Tulsi/Holy Basil: Complete Health Package

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Hope you are liking my posts. Today we will discuss about Tulsi or Holy Basil. How Tulsi is a complete Health Package. We all know that Tulsi is a most beneficial plant. It neutralizes negativity and spreads positivity in the environment. “One Tulsi Leaf a day keeps cancer a bay”. Health is a state of complete harmony of the body, mind and spirit. To live a healthy life keep your mind healthy. Let’s analyze how Tulsi or Holy Basil is a complete health Package.

Tulsi:

1. Tulsi is also known as Indian Basil or Holy Basil.

2. Tulsi is referred to as ‘Queen of Herbs’ in India.

3. Tulsi is a sacred plant in Hindu Belief.

4. Tulsi is an aromatic shrub in basil family ‘Lamiaceae’.

Origin of Tulsi:

It is thought that Tulsi has been originated in North Central India and now grows native throughout the eastern world tropics. Tulsi is now cultivated in Southeast Asian Tropics. Researches from Central University of Punjab, Bathinda have found that this plant originates in North Central India. They suggest that evolution of Tulsi is related with cultural migratory patterns.

Importance of Tulsi in Hinduism:

Tulsi leaves are part in worship of Vishnu and his avatars including Krishna and Rama. Tulsi is worshipped as the avatar of Lakshmi in Hinduism. Traditionally Tulsi is planted in Centre of Central courtyard of Hindu houses.

How we can grow Tulsi plant at home:

1. Fill a flower pot with high quality of soil and water it thoroughly.

2. Sow the seeds ¼ inch beneath the soil.

3. Keep the soil moist until the seeds germinate.

4. Place the Tulsi near a warm, sunny window.

Geographical conditions for Tulsi:

1. Tulsi is a tropical plant. It requires warm temperature.

2. The soil for Tulsi should be continuously moist but not soggy.

3. Tulsi should be kept in place that’s at least 70 degree temperature.

4. Tulsi requires at least 6 hours of sunlight per day.

5. The soil for this plant should be fertile to thrive especially if you are regularly harvesting leaves for tea.

Chemical Composition of Tulsi:

Phytochemical Constituents	Value
Caryophyllene	8%
Eugenol	70%
Elemene	11%
Germacrene	2%

Nutritional Components in Tulsi:

Nutrition	Values (per 100 gram)
Carbohydrate	2.65 grams
Fat	0.64 grams
Water	92.06 grams
Vitamin A	264 micrograms
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)	0.076 milligrams
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)	0.034 micrograms
Vitamin B3 (Niacin)	0.902 milligrams
Protein	3.15 grams
Energy	94 kilojoules

Amazing Health Benefits of Tulsi:

1. High Blood Pressure: When fat starts depositing in walls of arteries then person feels symptoms of high blood pressure. Tulsi leaves or Holy basil is effective remedy for high blood pressure. According to Journal Studies of Ethno-Medicine combination of Neem and Tulsi was beneficial to lower the blood pressure levels due to their active compounds. Tulsi leaves are enriched in Potassium (18,991 µg/g). Tulsi leaves inhibit ACE. ACE is an enzyme that increases blood pressure.

(Also Read: Health Benefits of Pomegranate)

2. Type 2 Diabetes: It is a chronic condition that affects the way the body processes blood sugar (glucose). With type 2 diabetes the body either does not produce enough insulin or it resists insulin. Tulsi helps in lowering blood sugar levels by 17.6% (Fasting blood sugar level) and Post meal Blood sugar level by 7.3%. Tulsi leaves have hypoglycaemic properties. Tulsi leaves improve Panecreatic Beta-cell function and Insulin Secretion, thus increases the uptake of glucose by muscle cells.

(Also Read: Health Benefits of Natural Seeds)

3. Stress and Anxiety: Accumulation of toxins and Stress hormone Cortisol in body causes anxiety among people. The constituents in Tulsi Ocimarin and Ocimumosides A and B have relaxation effects. Taking 500 mg of Tulsi twice a day helps in management of Stress. Tulsi is a powerful “adaptogen”. Adaptogen reduces the physical, emotional and environmental stress.

(Also Read: Stress Management)

4. Healthy Heart: Tulsi leaves prevent us from cardiovascular disease. Tulsi leaves inhibit MPO (Myeloperoxidase). MPO is an oxidative enzyme that causes accumulation of plaque in walls of arteries that is Atherosclerosis. Tulsi leaves promote good cholesterol level in body and reduces triglyceride level in blood. Tulsi leaves act as a tonic for the heart. Tulsi juice enhances blood circulation level.

5. Anti-Inflammatory: Tulsi leaves have anti-inflammatory properties. Tulsi leaves contain enzyme inhibiting oils including eugenol, citronellol and linalool. Thus Tulsi leaves help in arthritis, IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome). It also helps people in case of Fibromyalgia (widespread muscle pain and tenderness).

