The Herbal Ally Series Part 1: Holy Basil and Gotu Kola

Description

Every form of traditional herbal medicine recognizes that while single herbs have their appropriate place as medicines. 

However, herbal formulas are central to these long-standing traditional systems of medicine. In fact, the tradition of observing how herbs in their natural environments interact and function as medicines has long led to the creation of some of the most traditional and effective formulas. 

A core value in creating these potent formulas is understanding the concept of herbal allies. In simple terms, herbal allies are plant medicines that work well together, creating a more powerful effect through synergy and by supporting each other's primary mechanisms of action. 

In today’s article, I discuss the relationship between Holy basil and Gotu kola and how these herbal allies are a match made in heaven. 

However, before I discuss why these two potent herbs are a match made in heaven, let’s take a look at the role they each play in various forms of traditional herbal medicine.  

Holy Basil and Gotu Kola: According to Ayurveda 

Ayurvedic medicine is based on three primary doshas (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha), which correspond to the elements (water, earth, air, fire, and ether). Doshas are believed to be the energies that circulate in the body and govern physiological activity. Furthermore, one of the unique principles of Ayurveda is the understanding of health as a result of the coordinated functioning of the soul, mind, and body in an intimate relationship with everything else in the cosmos- material and non­ material. It holds that the constituent factors of the human body and the cosmos are identical.

Finally, Ayurvedic medicine often evaluates foods and herbs based on their energetic qualities, using a framework called Dravya Guna to analyze how a substance (food or herb) interacts with the body and mind from the moment it is tasted through its final metabolic stages. 

1) Holy basil leaf (Tulsi) is a primary tonic herb in Ayurvedic medicine. Therefore, practitioners describe Holy Basil’s Ayurvedic energetic and dosha profile as follows. 

• Rasa (Taste): The immediate sensation on the tongue; Mostly pungent and bitter.
• Guna (Qualities): The inherent physical properties (how it feels in the tissues): Light, dry, and sharp
• Virya (Potency): The herb's thermal effect once ingested; Hot, warming
• Vipaka (Post-digestive effect): The long-term impact once digestion is complete; Pungent

While there are 150 varieties of basil, Ayurveda traditionally uses three types:  

• Rama: Green leaf variety and sweet
• Krishna: Dark green to purple, considered more potent with a bright peppery flavor profile. 
• Vana: A wild variety with a lemony/citrusy flavor profile.

2) In Ayurvedic medicine, gotu kola is known as a “pharmacy in one herb” because of its wide range of potential benefits: 

• Brain tonic (supports blood flow to the brain, feet, and hands) 
• Skin condition disorders (red, inflamed skin), 
• Antioxidant, diuretic, systemic anti-inflammatory, and anti-bacterial 

Gotu kola is used extensively as a rasayana, aka tonic (with an average daily dose of 3-6 grams), to support strength, skin quality, digestive power, and improve intelligence. Yogis traditionally use Gotu kola to develop the crown chakra. A cup of gotu kola tea before meditation is believed to heighten awareness and calm the mind and emotions. 

Ayurvedic qualities of Gotu Kola

• Rasa (Taste): Bitter
• Guna (Qualities): Light to digest
• Vipaka (Third level of digesting, deep level of taste), Sweet taste after digestion
• Veerya (Potency): Cold
• Effects on Tridosha (The influence of movement, transformation, and sensory functions): Balances kapha and pitta due to bitterness 
• Pravhaba (effect of the herb): Improves intelligence

Holy Basil and Gotu Kola: According to TCM

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) holds that all foods and herbs possess energy. TCM teaches that foods and herbs have Yin-Yang energy, five temperatures, five flavors, and four directions. Within these principles, Yin and Yang's action is the general property, and temperature is the extremeness of the properties. In simple terms, Yin is cooling, builds blood, and has downward-moving energy. Yang is warming and energizing, with upward-moving energy. Because Yang is the heating element, and Yin is the cooling element, those with too much heat are said to have a Yang excess, causing a Yin deficiency. Furthermore, one of the primary theories of TCM is the five phases. It states that the taste of the ingredient is a key determinant of its action in the body. 

Although not considered a traditional TCM tonic, Holy Basil is recognized by modern practitioners as a significant Shen tonic with adaptogenic-like properties. 

