Health benefits of Tulsi (Holy Basil)

Health benefits of Tulsi (Holy Basil)

Ocimum sanctum (Holy basil), called Tulsi in India, is ubiquitous in Hindu tradition. Perhaps its role as a healing herb was instrumental in its "sacred" implication.Ocimum sanctum(Tulsi) is perhaps the most common and most revered of all household plants in India.Tulsi is an erect sweet -scented pubescent herb, 30-100cm in height, growing in abundance near cultivated field gardens and waste lands. Its leaves, seeds ands whole plant is useful.

Krishna Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum)
Rama Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum),
Vana Tulsi (Ocimum gratissimum) 
The two main morphotypes cultivated in India and Nepal are green-leaved (Sri or Lakshmi tulsi) and purple-leaved (Krishna tulsi).

Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum), known as”Queen of Herbs” is the most sacred herb of India. It has been revered in India for over 5000years, as a healing balm for body, mind and spirit, and is known to bestow an amazing number of health benefits. Commonly called sacred or holy basil, Tulsi is a principal herb of Ayurveda, the ancient traditional holistic health system of India. Although it is also known as Holy Basil, Tulsi is a different plant from the pesto variety of Basil (Ocimum basilicum).

Tulsi in Ayurveda
Ayurveda, in Sanskrit , means “knowledge of life”.Ayurveda specializes in natural herbal remedies designed to correct the imbalances in the body. Herbs lie at the very heart of Ayurvedic practice. Ayurvedic knowledge was born from the wisdom of the ancient rishis (sages and healers) and yogis (ascetics practicing yoga) of India, and was first passed on from healer to healer for untold generations before the earliest known texts were written around 5000 BC.

In the ancient ayurvedic texts, Tulsi holds the supreme place among the various medicinal herbs. Ayurveda went through a period of decline in India when the Western medical education became dominant during the era of the British rule. However, Ayurveda was recognised as an official form of medicine after India gained its independence in 1947. Today, Ayurveda has gained worldwide recognition.

Health benefits of Tulsi
Tulsi is renowned for its restorative powers and has several benefits:

Rich in antioxidants
Relieves stress
Bolsters immunity
Promotes a healthy metabolism and
Helps fight cough and colds

The unique chemistry of Tulsi is highly complex. Tulsi contains hundreds of beneficial compounds known as phytochemicals. Phyto-chemicals possess strong antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, adaptogenic and immune-enhancing properties that promote general health and support the body’s natural defence against stress and diseases.

Adaptogens
Adaptogens help the body adapt more efficiently to stress. Tulsi is one of the most effective adaptogens known to us,Tulsi can reduce the intensity and negative impact of the stress caused by mental tension, emotional difficulties, poor lifestyle habits, disease and infection, pollution and other factors.

Antioxidants
Antioxidants slow down the process of excess oxidation and protect cells from the damage caused by free radicals. The cellular damage caused by free radicals can be responsible for causing and/or accelerating many diseases. Tulsi is rich in antioxidants and recommended for protection against excess oxidation.

Consumption of Tulsi
Tulsi can be consumed for good health either in the form of a capsule or as a herbal tea. Tulsi Tea can be prepared from fresh or dried leaves and served hot or cold. The three principal varieties of Tulsi, Rama, Krishna & Vana Tulsi have notably different aromas and flavours that may include hints of lemon, clove, anise and peppermint.

Tulsi can be prepared singly, as a blend of Tulsi varieties, or in combination with other herbs, spices, sweeteners, lemon or milk, for varying tastes and/or medicinal benefits. Naturalsweeteners may contribute to desirable effects of their own, unlike refined white sugar, which should be avoided.

International Recognition of Tulsi

“When I was first introduced to the sacred Tulsi, my first reaction, as a Western scientist, was disbelief. This herb sounds too good to be true. There seemed to be far more wide-ranging health benefits attributed to this plant than could be possible for a single agent. Yet, I realized that there must be a compelling reason why Tulsi has, for thousands of years, remained one of the most cherished of India’s sacred healing plants. Research offers impressive evidence that Tulsi’s vitality-enhancing properties, which support and enhance the body’s natural capacity to maintain a state of well-being, likely account for much of the impressively wide range of Tulsi’s traditional health-promoting uses.The industrialized West has, until very recently, tended to discard traditional nature-based, dietary and lifestyle approaches in favour of reliance on isolated compounds or synthetic drugs. However, the Western medical system has not been able to cope with the growing array of chronic, degenerative, environmental, lifestyle and stress-related physical and mental disorders that plague modern society. Tulsi is certain to emerge in the near future as a forerunner in the prevention and treatment of these pervasive modern illnesses.” – Dr. Ralph D. Miller, Former Director of Research, Canadian NationalDepartment of Health and Welfare.