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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.
The Poona study, presented at the British Pharmaceutical Conference in Manchester, U.K., found that basil extracts protect against free radicals.
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. |
Stamp on Tulsi (तुलसी)
Tulsi (Holy Basil) |
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. |
Tulsi is sacred because Brahma resides in the roots, Vishnu resides in the stems and
leaves and Rudra resides in the flowering tops. |
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 growth of 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 insecticide 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 deregulation 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 Disease. 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.
In Maleria : Tulsi plant is a repellent against mosquitoes and other insects and Tulsi leaves and juice extracted from the leaves are found to be cures against malaria.
In Indigestion: Tulsi is also a remedy against constipation, indigestion, poor appetite and acidity.
Health problems in women: Tulsi is known to help solve health problems in women that are associated with menstruation and pregnancy. Tulsi strengthens the body's immune system in children and protects them from common infections.
In Swine Flu: Tulsi can not only keep the dreaded
Swine
flu or H1N1 flu at bay but also help in fast recovery of an afflicted person, Ayurvedic practitioners claim.
"The anti-flu property of Tulsi has been discovered by medical experts across the world quite recently. Tulsi improves the body's overall defence mechanism including its ability to fight viral
diseases. Tulsi can control swine flu and it should be taken in fresh form. Juice or paste of at least 20-25 medium sized leaves should be consumed twice a day on an empty
stomach.
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. Ayruvedic practioners recommend consumption of 2 grams of the freshly dried herb,
usually with tea, twice daily for preventive therapy. Higher doses are used in curative therapies.
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).
Tulsi Tea
Tulsi is taken as an herbal tea.
The herb has now conquered several country's tea houses, which offer Tulsi in combination
with other aromatic blends. Whether hot or cold, the tea brewed from the
ingredients tastes equally good. Tulsi tea is an excellent tea made from
Tulsi, green rooibos, chamomile, and rose blossoms which gives relief for
colds, fever, bronchitis, and coughs.
Tulsi Slows Aging
Researchers at the Poona College of Pharmacy claim that the herb tulsi (holy basil) has antioxidant properties that fights aging.
The Poona study, presented at the British Pharmaceutical Conference in Manchester, U.K., found that basil extracts protect against free radicals.
Ayruvedic practioners recommend consumption of 2 grams of the freshly dried herb, usually with tea, twice daily for preventive therapy. Higher doses are used in curative therapies. Tulsi leaves have a pungent taste and are used in some Indian dishes and its extract is
popular in some Ayurvedic medicines as a rejuvenation drug.
Tulsi aromatic oil
Tulsi Oil is extensively used as a flavouring for confectionary, baked goods, sauces, tomato pastes, pickles, fancy vinegars, spiced meats, sausages and beverages. It is also used for scenting dental and oral preparations and in certain perfume compounds, notably jasmine blends to impart strength and
smoothness.. Essential oil of Tulsi have antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral
properties and possess 100% larvicidal activity against the Culex mosquitoes. The plant’s essential oil is extracted and used for medicinal and aromatic purposes.
The oil is used in traditional medicine for coughs, colds and chest congestions,
mosquito-repellent, pesticide and flavouring agent.
Tulsi helping women against poverty
An initiative for manufacturing and marketing of tulsi garlands in
the remote Behtana village in Bharatpur district of Rajasthan has ensured
profitable monetary returns for nearly 150 women who were earlier waging a daily struggle against poverty.
The Lupin Human Welfare and Research Foundation has launched the project
for evolving a workable model for livelihood in the village which it had
adopted about three years ago. The task of preparing tulsi garlands was
selected in view of Behtana’s proximity to places of religious significance in
Uttar Pradesh.
According to an official release here, places such as Mathura, Govardhan
and Vrindavan have a high demand for tulsi garlands. The Lupin Foundation
invited an expert from Jait village in Mathura district to train women in
fabricating the garlands. The Lupin Foundation provided loans of Rs.10,000
each to the women for purchasing new machines and arranged for bringing
raw material from Jait. Women slowly acquired proficiency in the job and
each of them is now stated to be earning Rs.4,000 to Rs.5,000 a month by manufacturing 40 tulsi garlands everyday. A number of traders were
approaching the women’s group in Behtana and placing orders for bulk supply. |
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In Keniya:
In several community based tulsi farms in Kenya,
village women remove the leaves from harvested branches. The leaves are first sorted according to size, weighed and the farmer paid accordingly. The leaf then takes four days to dry, spread out on trays much like in a tea factory, but without electric blowers for drying. The leaves are then packed into 30-kg sacks. The distillation room can handle 10 kgs of leaf per process, extracting 200-300 gms of essential oil from the leaf. The entire process, from steaming to decanting takes three hours.
This is an ideal economic initiative that is alsovenvironmental and suitable to
poor women of every country.
In India: Around 300 women across Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh are successfully engaged in organic tulsi farming for the last 10 years. After a decade, they have not only managed to become successful farmers by profitably growing organic tulsi for Organic India, a
Lucknow- based multinational company, but have also secured the promised medical facilities and even managed to send their children to school.
Tulsi to save Taj Mahal from pollutants
Tulsi (Occinum sanctum) chosen for its anti-pollutant anti-oxidation and
air-purifying properties making it an ideal ornamental shrub in the vicinity of the Taj Mahal. Now Tulsi is being used to help Taj Mahal to
retain its pristine allure. Even as the monument of love yellowing with age awaits its promised beauty pack for well over two years, forest
department has come up with another quick-fix project -- plant a Tulsi drive in Agra. The recommended complexion care regimen,
officers claim, has full backing from ancient texts which hold Tulsi to be the panacea for all problems from cosmic to cosmetic.
The department is all set to launch the Tulsi plantation drive from January 2009. The public-private joint venture is expected to
provide an eco-protection cover to sensitive Taj trapezium zone surrounding the 17th century monument as well as the other two world
heritage monuments -- Agra Fort and Aitma-ud-Daula tomb. |
Organic tulsi farming
in
Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh
Taj Mahal |
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