THE HOLY BASIL

Tulsi as implied by its Greek name Ocimum sanctum and the incomparable one in Sanskrit has been regarded as one of the holiest and most cherished herbs...

Tulsi or the queen of herbs as implied by its Greek name Ocimum sanctum and the incomparable one in Sanskrit has been regarded as one of the holiest and most cherished herbs by virtue of its health promoting and healing properties. My interpretation of the holy status bestowed to Tulsi goes beyond its merits.
So impressive are its medicinal benefits that it is considered imperative to be consumed by all. The best way to establish a practice for the common man is to make it intrinsic to religion. By making it an offering during prayer or a temple visit,it is consumed by a large number of people in the most effective manner.

Grown in India,the health promoting benefits of Tulsi not to be confused with sweet basil,a herb used in cooking have been documented in the Rigveda,the oldest account of Ayurvedic knowledge written five thousand years ago. Several of these are now being recognised by modern science.
While,there are three varieties of TulsiKrishna,Rama and Vana,the medicinal properties are not significantly different. Among its innumerable benefits,Tulsi reduces stress,enhances endurance,increases oxygen utilisation,boosts the immune system,slows aging,reduces inflammation,prevents gastric ulcers,protects against radiation,lowers fevers,cholesterol and high blood pressure,protects teeth and gums,fights bacterial,viral and fungal infections,improves digestion and provides a rich supply of anti-oxidants and other nutrients.

The leading active compounds in holy Tulsi include eugenol volatile oil,ursolic acid and rosmarinic acid. The seeds contain essential fatty acidslinoleic acid and linolenic acid. Although not of much nutritional significance,Tulsi does contain vitamins like A and C and minerals calcium,iron,and zinc.
Tulsi can be enjoyed as a simple herbal tea usually about two grams a cup and can frequently be blended with other herbs and spices and used as a medicine or to add flavor to cooking. For medicinal use,consult with a qualified,experienced practitioner of Ayurveda.

Several studies have confirmed holy basils traditionally known actions and therapeutic uses including its remarkable adaptogenic and anti-stress activities,as well as its powerful support for the immune system. An adaptogen has the ability to increase the bodys resistance to stress by stimulating a non-specific,self-regulation response in adapting to stress. Today,herbalists are beginning to classify holy basil as a primary adaptogen and are finding that holy basil modulates the stress response and increases adaptive energy. This property makes it specially relevant to stressed lifestyles of today.

While modern scientific research provides only preliminary evidence of the health benefits of Tulsi,many more studies are needed to validate all the benefits. These can place Tulsi in a powerful functional food category.
But scientific studies also sometimes have limitations. They are time consuming. Isolating the active principles from the whole herb often gives confounding results. However,there must be compelling reasons why Tulsi has,for thousands of years,remained one of Indias most sacred healing plants.

Although Tulsi has a long history of use and safety in traditional medicine,there is limited research on Tulsi and its interactions with other herbs and drugs. However,it is not recommended for therapeutic use during pregnancy and lactation and should not be given to infants and toddlers.
Tulsi has also been reported to have mild hypoglycemic lowering of blood sugar and blood thinning properties which must be kept in mind by diabetics and heart patients on medication.