Holy Basil Aurvedic - Remedies

Holy Basil Aurvedic Remedies

Holy Basil (Ocimum sanctum), also known by its Sanskrit names, Tulsi or Tulasi,belongs to the Lamiaceae/Labiatae mint family, and is a closely related species to the familiar sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum). Native to India, there are three main varieties, with the purple Krishna Tulsi being considered most esteemed. Next to Lotus, Holy Basil is the most sacred plant of India.

Ayurveda is the ancient traditional medicine of India, and various texts give much praise to Tulsi, including the well-known Vedas. Many revere Tulsi as a goddess in the form of a plant bestowed with great spiritual and healing powers opening the Heart and Mind and bestowing the energy of love and devotion (bhakti). According to legend, no amount of gold could outweigh Krishna, but a single Tulsi leaf placed on the pan in loving devotion tilted the scale.

Even today many traditional Indians have a Tulsi plant growing in their homes for its purifying influence. Tulsi beads, made from the woody stalks, are commonly strung in neck laces, bracelets, and meditation malas or rosaries, which are believed by many to have spiritual as well as physical protection benefits.

The leaves of Tulsi are most commonly used for medicinal benefits, although all parts of the plant, including the roots, stems, flowers and seeds, have significant and differing medicinal and religious symbolic properties.

An impressive array of health promoting, disease preventing and life prolonging properties of Tulsi have been described and documented over five millennia. In the past few decades, many of these benefits have been investigated and verified by modern scientific research.

Current research offers substantial evidence that Tulsi protects against and reduces stress; 
enhances stamina and endurance; 
increases the body’s efficient use of oxygen;   
boosts the immune system; 
reduces inflammation; 
protects against radiation damage; 
lessens aging factors; 
supports the heart, lungs and liver; 
has antibiotic, antiviral and antifungal properties; 
enhances the efficacy of many other therapeutic treatments; 
and provides a rich supply of antioxidants and other nutrients.

Overall, Tulsi is a premier adaptogen, helping the body and mind to adapt and cope with a wide range of physical, emotional, chemical and infectious stresses, and restores disturbed physiological and psychological functions to a normal healthy state. These general vitality enhancing and health promoting properties, in addition to Tulsi’s many more specific therapeutic actions, likely account for much of the exceptionally broad range of Tulsi’s traditional medical uses, as well as contributing to its mythological importance and religious sanctity. Nutritionally it contains Vitamins A and C, Calcium, zinc and iron, Chlorophyll and many other phyto-nutrients.