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Introduction:
Tulsi (तुलसी) is a venerated plant and Hindus worship it in the morning and evening.
A Hindu household is considered incomplete if it doesn't have a tulsi plant in the courtyard.
Apart from its religious significance it is of great medicinal significance, and is a prime herb in Ayurvedic treatment.
Tulasi has been widely known for its health promoting and medicinal value for thousands of years. Commonly called sacred or holy basil, it is a principal herb of Ayurveda, the ancient traditional holistic health system of India. Tulsi is known as “The Incomparable One”, “The Mother Medicine of Nature”, and “The Queen of Herbs”.
Vagbhata, Nighantu Adarsha, Agnipurana, Vishnupurana, Padmapurana, Garudapurana
and Tulsi Kavacham, written between 500 BC and 1200 AD, the plant Tulsi is continuously mentioned as one of the main pillars of herbal medicine.
Common Name:
Hindi - Tulsi
English - Holy Basil
Latin - Ocimum tenuiflorum (Ocimum sanctum L.)
Sanskrit Tulsi, Tulasi, Surasah
Farsi - Rehan
Marathi - Tulas
Tamil - Karuttulaci,
Tulasi
Telugu - Tulasi
Tulsi Plant:
Tulsi is found all over the country. It is an annual plant,
30-90 cm high, much branched; stem and branches usually purplish,
sub- quadrangular; 2.5-5 by 1.6-3.2cm. eliiptic oblong obtuse, pubescent on both sides and minutely
gland- dotted. It is a branched, fragrant and erect herb plant.
The Tulsi flowers are small, reddish-purple in color, present in small compact clusters on cylindrical spikes. The fruits are small and the seeds are reddish-yellow in color. The Tulsi plant with light green leaves is called
Rama Tulsi and the plant variety with dark red leaves is called Krishna or Shyama
/Manjari Tulsi. A variety of white Tulsi is also found.
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Stamp on Tulsi (तुलसी)
Tulsi (Holy Basil) |
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Chemical Constituents:
A variety of biologically active compounds have been isolated from the leaves including ursolic acid, apigenin and
luteolin. Essential oil of Tulsi have antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral
properties and possess 100% larvicidal activity against the Culex mosquitoes.
Tulsi As Deity
From the Skanda Purana "Just by touching Tulsidevi one's body becomes pure. By praying to her, all diseases practically become removed. If one waters her or makes her wet, the fear of Yamaraja
is destroyed." A Hindu household is considered incomplete if it doesn't have a tulsi plant in the courtyard.
The plant is accorded the sixth place among the eight objects of worship in the ritual of the consecration of the
Kalasha, the container of holy water. According to one legend, Tulsi was the incarnation of a princess who fell in love with Lord Krishna, and so had a curse laid on her by his consort Radha. Tulsi is also mentioned in the stories of Meera and of Radha.
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The story of Lord Krishna has it that when Krishna was weighed in gold, not even all the ornaments of Satyabhama could outweigh him. But a single tulsi leaf placed by Rukmani on the pan tilted the scale.
In the Hindu mythology, tulsi is very dear to Lord Vishnu so
tulsi is also called ‘Vishnupriya’. The story goes that Tulsi was the paramour of Lord Vishnu. Out of Jealousy, Lakshmi cursed her into becoming a plant and the Lord transformed himself into the sacred Shalagrama Stone to keep her company.
Tulsi is ceremonially married to Lord Vishnu annually on the 11th bright day of the month of Karttika in the lunar calendar. This festival continues for five days and concludes on the full moon day, which falls in mid October. This ritual, called the
'Tulsi Vivaha' inaugurates the annual marriage season in India.
Tulsi as Medicinal Herb
Tulsi has been widely known for its health promoting and medicinal value for thousands of years. Commonly called sacred or holy basil, it is a principal herb of Ayurveda, the ancient traditional holistic health system of India. Tulsi is known as “The Incomparable One”, “The Mother Medicine of Nature”, and “The Queen of Herbs”.
