Tulsi (Holy Basil): The Queen of Herbs

Tulsi Leaves: Upon hearing the name Tulsi, the sacred plant comes to mind. Tulsi is a plant found in almost every household in India, regardless of size. It is considered auspicious to have Tulsi planted in homes in India, not just for religious beliefs but also for its scientific benefits. Tulsi is believed to be beneficial for health and prevents diseases from entering the house. Every Hindu woman performs the worship of Tulsi in the morning. For ages, Tulsi has been seen as a medicinal herb, providing various benefits from its leaves to its fruits and stems.

Indian Hindus consider Tulsi as a deity and perform rituals and worship accordingly. Tulsi Vivah is a popular festival celebrated on the day of Ekadashi after Diwali, where Tulsi is married off. Hindus offer Tulsi to the deities as a form of offering. Tulsi is also utilized in various medicines. We can easily incorporate Tulsi into our daily lives at home and find relief from many ailments.

The scientific name of Tulsi Is ‘Ocimum Tenuiflorum’, commonly known as Holy Basil, or Tulasi, and is an aromatic perennial plant in the Lamiaceae family. Native to tropical and subtropical regions of Australia, Malaysia, Asia, and the western Pacific, it is widely cultivated across the Southeast Asian tropics. Holy basil has also escaped cultivation and naturalized in many tropical regions of the Americas, where it is considered an agricultural and environmental weed.

Benefits of Tulsi Leaves:

1. Tulsi plants spread a pleasant fragrance in their surroundings.
2. It helps alleviate internal health issues.
3. It protects against cold and cough.
4. It purifies the air.
5. It aids digestion.
6. It provides freshness.

Uses of Tulsi Leaves:

• Applying crushed Tulsi leaves on the face helps in removing pimples and blemishes.
• Drinking water infused with Tulsi enhances the body’s immune system.
• Consuming Tulsi leaves eliminates bad breath.
• Tulsi oil is used for relieving pain.

  

• Tulsi is used to prepare various beverages.

Nutritional Value of Tulsi Leaves

The following nutrients are found in 1 cup (42 grams) of Tulsi leaves:

Benefits of Tulsi Leaves

Health Benefits of Tulsi Leaves

• Reduces Fever:
  Tulsi has antibacterial, antifungal, and antibiotic properties, which help in reducing fever. Whether the fever is due to an infection or malaria, Tulsi is effective in lowering it. Ayurveda especially recommends drinking Tulsi tea during a fever. Consuming it provides quick relief, particularly beneficial for children.
• How to Make Tulsi Tea:
  Boil some Tulsi leaves and cardamom powder in ½ liter of water until it reduces to half. You can also add milk and sugar if desired. Give this to the patient every 2-3 hours.
• Works Against Diabetes:
  Tulsi helps in the production and maintenance of insulin in the body. It lowers blood sugar levels, which helps in controlling diabetes.
• Relieves Stress:
  According to research, Tulsi helps remove stress-causing hormones from the body. It is known as an anti-stress agent. Tulsi aids in the normal functioning of all our cells and improves blood circulation. Doctors also recommend consuming Tulsi for high stress. Chewing 10-12 Tulsi leaves twice a day can significantly reduce stress.
• Removes Kidney Stones:
  Tulsi can help alleviate kidney stone problems. Kidney stones are mainly caused by increased uric acid levels in the blood. Tulsi is capable of reducing this uric acid. The oil present in Tulsi helps dissolve kidney stones and acts as a pain reliever, thus providing relief from the pain associated with kidney stones. Therefore, it is a useful home remedy for kidney stone issues.

  

How to Use Tulsi

For Kidney Stones:
Extract Tulsi juice and mix it with honey. Drink this daily for at least 6 months. The kidney stones will be expelled without any medical treatment.

For Fighting Cancer:
Due to its antioxidant properties, Tulsi helps in cases of breast cancer and tobacco-induced oral cancer. Chewing Tulsi leaves daily prevents cancer cells from growing in the body.

