The Benefits of Holy Basil (Tulsi)

Holy Basil, also known as Tulsi, has been growing in popularity over the last few years and can be found in tinctures and teas across the health food landscape. Having been cultivated for thousands of years for ayurvedic medicine and religious Hindu purposes, holy basil has recently gained momentum as a prized home remedy for stress, as a natural painkiller, a powerful antioxidant, a protector from radiation poisoning, and a blood sugar stabilizer in cases of Type II diabetes. Known as a whole body tonic, holy basil works on multiple body systems and has a range of active functions.

Its main chemical constituents are oleanolic acid, ursolic acid, romarinic acid (giving it that distinct rosemary-like flavour), among others. One study, published in 1991 in the Indian Journal of Pharmacology, compared holy basil to Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus) and Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng) and found that holy basil was the most potent anti-stress agent of the three, and also had the highest margin of safety.

Usage for holy basil is varied. Thai cuisine often includes it in savoury dishes, and it is popular as a tea in India. You can also find it in the form of capsules or alcohol-prepared tinctures for ease of use and a deeper medicinal potency.

Another area of use for holy basil that is gaining popularity is in oral hygiene. Tulsi is an excellent mouth freshener and oral disinfectant and its freshness lasts very long in the mouth. Holy Basil destroys more than 99 percent of the germs and bacteria in the mouth and this effect lasts long.It also has astringent properties which make the gums hold the teeth tighter thereby protecting them from falling.