The Herb Prof Team researches and writes our herbal guides, drawing on published research, traditional herbal references, and hands-on growing experience.
This holy basil tincture recipe shows you how to make a simple tulsi extract at home with dried leaves and vodka. A tincture is a concentrated liquid made by soaking an herb in alcohol, and it keeps for years. Before you start, know that research on tulsi is early, and a homemade tincture has no standard strength or dose.
This guide covers the recipe, storage, and the safety cautions that matter.
What Is a Holy Basil Tincture?
A tincture is made by soaking an herb in alcohol, or in glycerin, to draw out its plant compounds. You then strain the liquid and store it in a dropper bottle.
Holy basil, also called tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum, or Ocimum sanctum), is traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine for stress. Early studies of tulsi extracts are promising for stress and mood. However, nearly all of them used extracts, capsules, or leaf powder, not homemade tinctures. Our Tulsi Holy Basil Benefits guide covers the evidence in full.
A tincture isn’t a treatment for anxiety, depression, infections, or diabetes.
Holy Basil Tincture Recipe: What You Need
Equipment
- A clean glass jar with a tight lid (about 500 ml or 1 pint)
- A kitchen scale and a measuring cup
- A fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth, and a funnel
- Amber glass dropper bottles
- Labels and a marker
Ingredients
- 20 g dried tulsi leaves
- 100 ml (about 3.4 fl oz) vodka at 80 proof (40% alcohol)
This is a 1:5 ratio, which is the standard for dried herbs: 1 gram of herb to 5 milliliters of alcohol.
Use dried leaves, not fresh. Fresh leaves are 60 to 80% water, which can dilute 40% vodka to about 28% inside the jar. A tincture needs at least about 25% alcohol to stay safe from mold and bacteria. Herbalists who use fresh leaves typically use 95% alcohol at a 1:2 ratio. That spirit is hard to find in some places and is highly flammable, so dried leaves are the simpler choice.
Alcohol-free option: vegetable glycerin makes a “glycerite.” It generally extracts less than alcohol and keeps for only about 1 to 2 years.
Holy Basil Tincture Recipe: Step by Step
- Weigh 20 g of dried tulsi leaves and crumble them into the jar.
- Pour in 100 ml of vodka. Make sure all the leaves are covered, adding a little more vodka if any float above the liquid.
- Seal the jar and label it with the herb, the date, the type of alcohol, and the ratio.
- Store the jar in a cool, dark place for 4 to 6 weeks. Shake it a few times a week.
- Strain the liquid through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth, and squeeze the leaves to get all the liquid out.
- Use a funnel to pour the tincture into amber dropper bottles, and label them.
If the tincture smells off or sour, or you see mold, throw it out and start again.
How Much Should You Take?
There’s no established dose for holy basil tincture, and the strength of a homemade batch varies. For that reason, we don’t give a drop count. The studies used different extracts and amounts, and none of them tested a homemade tincture, so they can’t set a dose for one.
If you decide to try it, talk to your doctor first. Start with a small amount diluted in water or tea, which also masks the strong taste, and stop if you notice any problem. Don’t give tulsi tincture to children.
Who Should Avoid Holy Basil Tincture
Tulsi is probably safe for most people, but a tincture adds an alcohol base and an unknown strength. Be careful if any of these apply to you:
- Pregnancy and trying to conceive: In animal studies, large doses reduced the chance that a fertilized egg would implant and that a pregnancy would last to term. Avoid it in these cases. There’s also no safety data for breastfeeding.
- Blood thinners and surgery: Tulsi might slow blood clotting, which could raise bleeding risk if you take blood-thinning medication, or before and after surgery.
- Diabetes medication: Tulsi might lower blood sugar, so combined with insulin or drugs like sulfonylureas, it could cause blood sugar to drop too low.
- Thyroid conditions: Tulsi might lower levels of the thyroid hormone thyroxine, so it could worsen an underactive thyroid.
- Low blood pressure: Tulsi lowered blood pressure in some small trials, so check with your doctor if yours is already low.
- Alcohol: A tincture made with 80-proof vodka is about 40% alcohol. Skip it if you avoid alcohol for any reason, and never give it to children. Tea is an alcohol-free alternative.