1) According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Ji Xue Cao, aka Holy Basil,  is 

• Warm in nature with a bitter, pungent, sweet flavor and astringent properties.  Holy Basil often has clearing and drying actions that promote elimination through the urine and bowels, particularly in damp, cold conditions. Therefore, holy basil is a great Yang tonifier. 
• Part of a category of herbs known for clearing damp-heat and damp-phlegm, and considered a warming herb for and not cooling for pure excess heat.  
• The five-phase theory also links taste to the organs and meridians to which it corresponds. Therefore, Holy Basil has an affinity for the spleen, kidneys, and heart channels, particularly as a superior shen tonic that elevates the spirit and calms anxiety.  

2) According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Ji Xue Cao, aka Gotu Kola, is 

• Cold in nature with a bitter, pungent, sweet flavor and astringent properties. Bitter foods, such as gotu kola, frequently have clearing and drying actions that promote elimination through the urine and bowels.
• Part of a category of herbs known for clearing heat and relieving toxicity. 
• Gotu kola is believed to target the spleen (assists in digestion and fluid metabolism), kidneys (regulates urinary, reproductive system, and storing Jing, the life essence), and the liver (regulates Qi, body fluids, and plays a leading role in balancing emotions).

Finally, in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), inflammation and infectious conditions are collectively referred to as internal heat. When an individual suffers from such conditions, it is believed to result from a Yin (cold) deficiency or an excess of Yang (heat). 

• Gotu Kola’s ability to disperse damp-heat and reduce swelling makes it a suitable choice for these conditions. 
• Some conditions or symptoms for which a TCM practitioner may recommend gout kola include heat stroke, boils, diarrhea, traumatic injuries, and any condition characterized by red, inflamed skin. 
• In TCM, gotu kola is called the “miracle elixir” or “fountain of life” because it is considered one of the great longevity herbs. In fact, a legend recounts an herbalist who consumed gotu kola daily and was reported to have lived to the age of 200.

Holy Basil and Guto Kola: According to Western Herbalism

1) Western herbalism considers Holy Basil a powerful nervine and nootropic with adaptogenic-like qualities that may help with the following. 

• Lifting the spirit
• Increasing clarity of thought
• Reducing mental fog associated with menopause and chronic stress
• Potentially dispels depression

Nootropics are a category of substances (both natural and synthetic) that show potential to improve cognitive function by promoting relaxation and supporting mood, memory, attention, and creativity. Please refer to many of my previous articles discussing the criteria that define a nootropic. 

Furthermore, there is considerable speculation about whether Holy Basil is a “true” adaptogen. In simple terms, while holy basil does fulfill several aspects of being an adaptogen, because it does not fulfill the criteria of acting through one or both of the body’s master control systems (HPA Axis or SAS), Holy basil is NOT an actual adaptogen. Instead, it is a Nootropic with adaptogen-like and anxiolytic qualities.

The following was reported in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluating the efficacy of holy basil in the symptomatic control of general stress. 

Participants received either a placebo or holy basil (1200 mg of active ingredients per day) for 6 weeks. Furthermore, patients self-evaluated the severity of stress-related symptoms at weeks 0, 2, 4, and 6 of the trial using a symptom rating scale. After six weeks of intervention, the following was reported. 

• Scores of symptoms such as forgetfulness, sexual problems of recent origin, frequent feeling of exhaustion, and frequent sleep problems of recent origin decreased significantly in the holy basil group as compared with the placebo group. 
• The total symptom scores for the Holy Basil group showed a significant reduction (P ≤ 0.05) compared with the placebo group. 
• The Holy Basil group showed an overall improvement of 1.6 times (39%) greater than placebo in controlling general stress symptoms. 
• No adverse events were reported during the study. 

Therefore, the following was concluded. The findings showed that Holy Basil was effective and well-tolerated by all patients throughout the six-week study period.

2) Much like Ayurvedic medicine, Western herbalism considers gotu kola a powerful cerebral tonic that may help with the following. 

• Promote circulation 
• Inhibit neuroinflammatory responses
• Support cognitive function and memory 
• Potentially relieve situational anxiety. 

Furthermore, according to herbalist David Winston, Gotu kola has the following attributes. 