In Ayurvedic medicines it is used as a whole plant, the
leaves, root, stem and the essential oil.
Essential oil of Tulsi have antibacterial, antifungal and
antiviral properties. It inhibites the growthof E coli, B.anthracis, M.tuberculosis etc. It's antitubercular activity is one-tenth the potency of
streptomycin and one-fourth that of isoniazid. Essential oil of Tulsi has been reported to possess 100%
larvicidal activity against the Culex mosquitoes. Trials have shown excellent
antimalarial activity of Tulsi. It's extracts have marked incecticidal activity
against mosquitoes. Essential oil of Tulsi was found to have anti-allergic properties. When
administered to laboratory animals, the compound was found to inhibit mast cell degranulation and histamine release in
the presence of allergen. These studies reveal the potential role of Ocimum
sanctum extracts in the management of immunological disorders including
allergies and asthma.
Tulsi used in medicines as:
Help to reduce stress: Extracts from the plant have been found to
reduce stress.
Anti diabetic: In a clinical test it is found
that person suffering from Type II diabetes was given a daily dose of 2.5 g
of Tulsi leaves powder or juice of tulsi for two week periods. The results showed
17.6 % reduction in fasting blood glucose and 7.3% decline in postprandial blood
glucose on treatment with Tulsi.
Heart ailments and Blood pressure:
Tulsi (basil) has a positive effect over blood pressure and also a de-toxicant, its regular use prevents heart attacks. A tonic
may be prepared by mixing 1 gm of dry 'Tulsi' leaves with a spoonful of butter
and some candy sugar or honey.Take twice a day; first thing in the morning and
before going to bed at night. The drinking of Tulsi-leaf tea keeps the blood
pressure normal.
In Cough: The drinking of Tulsi-leaf tea keeps one free from cough and colds and other
ailments associated with 'Kapha' dosha in the body. Or you
could chew the leaves from time to time.
In seasonal fever: Take tulsi leaf juice with pepper thrice a
day to bring down the temperature and clearing the infection.
In bronchitis in children: The juice of the leaves is given
thrice a day in catarrh and bronchitis in children.
In night blindness': Instill 2 drops of tulsi
leaves in the eyes daily at night blindless.
In ear infection: When there is a pus in the ear
and the ear emits a foul ordour, a few drops of tulsi extract should
be installed in the ear to clear the pus and combat infection.
In irritation or pain in the throat: Gargle with warm
water in which tulsi leaves have been boiled, and drink the same,
until relief is obtained.
In hives or urticaria: Take an infusion of tulsi
leaves, neem leaves and fenugreek seeds with honey.
Tulsi in Ayurveda
Ayurvedic practice recommends Tulsi in several formulations to enhance immunity
and metabolic functions as well as in the management of respiratory problems.
Recent pharmacological studies have established the anabolic, hypoglycemic ,
smooth muscle relaxant, cardiac depressant, antifertility,
adaptogenic and immunomodulator properties of this plant.
The Carak Samhita is primarily a book on medical therapeutics
in Ayurveda, describing tulsi as herbal health tonics and rejuvenators for longevity and prevention of disease, as well as daily regimens for better living, including diet which varies for different body types and different diseases. The text integrates the art and science of living.
Vagbhata (Godbole et al.,1966), Nighantu Adarsha ( Vaidya,1985), Agnipurana (Vedavyasa,1966),
Vishnupurana (Garg, 1982), Padmapurana (
Vedvyasa, 1960), Garudapurana (Vedavyasa, 1964; Shastri, 1968) and Tulsi Kavacham (Dymock et al., 1893), written between 500 BC and 1200 AD, the plant Tulsi is continuously mentioned as one of the main pillars of herbal medicine. Early references describing
Ayurvedic, Unani and folklore uses of Tulsi are noted by Dymock et al., (1893); Nadkarni, (1908-revised, 1982); Kirtikar and Basu, (1935); Varier, (1996);
Sharma, (1999) and Chopra et al.,(1996).
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