- Long-term use: Safety beyond about 8 to 13 weeks hasn’t been studied.
Side effects appear uncommon in studies. If you notice nausea or any other problem, stop and talk to a healthcare professional. Also, don’t combine tulsi with other herbs without advice, since effects on blood sugar, blood pressure, and clotting can add up.
Storage and Shelf Life
Store the tincture in an amber glass bottle with a tight lid, in a cool, dark place such as a cupboard. Light, heat, and air all break down tinctures over time. Write the date on every bottle.
Alcohol tinctures made with 40% alcohol usually keep their potency for several years. Herbalist guides commonly cite about 3 to 5 years, and some say longer. Potency fades gradually and varies by herb. A glycerite keeps for only about 1 to 2 years. Throw out any tincture that smells off, tastes sour, or shows mold.
Before You Go – Holy Basil Tincture Recipe
A holy basil tincture is easy to make, but easy isn’t the same as proven. Use dried leaves and 80-proof vodka, keep to the 1:5 ratio, and label everything. Because homemade strength varies and tulsi research is still early, we don’t give a dose. Talk to your doctor before you use it, especially if you’re pregnant, take medication, or have a thyroid condition.
For a simpler, alcohol-free option, try our tulsi holy basil tea guide.
References – Holy Basil Tincture Recipe
Little Herb Encyclopedia, by Jack Ritchason; N.D., Woodland Publishing Incorporated, 1995
The Ultimate Healing System, Course Manual, Copyright 1985, Don Lepore
Planetary Herbology, Michael Tierra, C.A., N.D., Lotus Press, 1988
Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, by James A. Duke, Pub. CRP Second Edition 2007
The Complete Medicinal Herbal, by Penelope Ody, Published by Dorling Kindersley
Sources
- Jamshidi, N., and Cohen, M.M. “The Clinical Efficacy and Safety of Tulsi in Humans: A Systematic Review of the Literature.” Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2017 (one author discloses consulting for a tulsi products company): https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5376420/
- MSD Manual Consumer Version, “Holy Basil”: https://www.msdmanuals.com/home/special-subjects/dietary-supplements-and-vitamins/holy-basil
- PeaceHealth, “Holy Basil” (pregnancy and breastfeeding): https://www.peacehealth.org/medical-topics/id/hn-4597000
- Groves, M.N., Wintergreen Botanicals, “How to Make Herbal Tinctures” (ratios, alcohol strength): https://wintergreenbotanicals.com/2020/05/12/tinctures/
- Healing Harvest Homestead, “How to Make and Use Herbal Tinctures” (minimum alcohol for shelf stability): https://healingharvesthomestead.com/home/2017/8/9/tinctures-what-is-a-tincture-how-to-make-and-use-tinctures
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Frequently Asked Questions – Holy Basil Tincture Recipe
How do you make holy basil tincture?
Soak 20 g of dried tulsi leaves in 100 ml of 80-proof vodka for 4 to 6 weeks, shaking a few times a week. Then strain it, bottle it in amber glass, and label it with the date.
Can I use fresh holy basil?
Fresh leaves are 60 to 80% water, which can dilute vodka below the alcohol level needed to prevent spoilage. Herbalists who use fresh leaves typically use 95% alcohol at a 1:2 ratio. Dried leaves with vodka are simpler and safer for beginners.
How long does holy basil tincture last?
Alcohol tinctures typically keep for several years, commonly cited as 3 to 5, when stored in a cool, dark place. A glycerin version keeps about 1 to 2 years. Discard any tincture that smells off or looks moldy.
Can I make an alcohol-free tincture?
Yes, with vegetable glycerin, which makes a glycerite. It generally extracts less than alcohol and keeps for a shorter time.
Is holy basil tincture safe during pregnancy?
No. Animal studies of large doses reduced implantation and the ability to carry a pregnancy to term, and there’s no safety data for pregnancy or breastfeeding. Avoid it if you’re pregnant or trying to conceive.
Can children take holy basil tincture?
No. There’s no established safe dose for children, and alcohol-based tinctures aren’t appropriate for them.
Does holy basil tincture interact with medications?
It might. Tulsi may slow clotting, lower blood sugar, and lower thyroxine levels, so it can interact with blood thinners, diabetes medication, and thyroid treatment. Talk to your doctor before use.