleviate stress and improve sleep quality along with quality of life.
The study included 100 participants who all fulfilled the criteria of having stress and problems with achieving sufficient and quality sleep. The participants consumed either 250 mg Holixer or placebo daily for eight weeks and were evaluated for stress response and sleep quality using both subjective and objective parameters. The results showed significant improvements in stress and sleep score compared to placebo.
As people throughout the world deal with stress and stress-related sleep issues, Holixer brings about a unique ingredient that is scientifically substantiated and clinically validated to improve the outcomes of stress and sleep related formulations.
References
1. The Mining Journal. Majority of Americans say stress is destroying their ability to enjoy life.
2. National Blood, Lung and Heart Institute. What Are Sleep Deprivation and Deficiency?
3. Cohen MM. Tulsi - Ocimum sanctum: A herb for all reasons. J Ayurveda Integr Med. 2014 Oct-Dec;5(4):251-9.
4. Glenn, L. (2008). Basil--Health Tips from India to Italy. Herbalgram.
5. Singh, N.; Hoette, Y.; & Miller, D. R. (2002). Tulsi: The mother medicine of nature. International Institute of Herbal Medicine.
6. Tirtha, SSS. (1998). The Ayurveda Encyclopedia: Natural Secrets to Healing, Prevention, and Longevity. Bayville, NY: Ayurveda Holistic Center Press.
7. Khare, C.P.; (2000). Indian Herbal Therapies Based on Latest Scientific Research. New Delhi: Vishv Vijay Private Limited.
8. Jamshidi, N.; Cohen, M.M.; (2017). The Clinical Efficacy and Safety of Tulsi in Humans: A Systematic Review of the Literature. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med; 9217567.
9. Lopresti A.L.; Smith, S.J.; Metse, A.P.; et al. (2022). A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial investigating the effects of an Ocimum tenuiflorum (Holy Basil) extract (HolixerTM) on stress, mood, and sleep in adults experiencing stress. Front Nutr. 2;9:965130.
