The Holy Basil Plant-the Health Benefits of Tulsi Leaves, Seeds, Juice and Oil
Tulsi or Holy Basil Plant
federico stevanin via freedigitalphotos.net - Image: federico stevanin / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
About Tulsi
Latin Name: Ocimum Sanctum
Holy basil is called Tulsi in India.
Tulsi is looked upon as a sacred plant in India. The plant is venerated and worshipped daily in Hindu families, and grown, even today, in most of the Hindu households. Temples have a tulsi plant in their premises.
Tulsi plant is a herb used for medicinal purposes in Ayurveda. Since it is hot by nature, reduce its consumption in summer.
Tulsi Tea
Nutrients In Tulsi or Holy Basil
100 grams of tulsi or holy basil leaves provide :
- Just 23 calories and no cholesterol.
- Very high amounts of Vitamin K (345%) and Vitamin A (175%) and lesser amounts of vitamins C (30%) and folates (17%)
- High levels of the minerals manganese (57%), copper (43%), iron (40%) and lesser amounts of calcium (18%), magnesium (16%), zinc (7%) and potassium (6%).
- Several polyphenolic flavonoids like orientin and vicenin that have antioxidant like action.
- Many essential oils like eugenol, citronellol, linalool, citral, limonene and terpineol having anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial action
- High levels of the phytonutrients betacarotene, lutein, cryptoxanthin and zeaxanthin.
Health Benefits Of Tulsi
Basil benefits in the following health conditions:
- High Cholesterol and Obesity,
- Constipation, Acidity, Gas, Colitis,
- Prostate problems, Mental Retardation,
- Colds, Flu, Sinusitis and Recurring Fever,
- Asthma & Allergy,
- Headache, Migraine
- Leucoderma
- Broken bones
How To Make Tulsi Tea
In a cup add 1 tablespoon fresh tulsi leaves after tearing them.
Fill the cup with boiling water. Cover and let the leaves steep for 5 minutes.
Strain add 1 teaspoon of honey and drink.
Specific Uses Of Tulsi For Health As Per Ayurveda
For Remaining Healthy
Grind 6 Tulsi leaves. Take this with 1 spoon honey once a day. It improves immunity against various diseases.
Leucoderma
Apply Tulsi oil 2-3 times a day on the affected areas.
Method to make Tulsi oil
Take a small whole tulsi plant along with the roots. Grind the whole plant coarsely and add 500 ml water and 500 ml of Sesame oil. Simmer on low heat till the water evaporates and only oil remains. Strain out the tulsi. Tulsi oil is ready for use after cooling.
Cough & Bronchitis
Take 7 tulsi leaves coarsely cut. and add 5 coarsely ground cloves. Add 100 ml water to this and simmer on low heat till 50 ml water remains. Strain this in a cup add rock salt to taste. Drink this hot.
Indigestion
Take 20 tulsi leaves, 5 whole black peppercorns. Chew both together after meals. It relieves indigestion.
Hiccups
To 12 grams tulsi juice add 6 grams honey. Mix this and drink. It stops hiccups.
Nosebleed
Putting 4 drops of tulsi juice in the affected nostril stops bleeding.
Ear Pain & Difficulty in Hearing
Warm some tulsi juice. Put 4 drops in the affected ear. It stops pain. If there is discharge from the ear, continue this for some days.
Giddiness/Sunstroke
Add 5 drops tulsi juice and 1 teaspoon sugar in half a cup of water. Drink this to stop giddiness and prevent heatstroke.
Strength Improver
After morning ablutions, take 5 leaves of tulsi and chew and swallow them with water. It increases strength and memory.
Tulsi juice 8 drops mixed with water and drunk daily improves muscle strength and makes bones strong.
Boil seeds of tulsi in milk. Add sugar and drink. This increases strength.
Digestive System
Grind fresh tulsi leaves. Add water and consume. It relieves indigestion. Consumption of 5 tulsi leaves everyday helps in digesting food faster.
Water Purification
Dropping a few tulsi leaves in water purifies the water.
Disclaimer
The information provided in this hub is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your physician, or health care provider before taking any home remedies or supplements or embarking on a new health regime.
