|
Sanskrit |
: |
Tulasi |
|
English |
: |
Holy
Basil |
|
Latin
name |
: |
Ocimum sanctum |
|
Family |
: |
Lauraceae |
Next
to the Lotus, Basil is perhaps the most sacred plant of India. Basil opens the
heart and mind. Basil gives the protection of the divine by clearing the aura
and strengthening the immune system.It contains natural mercury, which, as the
semen of Shiva, give the seed power of pure awareness. It removes excess Kapha
from the lungs and nasal passages, increasing Prana and promoting sensory acuity
Morphology:
A sweet scented woody herb. This is popularly called Sacred basil or Tulasi.
The stem and leaves are hairy and green to purple colored. The leaves are
oval shaped and has toothed margin. The flowers are small, white to pink or
purplish, 2-lipped and arranged in whorls on a spike. The fruits are nutlets.
Each nutlet has four, small seeds, which resembles that of small mustard.
Seeds don’t become sticky when wet. Basil contains eugenol, carvacrol,
methyl eugenol and caryophyllene.
|
Ayurvedic
Pharmacodynamic properties: |
|
Rasa |
: |
Katu (pungent), Tikta (bitter) |
|
Guna |
: |
Ruksha (dry) |
|
Virya |
: |
Ushna (hot) |
|
Vipaka |
: |
Katu (pungent) |
|
Doshakarma |
: |
Kapha - Vata Shamaka (alleviate K and V Dosha) |
|
|
|
|
Useful parts |
: |
Leaves, roots and seeds. |
|
Medicinal uses |
: |
Leaves are used as aromatic, carminative, antipyretic, diaphoretic and
expectorant. It improves appetite, affections of the ear, destroys
intestinal worms and cures skin diseases such as itches, ring worm, leprosy,
ulcers and poisonous affections. |
|
Dose |
: |
Swarasa (juice) 5- 10 ml. |
|
Important formulations |
: |
Tulasi swarasa |
Home remedies:
-
In
dysurea, its seeds 2gm should be taken with 20 ml decoction of Punarnava.
-
In skin
disorders, paste of its leaves should be applied.
-
In
cough, dyspnoea, 5 – 10 ml Swarasa of its leaves should be taken with honey.
-
In cold
and cough, decoction of its leaves and clove also should be preffered.
Summary:
Basil is
an effective diaphoretic and febrifuge in most colds, flus and lung problems. It
also removes high Vata from the colon, improves absorption and strengthens the
nerve tissue, increasing memory.
It develops real strength in the body & gives protection against stress &
common ailments. It clears the aura and strengthens the immune system.
It has the property of destroying bacteria and insects. Basil is regarded as an
adaptogen or antistress agent.
Recent
studies have shown that it affords significant protection against stress. It is
good for maintaining dental health counteracting bad breath. It has antioxidant
and radioprotective properties. The antibacterial activity combined with
anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of the oil, could make it useful in
inflammatory disorder resulting from staphylococcal infection.
Results
of another study show that Tulasi has hypocholesterolaemic and antioxidant
effects. In a study, significant cardioprotection and functional recovery
demonstrated, may be attributed to its anti-apoptotic property. It also has
powerful wound healing and chemopreventive properties.
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