If you are an Italian, you would be consuming a lot of basil leaves. As a Thai, you will also consume a lot of it. Indonesians, eat them raw as a salad leaf. However, it is not the same basil that we are talking about. It is not the basil that we use in the kitchen. It is from the same family, but it’s holier. Hahaha… no, I am just joking. It is called Holy Basil it think it is because of the many benefits of this specific Holy Basil. The famous name for it is Tulsi or Tulasi.
Tulsi or Tulasi does not get the title Holy just because of it healing properties. There is also a spritual significance in the story of how Tulsi became holy. Here is the story….
During the churning of the Ocean of milk (ksheera sagara mathana), Sri Hari (Vishnu)came up in the form of Dhanvantari (the Lord of Ayurveda) carrying the Elixir of Life (kalasha of amruta). It was said that at that time some drops of Hari’s tears of joy fell into the Elixir of Life. Tulasi was born out of those tears of joy. Having been born out of tears of joy, she herself gives joy. It is believed that Hari is present wherever Tulasi is present. Sri Hari will reside wherever Tulasi garden, pond with lotus flowers and Vaishnavas reside. Garden does not mean acres of garden. A minimum of three plants qualify for being called a garden….
Tulsi or Tulasi does not get the title Holy just because of it healing properties. There is also a spritual significance in the story of how Tulsi became holy.
Tulsi has healing properties, mostly due to the hundreds of phytochemicals it contains; such as antibiotic and antherlmintic properties, that together support health in a variety of ways, including helping the body adapt to stress, cleansing, and relieving congestion. It is described in Ayurveda that Tulsi has a sharp tase with a trace of bitterness, yet easily digestible and the it destroys phlegm and gas.
To grow a Tulsi plant in the courtyard is consedered very good in cleansing the surrounding energy. There are actually so many healing properties of Tulsi that we can use. However, in this article, I will be mentioning about the 9 properties of Tulsi.
1. Sharpen Memory
It is famous for being nerve tonic.The high substance of the phytochemical in the plant brings more oxygen to the brain.
2. Coughs
Tulsi helps to mobilize mucus bronchitis and asthma. Chewing the leaves would relieves cold and flu too
3. Bird Flu
Tulsi when mixed with honey can be a powerful antidote for bird flu
4. Kidney Stone
The juice of the leaves when taken with honey has a strong effect on the kidney. A regular intake of tulsi juice with honey for 6 months will expell the stones via the urine
5. Stress
Basil leaves are regarded as an ‘adaptogen’ or anti-stress agent. Recent studies have shown that the leaves afford significant protection against stress. Just by chewing several leaves of Tulsi purifies blood and helps prevent several common ailments
6. Halitosis
Chewing 25 leaves a day can eliminate bad breath (but better be careful that it gets flushed down by water and not too chew it too much for it can damage the enamel of the teeth)
7. Mosquito Repellent
The emanations from tulsi plants is fatal for mosquitos
8. Diarrhoea
Drinking cardamom and mint powders with tulsi juice cures diarrhoea
9. Purification of polluted water
By dropping a few fresh green tulis leaves to a polluted water can purify it This list can go on and on. Tulsi leaves grows wildly and does not need a special care. It grows in all types of soils, but the best media is the black sticky amd moist soil. Growing a tulsi tree in a pot and place in the house is known to give a purifying atmoshphere and also promotes noble thoughts. So let’s start growing tulsi.
Here is a film that my Guru, Anand Krishna, showed me about the story of Tulasi. It’s in Hindi but subtitled in Englis. Enjoy