Traditional Medicine vs Modern Medicine

Holy Basil - Ocimum sanctum Holy basil (Ocimum sanctum) is a member of the mint, or Labiatae, family. For what health conditions can holy basil be used? What happens to my body during stress? Stress hormones have other, not-so-obvious effects. How does holy basil combat stress? Holy basil functions as an adaptogen, enhancing the body's natural response to physical and emotional stress. Multiple scientific studies examining this property of Ocimum sanctum have found that supplementation with various extracts of holy basil decrease stress hormone levels, corticosterone in particular.11-16 Scientific studies have shown that eugenol, in particular, helps to combat stress and enhance mental clarity. Research has also shown that the triterpenoic acids isolated from holy basil effectively improve the body's response to stress.13-16 What studies support holy basil's stress-alleviating effects? There are several studies which examine the anti-stress effects of different components of holy basil. An herbal preparation, which combined a standardized holy basil extract along with three other Ayurvedic herbs, has been shown to improve the body's ability to adapt to stress. The subjects were continually subjected to stress leading to elevated levels of stress hormones. Further testing revealed the combination also exhibited preventative effects against stress. When isolated and examined individually, holy basil significantly contributed to these effects. Several studies have shown that certain alcohol extractions of holy basil combat the effects of stress. Supplementation dramatically reduced the corticosterone level, helping the body cope with stress, elevating mood, and improving mental clarity.13-15 What should I look for in a holy basil dietary supplement? Because multiple constituents of holy basil have been shown to combat stress, an effective supplement must provide each of these key active components at therapeutic dosages. It is important to look for a dietary supplement which utilizes multiple extracts of holy basil, such as alcohol extracts, supercritical (or CO2) extracts, and distillation extracts, to provide the most complete supplement. Why are different methods of extraction important? When both lipophilic and hydrophilic components are required for support, as is the case for holy basil, a combination of extraction methods is necessary. So, how do the extraction methods differ? Many herbs require unique extraction methods because of the complexity of the key components. An alcohol is then applied to extract the key components from the other alcohol-insoluble plant constituents. Over time, stress can negatively affect the health of the digestive, immune and nervous systems. - See more at: http://medicinehunter.com/holy-basil#sthash.AUyCtK0Z.dpuf