Tulsi is an aromatic plant belonging to Lamiaceae family. It is also known as Holy Basil or ‘Queen of herbs’. It is mostly grown in Indian Subcontinent and in Southeast Asian Tropics. Tulsi plant is 12-24 inches tall and has hairy stems. It bears long blade leaves and small purple flowers. Two varieties of this plant are majorly found in India and Nepal. These two varieties are Rama Tulsi (Green coloured leaves) and Krishna Tulsi (Purple coloured leaves). It tastes bitter and has a strong aroma.
Tulsi plant plays an important role in natural medicinal sciences like Ayurveda and Unani. In Ayurveda, it is popular due to its effects on tridosha. The title 'Queen of herbs' is well-deserved by this plant due to its super healing and nurturing properties. It has great medicinal value and is widely used in many forms.
With a great variety of nutrients like vitamins, lutein, zeaxanthin and oils it is perfect for making the body stronger, healthier and more powerful. In order to harness these nutritional values, generally, tulsi leaves and Tulsi seeds are used.
It should be noted that Tulsi leaves should never be chewed and eaten as its acids can cause tooth decay and changes the pH of the mouth. It is better to consume tulsi in the form of supplements with tulsi extracts, tulsi powder or tulsi tea.
Benefits of Tulsi
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Reduces Stress: Tulsi is rich in antioxidants which take charge of reducing free radicals. Stress and anxiety caused by such free radicals is reduced to a great extent by consuming tulsi or tulsi extracts. Blood pressure affected by stress can be handled quite well with the use of Tulsi. It can also balance the cortisol levels in the body to reduce severe stress.
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Oral Health: Often used as a mouth freshener, Tulsi has the power to eliminate bad bacteria in the mouth. Dental issues like plaque, cavities and tartar can also be effectively dealt with the use of Tulsi. It is even popular for healing mouth ulcers and for preventing the growth of oral cancer cells.
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Good Vision: The anti-inflammatory properties of Tulsi help in healing eye infections. The recovery period of harmful diseases like cataract and conjunctivitis also speeds up with the use of Tulsi.
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Protection Against Diabetes: Tulsi helps in improving pancreatic cell health and insulin secretion. This hypoglycaemic action of Tulsi is highly beneficial for diabetic patients. It can even protect individuals from the onset of diabetes.
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Improves Skin: Skin issues like acne, pimples, blemishes, wrinkles can be reduced with the anti-bacterial and anti-allergic qualities of tulsi. It clears the body of toxic wastes and brings a cleansing effect on the skin as well as on the body. Drinking water with tulsi boiled in it also helps with skin issues like itching, rashes, dryness. Skin allergies like dermatitis, eczema, swelling etc. are also reduced by the wonderful qualities of Tulsi.
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Infections and Allergies: Tulsi is rich in anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. Bacterial, fungal and respiratory infections are best dealt with naturally with Tulsi. Viral infections contributing towards fever, cold and cough can also find their way out of the body with the help of Tulsi.
- Improves Immunity: Tulsi leaves possess hepatoprotective properties which protect from liver damage and improve its functioning. These leaves also help in regulating stress levels and maintain an appropriate hormonal balance. Tulsi plant is also considered beneficial for improving the functioning of several organs which ultimately enhances immunity.