For Quit Smoking:
Tulsi contains anti-stress agents that aid in quitting smoking. Reducing stress decreases the urge to smoke, making it easier to quit. Whenever you feel the urge to smoke, chew a few Tulsi leaves. This will quickly diminish your craving. Additionally, chewing Tulsi helps recover the damage caused by years of smoking.

For Boosting Immunity:
Tulsi increases the body’s immunity, preventing common ailments like colds, coughs, flu, and viral infections. Drinking Tulsi tea during cold and rainy seasons is very beneficial, protecting you from various illnesses.

For Relieving Pain:
Tulsi leaves can alleviate headaches regardless of the cause. Tulsi contains pain-relieving properties, offering relief from various types of pain.

How to Use for Pain Relief:
Take some water in a pot, add a few Tulsi leaves, and boil. Let it cool slightly, then soak a towel in it and wring it out. Place the towel on your head. Your headache will soon subside. You can also use Tulsi oil instead of leaves.

For Treating Diarrhea and Vomiting:
Tulsi can easily remedy these issues. For diarrhea, grind some Tulsi leaves and mix with honey and cumin powder. Give this mixture to the patient every 2 hours for relief. For vomiting, mix Tulsi juice with ginger juice and cardamom powder and drink it. This home remedy effectively alleviates diarrhea and vomiting.

Other Benefits of Tulsi 

• Asthma: If you suffer from asthma, mix Tulsi leaves with black salt and chew them regularly.
• Leprosy: Tulsi can help cure leprosy. Applying a paste of Tulsi can help treat this condition.
• Ear Pain or Hearing Issues: For ear pain or difficulty hearing, mix camphor with Tulsi juice, warm it slightly, and put a few drops into the ear for quick relief.
• Memory Improvement: Chewing Tulsi leaves enhances memory for both children and adults.

Tulsi Leaves’ Benefits for Skin

Tulsi offers numerous skin benefits:

• Many cosmetic companies use Tulsi as an ingredient in their products due to its antibacterial properties, which protect the skin from bacteria.
• Consuming dried Tulsi leaves or Tulsi juice purifies the blood, leading to glowing, clear skin and helping to reduce acne, making the skin healthier.
• Applying a paste of gram flour and Tulsi on the skin can clear dark spots. Rubbing Tulsi leaves on the skin also helps remove dark spots.
• Boil Tulsi leaves in mustard oil until they turn black, then cool and apply the mixture to your skin. This treatment is particularly effective in the winter for quick healing of the skin.
• According to Ayurvedic doctors, Tulsi is capable of solving major skin problems. Regularly applying a paste of Tulsi to the face can significantly improve skin health.

  

Benefits of Tulsi Leaves for Hair

Tulsi is also beneficial for hair, providing various advantages such as:

• Prevents Hair Fall: The main causes of hair fall are dandruff and itching. Adding a few drops of Tulsi oil to your daily hair oil can help alleviate these issues.
• Reduces Itching and Hair Fall: Applying a paste of Tulsi, hibiscus, and neem leaves to your scalp can prevent itching and reduce hair fall.
• Nourishes Hair: Regularly massaging your scalp with Tulsi oil energizes your hair.
• Internal Benefits: Consuming Tulsi leaves or drinking Tulsi juice also benefits your hair.
• Promotes Hair Growth: Mix Tulsi powder with coconut oil and massage it into your scalp. Within a few days, your hair will become longer, thicker, and shinier.

Side Effects of Tulsi Leaves

Tulsi has the unique advantage of having minimal side effects when consumed and can be easily grown at home. However, there are some potential side effects:

• Eugenol Overdose: Excessive consumption of Tulsi can lead to high levels of eugenol, which is harmful. Eugenol is also found in harmful substances like cigarettes. It can cause symptoms like coughing up blood, rapid breathing, and blood in the urine.
• Blood Thinning: Tulsi thins the blood, so it should not be taken with other medications.

I hope reading about the benefits of Tulsi has helped you understand its usefulness, and that you will start using it today. If you don’t have it at home, get some and plant it to experience the freshness it brings.