Holy Basil (Tulsi) - Benefits of Natural Healing Herb
Holy Basil (Tulsi) is cultivated throughout world and finds a place in every Hindu home and near temples. Root, seeds and leaves, mainly the last, are used in medicine.
There are two varieties of tulsi, black and white, of which the black one is usually used. The juice of leaves is pungent, hot; it contains anti pyretic properties; it helps to make vayu and kapha subside and is a stimulant as it contains an active ingredient known as thymol.
The seeds are diaphoretic and unctuous. The tulsi contains an essential aromatic oil. It is a mosquito repellant and is therefore sometimes called "mosquito plant".
It is a well known home remedy. The powder of black pepper, mixed with the juice of tulsi leaves is given in malarial fever.
There are some preparations available which are given in the juice of the tulsi with ginger to patients who are unconscious and have reached a stage of collapse, where the pulse beat is imperceptible and the heart is sinking. At such times, the medical preparations given with ginger and tulsi juice do work wonders and the patient is brought back to consciousness.
The juice of leaves is fed to a person who is unconscious through snake – bite, and 1 to 2 teaspoonfuls are given at an interval of 2 to 3 hours. The juice is also applied on the whole body. It is applied in case of scorpion sting as well.
In ordinary form, the juice of the tulsi with cinnamon, cloves, cardamom. A little sugar and milk helps a lot in common cold and influenza. It brings about perspiration, reduces fever, pain in the joints and acts as an expectorant. Sometimes the juice of the leaf is applied all over the body in cases of malarial fever.
A few drops of the juice poured into the ear stops earache. The juice of leaves serves as a rejuvenator if taken twice a day at the rate of one teaspoonful. It gives a glow to the complexion.
The tulsi has been used in India from the Vedic period. At the time of epidemics and endemics it acts as a prophylactic.
The juice of the leaves given with the juice of garlic and honey reduces cough in a wonderful way. The juice cheeks vomiting; it removes intestinal worms.
Leaf – juice is used along with honey to make medical preparations. In certain varieties of skin disorders like itching, ring – worm and impure blood, the juice is applied on the affected part, as also taken internally.
Some mix a little lemon juice with it, which would be more effective in cases of ringworm, but in ordinary skin troubles, the juice of the tulsi alone would suffice.
Its seeds, mixed with gur or jaggery, taken morning and evening make a nutritious tonic, produce an aphrodisiac effect, and the preparation is useful in spermatorrhoea.
The powder of the root, taken with ghee daily in the evening produces a powerful tonic effect.
Another variety of tulsi known as jangli or vana tulsi is also used for medicinal purposes. One or two leaves are kept in the mouth to remove the foul smell, stomatitis and counteract diarrohoea.
The Tulsi is available every where with ease, and being very cheap and effective at the same time, it is quite a useful home remedy.