6. Cough: Tulsi leaves help in case of cough, sore throat, headache and flu. As an adaptogen Tulsi has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. You can consume Tulsi by mixing honey in it. Tulsi leaves help to mobilize mucus in Bronchitis and Asthma. Tulsi has antiseptic properties. Thus it helps in dry cough also. Chew Tulsi leaves with a teaspoon of honey everyday on an empty stomach to prevent cough.

7. Anti-Ageing: Tulsi has antimicrobial properties. Tulsi leaves prevent the formation of acne. To get rid of wrinkles and black spots you can apply Tulsi powder by mixing Aloeveera Juice in it. In this way it prevents premature ageing.

8. Skin Problems: Tulsi is antiseptic, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory in nature. Tulsi juice prevent us from many skin disorders like Ringworm, Leucoderma (white patches of the skin) and Eczema (red and itchy skin) and Tulsi is deeply absorbed by skin. It reaches to all layers of skin and helps in purification. Tulsi is antibacterial in nature. Thus it prevents us from skin infections.

9. Healing wounds: Tulsi is antiseptic and anti-inflammatory in nature. Thus is helps in healing of wounds. It has antibacterial properties thus protects wounds from infections.

10. Hair Growth: Tulsi leaves purify the blood and it has antifungal properties. It can reduce itchiness of the scalp and promotes hair growth. Mix Tulsi powder in coconut oil and apply regularly to prevent hair fall. Tulsi paste helps to get rid of from dandruff.

11. Anti Cancer: Tulsi has anticarcinogenic properties. It helps in case of breast cancer among women and oral cancer (due to chewing tobacco). Eugenol compound in Tulsi fights against cancer. Eugenol compound has greater value to fight against breast cancer. It has ability to inhibit an enzyme COX-2 that stimulates cancerous activities in body. Rosmarinic acid in Tulsi blocks the cell proliferation. It also prevents angiogenesis (process by which new blood vessels are formed within cancer mass).

(Also Read: Health Benefits of Turmeric (Haldi))

12. Ulcers: Too much secretion of acid in stomach causes stomach ulcers. Tulsi decreases acid pepsin secretion. Tulsi increases protective mucus in the stomach. Tulsi leaves are beneficial in case of Mouth Ulcers. Chew a couple of leaves of Tulsi for around 5-6 minutes and drink water over it thrice daily. It will help you to get rid of ulcers because it increases pH value of saliva.

13. Healthy Kidney: Tulsi leaves are diuretic and detoxifier thus promotes functioning of kidneys. The presence of acetic acid in Tulsi helps in Kidney Stone. Drink Tulsi leaves juice with honey for six months and stone will be flushed out through urine.

(Also Read: Health Benefits of Lukewarm Water)

14. Healthy Liver: Tulsi is great detoxifier. Tulsi is a Hepatoprotective plant. This plant contains phytochemicals that helps in treatment of liver disease. For treatment of liver disease some studies have shown that combination of Tulsi and Silymarin plant is more effective.

15. Respiratory System: Tulsi leaves help in case of acute and chronic bronchitis. Tulsi leaves work as bronchodilator. The compounds in Tulsi like camphene, eugenol and cineole gives relief from congestion. It reduces phlegm from Bronchial tube when we take Tulsi with ginger and honey.

16. Nervous System: Tulsi promotes memory. Tulsi inhibits MMP9 thus helps to restore BBB (Blood Brain Barrier) integrity. Thus it helps in treatment of Alzheimer's disease and dementia.

17. Prevents growth of Candida: Tulsi inhibits growth of Candida Albicans. The compound in Tulsi Eugenol has been found to inhibit Candida.

(Also Read: Curd (Dahi) Benefits for Health)

18. Cataract: It is a disease in which clouding of clear lens of eye takes place and main symptom is blurry vision. Tulsi leaves raise anti-oxidative enzyme and inhibits aldose reductase (an enzyme that cause cataract in diabetic patients).

Consumption of Tulsi according to body weight:

1100-2200 mg	60-70 kg person
1500-2900 mg	70-80 kg person
1800-3600 mg	80-100 kg person

Side Effects of too much consumption of Tulsi:

1. According to World Health Organization (WHO) people who are on pain reliever medicine should avoid to consume it daily because it increases risk of liver damage.

2. Tulsi leaves have iron. So you should gulp them down to avoid discoloration of teeth.

3. It may lower sperm count, decrease the weight of reproductive organs such as testis, adrenal gland, prostate, uterus and ovary.

4. Pregnant women should avoid to take it because it can lead to miscarriage due to presence of estragol, it may cause uterus contraction.

Drug Interactions and Tulsi Leaves:

1. Medicine for diabetes.

2. Blood thinning medicines.

3. Pain reliever medicines.

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Tulsi/Holy Basil: Complete Health Package