Some Of My Other Hubs On Healthy Foods
- Ajinomoto, MSG (MonoSodium Glutamate) - The Common F...
Ajinomoto, MSG or mono sodium glutamate, the cause of a variety of disease conditions is added to a mind boggling number of foods. Read the adverse effects of this slow poison food additive that is added to enhance the perception of flavor of food.. - Health Benefits Of Oregano Oil
Oregano (Origanum vulgare) is a Mediterranean herb. Read about the amazing health benefits of oregano oil that is obtained from the leaves and flowers of this herb... - How To Make Gold Water, Silver Water And Copper Wate...
Since ancient times metals have been used to treat various health conditions by the use of metal charged water. To learn more about this traditional Indian alternate therapy, read on... - The Health Benefits Of Magnesium - Calm The Muscles,...
Magnesium is a macro mineral that is involved in over 300 essential metabolic reactions in our body, most of us are deficient in magnesium. To know, the magnitude of importance of this mineral and how its deficiency affects our body, read on... - Health Benefits Of Himalayan Salt And Benefits Of So...
Salt is as essential a component of the human body as water. It is needed for various functions in the body. Himalayan salt is the only salt that provides all the essential minerals that the body needs. find out the health benefits of Himalayan salt - Dragon (Pitaya) Fruit - Nutrients, Nutritional And Health Benefits
Learn about the amazing health benefits of this tropical, exotic, delicious nutritional superfruit which has a unique shape and an intense color... - Brussels Sprouts Health Benefits
Brussels Sprouts have the highest concentration of glucosinolates, among all cruciferous vegetables, which reduce risk to developing a variety of cancers. To know many more health benefits of Brussels Sprouts, read on...
Medicinal Herb Holy Basil - Tulsi
Benefits Of Tulsi
How to Make Basil Tea Using Fresh OR Dried Basil
This content is for informational purposes only and does not substitute for formal and individualized diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, and/or dietary advice from a licensed medical professional. Do not stop or alter your current course of treatment. If pregnant or nursing, consult with a qualified provider on an individual basis. Seek immediate help if you are experiencing a medical emergency.
© 2011 Rajan Singh Jolly
Comments
Rajan Singh Jolly (author) from From Mumbai, presently in Jalandhar, INDIA. on August 16, 2013:
Thelyricwriter, the benefits of tulsi are truly amazing and the best way is to grow the Holy basil plant yourself. It doesn't require a lot of space. You can grow it in a pot too. Thanks for the visit and sharing.
Richard Ricky Hale from West Virginia on August 16, 2013:
Rajan, great article my friend. I'd like to get my hands on some of this. The benefits are amazing, I never knew it was so healthy for you. Great share, voted up, useful, interesting, and shared.
Rajan Singh Jolly (author) from From Mumbai, presently in Jalandhar, INDIA. on June 26, 2013:
Jennifer, tulsi has a lot of benefits. I'd love to write a hub on the different varieties of tulsi but time is a big constraint. Maybe, one of these days! Thanks for stopping by.
jennifer west on June 25, 2013:
I would love to see you write another article on Tulsi, the various kinds such as Vana, Rama and Krishna and what the differences are. Maybe you already have and I just haven't seen it yet.I have these three specific kinds that I buy organic, imported from India. Just smelling the herbs make me feel well. I infuse them in oil and use them in lotion also. I also drink the tea to support my adrenal gland. I find that it really helps with anxiety and mental clarity.
Rajan Singh Jolly (author) from From Mumbai, presently in Jalandhar, INDIA. on March 21, 2013:
@ Radhika - Thanks for reading and I appreciate the votes and sharing.
@ Vasmenon - tulsi is a wonderful antibacterial. Glad you are motivated to use it now. Thanks for reading.
Vasanthan R Menon from India on March 21, 2013:
Excellent compilation indeed of the benefits of Tulsi. We grow Tulsi at home, and use in many of the home remedies mentioned here. I remember my grandmother, used to chew 3 leaves of tulsi everyday, for most of her 92 years. She never had a history of any of the modern life style diseases. This hub has reminded me to start that habit now!!!