• Acts as an essential medicine for autoimmune conditions. 
• Strengthens connective tissues and is indicated for connective tissue disorders with red, inflamed skin.
• It is a traditional Ayurvedic brain tonic increasing oxygen flow and circulation to the brain, feet, and hands.
• Used for varicose veins and used topically for preventing scarring from burns and surgery.  

The following was reported in a study examining the positive modulation of cognition and mood in healthy elderly volunteers following administration of Centella asiatica. 

• Twenty-eight healthy elderly participants received the plant extract at doses of 250, 500, or 750 mg once daily for 2 months. 
• Cognitive performance and event-related potential were assessed using the computerized test battery. 
• In contrast, mood was assessed using Bond-Lader visual analogue scales before the trial and at 1 and 2 months post-treatment. 
• Results showed that a high dose of the plant extract enhanced working memory and increased the amplitude of the N100 component of the event-related potential.
• Improvements in self-rated mood were also found following the Centella asiatica treatment.

Therefore, it was concluded that “the present findings suggest the potential of Centella asiatica to attenuate the age-related decline in cognitive function and mood disorder in the healthy elderly.”   

So, what makes these herbal allies a match made in heaven?

In simple terms, the synergy of these potent herbs complements their mechanisms to do the following. 

• Manage stress: While neither of these herbs is an actual adaptogen, holy basil's adaptogen-like qualities provide an immediate calming effect by balancing stress hormones, while gotu kola’s slower-acting, long-term support of the nervous system makes this a match made in heaven.    
• Supports higher cognitive function: Gotu Kola improves cerebral circulation, supports neuronal health, and enhances memory. Holy Basil assists memory and mental clarity by supporting a healthy stress response. Furthermore, acts as an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, preserving acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter vital for learning and memory. Compounds found in holy basil, such as linalool, calm the central nervous system, whereas eugenol can stimulate alertness. Together, these two herbs support clear, healthy thinking.
• Provide systemic balance in the nervous system: Both herbs function as classic nervines and nootropics without sedative effects. 

Furthermore, both of these potent herbs work synergistically to support a healthy inflammation response through the following mechanisms of action. 

Holy basil 

• Inhibiting enzymes like cyclooxygenase (COX) and lipoxygenase (LOX) that create inflammatory substances (prostaglandins and leukotrienes).
• Reducing the activation of Nuclear Factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), a key protein complex that turns on genes for pro-inflammatory cytokines.
• Decreasing the production of inflammatory messengers like Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6).

Gotu Kola

• Blocking inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and COX-2 and reducing nitric oxide and prostaglandin production, which are key drivers of inflammation and swelling.
• Decreasing the production of inflammatory cytokines like TNF-alpha and IL-6, and lessening the body's inflammatory response.
• Increasing collagen and fibronectin synthesis, strengthening skin and connective tissues, while its antioxidant properties neutralize free radicals that trigger inflammation.
• Increases mucus production (mucin) and glycoproteins, fortifying the stomach lining against damage and inflammation, as seen in ulcer models.
• Prevents excessive accumulation of inflammatory cells in tissues, which is crucial in conditions such as arthritis and helps reduce joint destruction. 

In conclusion, understanding the principles of formulating an effective formula is a multilayered process. One of the most long-standing traditions is observing how each plant functions independently and also in association with other plants. Therefore, when you understand the science behind plant medicines and that each plant has multiple allies that support its ability to heal, you have a proper match made in heaven.  

For more information about our Organic Gotu Kola Powder, go here: Gotu Kola Powder - Organic

For more information about our Organic Holy Basil (Tulsi) Powder, go here: Holy Basil Powder (Tulsi) - Organic

To review all of our Vegetable, Leaf, and Grass Powders, go here: Vegetable, Leaf, and Grass Powders

The Author’s Bio
Michael Stuchiner is a Master Herbalist and proud graduate of The School of Natural Healing, with over 25 years of experience in various aspects of the field. He is a retired elite-level powerlifter who competed for 27 years. As an avid international traveler, he is passionate about the use of medicinal and tonic herbs, as well as foods traditionally found in local markets across the 35 countries he has visited. Michael shares his years of experience as a Master Herbalist, traveler, and athlete through the hundreds of articles he has written and his YouTube channel, "A Master Herbalist Perspective." He is considered a true educator in this field. For more articles written by Mike, go here: Master Herbalist.