Tulasi..Also known as Holy Basil plant is annual herb native to Indian Subcontinent.Today it’s cultivated all over south asian countries and people all over world have come to know about medicinal uses of this plant
Along with Medicinal uses its most sacred plant in Indian culture. Mythologically speaking,Tulasi is said to be reincarnation of lord lakshmi. It’s leaf are offered as sacred offering to many Hindu deites like lord Krishna and Lord Hanuman. Leaf Garland is devoted to Lord Vithoba. As Tulasi can be easily cultivated,it can found in every houses planted in Vrindavan. It not only shows glory of house but also purifies nearby atmosphere and filter toxins from air. In Kartik purnima,Tulasi vivah is celebrated as significance of strong bond and divine power of lord Narayana and Tulasi Devi. Even in last rituals,Tulasi is usually devoted as to purify soul and scientifically speaking,leaf really prevent the spread of infection in atmosphere from corpse.
Latin Name: Ocimum sanctum Linn.
Family: Labiatae, Syn.Lamiaceae
Sanskrit Synonyms: Tulasi,Surasa,Gramaya,Sulabha,Gauri,Bhutaghani
Types: Two types based on colour of leaves.
1. Rama Tulasi: Green colour of leaf
2. Krushna Tulasi: Black/Brown colour of leaf.
Both of them share similar properties.
Gunadharma
Rasa: Katu (Pungent),Tikta (bitter).
Vipaka: katu (Pungent on post digestion)
Veerya: Ushna (Hot in Potency)
Doshaghna: Alleviates Aggravated Kapha and Vata.
Rogaghana: Kushtha(obstinate skin disorders), Mutrakruchha (Dysuria),Chest pain,Purifies Blood, Beneficial for heart.
Chemical Composition: 0.7% volatile oil which act as bronchodilator and also like pesticides and fertilizers.
Home remedies:
1. Dry leaves of Basil is used to increase appetite and enhance bowel movement.
2. Leaves Svarasa with honey help to reduce unwanted fats in body.
3. Leaves and Beeja Tea detoxify body.
4. Tulasi leaf along with other ingredient like Clove,Pepper,Ginger and cardamom is used to treat Cough
5.Tulasi Leaf Decoction for Cold,Cough and also boost up immune system..
6. Chewing Tulasi leaf to alleviate mouth foul odour
Medicinal Uses:
1. Krumighna: It is Anti parasitic in property
2.Deepana: Increase Appetite
3. Kasa and Shvasa : For Cold and Cough,Dyspnoea (Difficulty in Breathing)
4. Vishamjwara: In Fever, especially viral fever.
5. For Chest pain Tulasi is used.
6. Vishvikara: Disorders because of toxins present in body,it’s used.
7. Hepatomegaly in kids: Tulasi is used to treat Liver enlargement in kids
8. Beeja (Seeds) is Madhura(Sweet),Snigdha(unctuous),Sheeta(Cold in potency) and Mutrajanana( Diuretic property), therefore its used to treat dysuria (Difficulty to micturate and pass down urine).
9.Leaf Svarasa is used to treat karna shoola (Ear pain), Vrana prakshalan (Anti septic in property) and in Krumi keeta dansha i.e insects bite
10. Tulasi is used in obstinate skin disoders as well
Dosage:
Swarasa: 10ml to 200ml
Seeds: 1gm to 2gm
Reference
Bhavprakash Nighatu
Varga: Pushpa Varga
तुलसी सुरसा ग्राम से सुलभा बहुमञ्जरी । अपेतराक्षसी गौरी भूतनी देवदुन्दुभिः ॥ तुलसी कटुका तिक्ता हृद्योष्णा दाहपित्तकृत् । दीपनी कुष्ठ कृच्छ्रनपार्श्वरुक्कफवातजित् ॥ शुक्ला कृष्णा चे तुलसी गुणैस्तुल्या प्रकीर्तिता||
Wisdom Ayurveda 