Tulsi is perhaps the most sacred plant that is native to India and is mentioned in the Atharvaveda and Ayurveda for its healing and health-giving properties. It has the property of destroying bacteria and insects and even the air around it is purified. It has been scientifically proven that tulsi absorbs positive ions, energizes negative ions, and liberates ozone from the atmosphere.
In the olden days, temples served as rest houses for travelers. The tulsi plant was grown outside the temples because of its unique property of curbing thirst.
Every part of the tulsi plant, from roots to leaves, possesses health-giving properties. Whole plant acts as a demulcent (soothing agent), expectorant, and febrifuge (lessens fever).
MEDICINAL USES
• Fever: Take the decoction of the leaves boiled with cardamom. Mix decoction with milk, if you want to give it to your child. Tender leaves, boiled with tea, act as a preventive against monsoon maladies, especially, malaria.
• Headaches: Pound the leaves to paste, mix with sandalwood paste and apply on the forehead. For severe migraine, inhale the essential oil of basil dropped in boiling water, or drink basil tea.
• Insect bites: Take a teaspoonful juice of the leaves internally and apply the paste externally to the affected parts. This as a safe mosquito repellent. Tulsi mitigates the effect of the poisons of snake or scorpion bites on the body, for which it is to be taken internally as well as applied externally.
• Labor pains: A decoction of tulsi, to which honey has been added, is given to reduce labor pains. It is also recommended after childbirth.
• Nausea and vomiting: Tulsi juice helps combat vomiting. To combat a general feeling of nausea or queasiness, try simmering a pinch of freshly grated ginger with a few leaves of basil in a mug of hot water for 10 minutes and drink it.
• Respiratory disorders: Tulsi is heat-generating in action and is an effective remedy for bronchitis, asthma, influenza, cough, and cold. Drink the decoction, prepared with tulsi leaves, cloves, ginger, and common salt in case of these disorders. Add one long pepper and two black peppers and few adulsa leaves and honey or sugar to this tea to get relief from cough.
• Skin disorders: A mix of tulsi juice and lime helps control ringworm and other itching skin problems.
• Sore throat: Gargle with the warm decoction, twice or thrice a day.
• Stress: Recent studies have shown that tulsi leaves provide protection against stress. Chew ten to twelve leaves daily to prevent stress.