Health benefits of Tulsi (Holy Basil)
Tulsi, also known as Holy Basil, holds a special place in Ayurveda and is widely cultivated throughout Southeast Asia. It is native to India and revered by Hindus, who consider it sacred and even worship it.
Three main types of Tulsi are commonly found in India:
1. **Ram Tulsi**: Bright green leaves
2. **Krishna Tulsi**: Purplish green leaves
3. **Vana Tulsi**: Common wild variety
From an Ayurvedic perspective, tulsi has a pungent taste (rasa), a heating energetic effect (virya), and a pungent post-digestive effect (vipaka). It balances vata and kapha doshas but may increase pitta in excess.
While tulsi certainly benefits physical health, it is especially renowned for its ability to benefit the mind and spirit.
Health Benefits of Tulsi:
- 1. Natural Immunity Booster: - Tulsi has anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-bacterial, and anti-viral properties.
- It helps in lowering blood sugar levels and improve insulin sensitivity in individuals with type 2 diabetes.
- Adaptogenic properties help the body cope with stress and promote overall well-being. - 2. Cure Fever: - Though considered heating, tulsi helps maintain a normal body temperature—an Ayurvedic quality called its prabhava.
- A decoction (kadha) made from Tulsi leaves can reduce fever.Consume it twice a day for best results. - 3. Skin Infection: - applying a paste of tulsi leaves on affected areas can prevent infection and relieve inflammation and pain.
- 4. Stress Relief: - Anti-stress agents in Tulsi improve mental health.Tulsi tea can have a calming effect and helps in reducing stress.
- 5. Oral Health: - Get rid of bad breath by using Tulsi.
- 6. Lung Health:- Tulsi is renowned for its support of the lungs. It helps remove kapha buildup and promotes healthy, uncongested breathing.
- 7. Cold and Cough: - Consume Tulsi decoction to avoid seasonal diseases like cough and cold.
- 8. Healthy Circulation:- Tulsi promotes healthy circulation by working in the plasma tissue layer (rasa dhatu). By extension, it encourages a strong and healthy heart.
- 9. Weight Management:- Tulsi helps promote healthy weight management by affecting the adipose tissue layer (meda dhatu).
- 10. Balancing Doshas:- Tulsi balances vata and kapha doshas. It not only balances kapha in the lungs but also excess kapha and vata in the head and nerves. It is often used to soothe vata in the digestive tract.
These benefits are backed by research and centuries-old traditional knowledge.
Read more about Tulsi Here
Read more about Benefits of Tulsi Here