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Published:04/01/2009

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Holy Basil, Batman!

Melaina Juntti

Long-heralded by ayurvedic medicine for its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, holy basil has recently passed scientific scrutiny. Indian researchers have now confirmed that the herb (also called tulsi) works as an adaptogen, sticking to and neutralizing free radicals that wear down the body. “Holy basil protects the cells from the toxic chemicals of stress, a main cause of aging,” says John Douillard, DC, PhD, director of LifeSpa Ayurvedic Retreat Center in Boulder, Colorado. To stay youthful, Douillard recommends cooking with the herb, drinking one to three cups of holy basil tea a day, or supplementing with 1,000 mg twice a day following meals.

—Melaina Juntti

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