Herbal Tulasi Information: A common sight in most homes, the tulasi plant has many medicinal and curative properties. There are at least 150 varieties of basil in the world.
The Tulasi plant seen in most Hindu homes is known as the Holy or Sacred Tulasi (Basil) (Botanical name: Ocimum Sanctum). It is an aromatic herb. The leaves of this plant are used in worship and also have medicinal and curative properties. The name probably comes from the Greek Besileus, meaning "King". There are at least 150 varieties of Tulasi (Basil) in the world.
Herbal Tulasi Usage: Tulasi (Basil) promotes optimum respiratory support. It has anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, expectorant properties and is useful in respiratory tract infections. It also helps during respiratory stress.
Heart and Vascular Protection: Tulasi lowers dangerous cholesterol and stress-related high blood pressure, protects the heart and blood vessels, and has mild blood thinning qualities, thereby decreasing the likelihood of strokes.
Liver Support: Generally Tulasi contributes to healthy liver function, improves the metabolic breakdown and elimination of dangerous chemicals in the blood, and counteracts various liver diseases.
Lung and Bronchial Support: In addition to contributing generally to respiratory health, Tulasi has been shown to be helpful in the treatment of a variety of serious allergic, inflammatory and infectious disorders affecting the lungs and related tissues.
Healing power: Tulasi has many medicinal properties. The leaves of Tulasi (Basil) are a nervine tonic and also sharpen memory. They promote the removal of the catarrhal matter and phlegm from the bronchial tube. The leaves strengthen the stomach and induce copious perspiration. The seed of the Tulasi are mucilaginous.
Stress Resilience: Tulasi (Basil) leaves are regarded as an adaptogen or anti-stress agent. Recent studies have shown that the leaves afford significant protection against stress. Even healthy persons can chew 12 leaves of basil, twice a day, to prevent stress. It purifies blood and helps prevent several common elements.
Common Cold & Fever: The leaves of Tulasi (Basil) are specific for many fevers. During the rainy season, when malaria and dengue fever are widely prevalent, tender leaves, boiled with tea, act as preventive against theses diseases. In case of acute fevers, a decoction of the leaves boiled with powdered cardamom in half a liter of water and mixed with sugar and milk brings down the temperature.
• The juice of Tulasi leaves can be used to bring down fever. Extract of Tulasi leaves
in fresh water should be given every 2 to 3 hours. In between one can keep giving
sips of cold water. In children, it is every effective in bringing down the
temperature.
• Tulasi is an important constituent of many Ayurvedic cough syrups and
expectorants. It helps to mobilize mucus in bronchitis and asthma. Chewing Tulasi
leaves relieves cold and flu.
Anti-inflammatory Action: Tulasi (Basil) reduces the painful and dangerous inflammation that plays a key role in various forms of arthritis, cancer and degenerative neurological disorders.
Respiratory disorder: The herb Tulasi is useful in the treatment of respiratory system disorder. A decoction of the leaves, with honey and ginger is an effective remedy for bronchitis, asthma, influenza, cough and cold. A decoction of the leaves, cloves and common salt also gives immediate relief in case of influenza. They should be boiled in half a liter of water till only half the water is left and add then taken.
Kidney Stone: Tulasi (Basil) has strengthening effect on the kidney. In case of renal stone the juice of Tulasi (Basil) leaves and honey, if taken regularly for 6 months it will expel them via the urinary tract.
Children’s ailments: Common pediatric problems like cough cold, fever, diarrhea and vomiting respond favorably to the juice of Tulasi (Basil) leaves. If pustules of chicken pox delay their appearance, Tulasi (Basil) leaves taken with saffron will hasten them.
Mouth infections: The leaves are quit effective for the ulcer and infections in the mouth. A few leaves chewed will cure these conditions.
Insect Bites: The Tulasi (Basil) is a prophylactic or preventive and curative for insect stings or bites. A teaspoonful of the juice of the leaves is taken and a repeated after a few hours. Fresh juice must also be applied to the affected parts. A paste of fresh roots of Tulasi (Basil) is also effective in case of bites of insects and leeches.
Skin disorders: Applied locally, Tulasi (Basil) juice is beneficial in the treatment of ringworm and other skin diseases. Tulasi (Basil) has also been tried successfully by some naturopaths in the treatment of leucoderma.
Eye disorders: Tulasi (Basil) juice is an effective remedy for sore eyes and night-blindness, which is generally caused by deficiency of vitamin a. Two drops of black Tulasi (Basil) juice should be put into the eyes daily at bedtimes.
Teeth disorder: The herbal Tulasi (Basil) is useful in teeth disorders. Its leaves, dried in the sun and powdered, can be used for brushing teeth. It can also be mixed with mustered oil to make a paste and used as toothpaste. This is very good for maintaining dental health, counter acting bad breath and for massaging the gums. Tulasi (Basil) is also useful in pyorrhea and other teeth disorders.
Herbal Tulasi Dosage: 1 capsule twice a day before meals.
Herbal Tulasi Side Effects:
None
Herbal Tulasi Drug Interactions:
None
Herbal Tulasi Contraindications:
None
Herbal Tulasi Clinical Studies: In a preliminary clinical trial, on 16 patients suffering from viral encephalitis, the aqueous extract of Ocimum sanctum leaves has been reported to lead to a higher survival rate of patients than that in a steroid treated group of ten patients. The incidence of residual neurological deficit in a period of one month was reported to be low in the extract treated patients.
The ethanolic extract of the leaves exhibited a hypoglycemic effect in rats and an antispasmodic effect in isolated guinea pig ileum. Tulasi extract was administered to 20 patients with shortness of breath secondary to tropical eosinophia in an oral dosage of 500 mg TID and an improvement in breathing was noted. The aqueous extract showed a hypertensive effect on anesthetised dogs and cats and negative inotropic and chronotropic activity (reduces the force and rate, respectively) on rabbit's heart. Antibacterial activity has been shown against Staphylococcus aureus and Mycoplasma tuberculosis in vitro as well as against several other species of pathogens including fungi. The plant has had general adaptogenic effects in mice and rats and has been shown to protect against stress-induced ulcers. The leaf extract was found to protect guinea pigs against histamine and pollen induced asthma. Adaptogenic activity of Ocimum sanctum is reported in rats & mice.
Recent research studied the effect of Ocimum sanctum (Tulasi) on experimental cataract in rats and rabbits by P. SHARMA, S. KULSHRESHTHA AND A.L. SHARMA
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