We used to put a few leaves of tulsi in the water we boil to drink, since it is useful to increase immunity!!
Great hub Rajan!!
Radhika Sreekanth from Mumbai,India on March 20, 2013:
Holy Tulsi is Lord Krishna's favorite too. That's why it's such a powerful all rounder.
Up, useful, beautiful and interesting. Sharing too.
Rajan Singh Jolly (author) from From Mumbai, presently in Jalandhar, INDIA. on March 05, 2013:
Thanks moonlake. I appreciate you sparing time to visit and read.
moonlake from America on March 05, 2013:
We have grown basil in our garden and use it in our recipes. Great information. Voted up and shared.
Rajan Singh Jolly (author) from From Mumbai, presently in Jalandhar, INDIA. on February 10, 2013:
Thant's good to hear Devika. We makes basil tea in winter. It is good to prevent/treat colds and coughs.
Devika Primić from Dubrovnik, Croatia on February 10, 2013:
Extraordinary information about such a wonder herb, we have basil in the summer and dried basil for tea, that is new to me.
Rajan Singh Jolly (author) from From Mumbai, presently in Jalandhar, INDIA. on December 16, 2012:
Hi Peggy,
We dry basil for use in winter, when fresh leaves are not available. Dried basil can also be used in making tea which can be drunk for hypoglycemia, stress relief, as an internal cleansing agent to remove toxins etc.
Its always a pleasure to see you at these health hubs. Thanks for the votes and share.
Peggy Woods from Houston, Texas on December 16, 2012:
I grow basil every year in our garden. While most of it is now gone until the Spring, I have preserved and frozen much of it in pesto for use during the winter months. Interesting reading about the health benefits as per usual with your hubs. Up votes and sharing.
Rajan Singh Jolly (author) from From Mumbai, presently in Jalandhar, INDIA. on November 25, 2012:
No, though tulsi is cooling in nature there is no reference to its benefits in burning in urethra, Vinod. Shilajit can benefits in such cases.
Vinod gupta on November 24, 2012:
Whether tulsi seeds are good for treatment in burning in urethra
Rajan Singh Jolly (author) from From Mumbai, presently in Jalandhar, INDIA. on July 05, 2012:
Mekenzie, Glad you liked the information. Thanks for sparing time to read and comment.
Susan Ream from Michigan on July 05, 2012:
rajan, I'm so happy to have another natural remedy to try when something ails me. :) I've always believed that God created a cure for every menacing ailment through nature .. it's up to us to discover it.
Great Hub! Thank you,
Mekenzie
Rajan Singh Jolly (author) from From Mumbai, presently in Jalandhar, INDIA. on October 29, 2011:
heavenbound, thanks for taking time out time to read the hub and for your appreciative comments. Thanks also for voting it up and I'm glad you found it useful and interesting.
Comments by readers who read the hub and leave a feedback is a shot in the arm and an incentive to do better.
Thank you once again and I really appreciate your input.
Rajan Singh Jolly (author) from From Mumbai, presently in Jalandhar, INDIA. on October 29, 2011:
heavenbound, thanks for taking time out time to read the hub and for your appreciative comments. Thanks also for voting it up and I'm glad you found it useful and interesting.
Comments by readers who read the hub and leave a feedback is a shot in the arm and an incentive to do better.
Thank you once again and I really appreciate your input.
heavenbound5511 from Under the shadow of the Almighty God! on October 28, 2011:
Hi Rajan,
Very interesting page- God made all kinds of herbs for us to be able to heal with and stay healthy!
Wow basil purifies water!
Voted up and interesting&useful!
Rajan Singh Jolly (author) from From Mumbai, presently in Jalandhar, INDIA. on October 16, 2011:
I am glad my hub has been informative to you. thanks
Dora Weithers from The Caribbean on October 16, 2011:
All I knew about the holy basil until now is that the scent is refreshing and it makes a good tea. Thanks for introducing me to the power of this herb. Voted USEFUL.
Ruchira from United States on October 11, 2011:
I am a big fan of Tulsi but unfortunately, we get the hybrid version in the US. It sure has so many benefits. Thank you for the above.
