Tulsi
HABITAT
Ocimum tenuiflorum or Ocimum sanctum also known as Tulsi basil is a perennial and, in some areas, an annual. From the Lamiaceae family, Tulsi is native to subtropical regions of Asia, India, Africa, and South America. She loves hot and humid conditions, preferring full sun and tolerating a wide range of soil types with a pH of around 6-7. When watering it is safe to always keep this plant moist as we do while growing ferns! Not to say this plant can’t dry out, it just prefers damp soil that drains well. The USDA zone is from 10b to 11 but can be grown indoors throughout the winter if these zones do not apply to you! Tulsi is also great for our pollinator friends, providing food and shelter for them.
PARTS USED
Tulsi has simple opposite ovate green and purple leaves. The leaves and flowers are gorgeously scented and slightly hairy. The white or purple flowers are tiny tubular shapes and grow upwards in spikes. The scent is slightly astringent and floral with a hint of pepper also described as “fresh, warm, and sweet.” If the plant has high concentrations of Eugenol, a Volatile Oil, it is known to smell more of cloves (Eugenia caryophyllata). This whole plant is edible used for stems, leaves, flowers, seeds and roots. The most popular part of the plant used is the leaves for tea. My favorite tea is made with fresh flowers and leaves as it is very delicate and sweet in my opinion. There may be a slight difference when using fresh vs dried Tulsi as some herbs lose a bit of flavor when dried. Although the health benefits (active constitutes) are still in the dried herb it is worth growing some and experiencing the fresh flavor and wide range of benefits this plant has to offer.
HERBAL BENEFITS
Known as “The Queen of Herbs” Ocimum tenuiflorum is a one stop shop! The herbal actions of this plant are known to be Analgesic, Antidepressant, Antioxidant, Antimicrobial (anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-viral), Alterative, Anxiolytic, Cardiotonic, Carminative, Adaptogenic, Radioprotective, Demulcent, Diaphoretic, Expectorant, Immunomodulator, Nervine. As an adaptogenic herb Tulsi helps us cope with stress and anxiety, gives us mental clarity, and supports our bodies rejuvenation. The antioxidant properties of this plant help us with relief from free radicals (unstable atoms that cause aging and disease) and oxidative stress (excess levels of free radicals in the body.) A polyphenol, eugenol is found in Tulsi which is known for its anti-inflammatory properties making this basil fantastic for digestive, muscle, and any internal or external inflammation. Great for the skin and our cardiovascular system as Tulsi helps with circulation taken either internally or externally. Also used for cough and cold as it beefs up our immune response so that our immune system is nice and strong. Tulsi is loaded with calcium, iron, phosphorus, and Vitamin C. A study done in 2019 shows 63 patients benefit from Tulsi in getting rid of ulcer pain and symptoms alongside patients taking antibiotics. Due to Tulsi’s antimicrobial compounds, she is used as a powerful anti-bacterial for infections thanks to the eugenol content found in the plant! Another study was done on antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria and Tulsi was effective in destroying the bacteria. This is a major concept as antibacterial herbs are using over 200 compounds to kill bacteria making it less likely for a bacterium to become resistant to the plant’s compounds.
DOSE
Tulsi is safely used daily and can be taken by capsule, tea, infusion, or tincture used at 500mg per day. You can make a decoction, mostly done with plant roots, which is the act of simmering plant material for 30 mins to a few hours to extract all the beautiful active constituents. Not a lot of side effects have been known except with people who are sensitive to eugenol, a volatile oil. Some side effects of eugenol are nausea, diarrhea, and a rapid heartbeat and are more likely in doses of eugenol at 10mL plus. Tulsi is also known to thin blood so always ask a professional if you are taking anti-clotting drugs. Tulsi may decrease the efficacy of thyroid drugs and increase sedative effects in benzodiazepine medications as well. Tulsi should not be taken while pregnant or breastfeeding.
LORE
In Hinduism, Tulsi is a sacred plant associated with the goddess Lakshmi, the right-handed lady to the god Vishnu. In some works of art Vishnu is seen wearing a garland of Tulsi leaves and flowers. In Hinduism it is a sacred act to grow and care for this plant, singing mantra while tending to Tulsi. Tradition associates Tulsi with purification, protection, love and eternal life. Tulsi is also known as an omen to bring prosperity and riches into a family who worships this plant. In Italian Lore it was known that a pot of Tulsi left by your doorstep would invite to you your true love and light. For Italians, women who gave a man Tulsi basil would have the man fall deeply in love with her. In the story The Decameron, Tulsi is used to symbolize the tragic love story of Lisabetta and Lorenzo, associated with love and death. In some stories basil is used to ward off the king of the serpents. Christian tradition says that basil is grown all around the area where Christ’s Crucifixion took place, representing good fortune. In astrological lore Tulsi is used for balancing energies of the moon and Venus, bringing vitality to relationships and emotional welfare.
AYURVEDA
In Ayurvedic medicine Tulsi is at the top of the list and has been used for over 3000 years or since before we can know as a medicine. It is used to balance vata and kapha doshas (“that which can cause problems,) balancing vata in the digestive tract and kapha in the lungs. Known for the lungs as “removing kapha buildup,” helping to clear the lungs from mucus, other toxins, and promote better breathing. Rasa dhatu is a term used to describe our bodies fluid or blood that nourishes all other parts of the body, “plasma component of the blood.” The circulatory benefit of Tulsi is moving our blood or “plasma” contributing to a healthy heart clearing out toxins. In Ayurveda Tulsi is known for its beneficial compounds to the body but more so for the mind and spiritual benefits. The taste (rasa) is known as pungent, the effect (virya) is known as heating, and the digestive effect (vipaka) is known as strong. Said to be “the incomparable one,” Tulsi is documented in the Vedic Puranas (Ayurvedic texts) as the most sacred plant on this earth! It is known to have sattvic energy (light and clarity.) The green leafed varieties are known as Rama or Sri Tulsi and the purple leafed varieties as Krishna or Shyama Tulsi.
REFERENCES
● National Libary of Medicine / The Clinical Efficacy and Safety of Tulsi in Humans: A Systematic Review of the Literature by Negar Jamshidi and Marc M. Cohen *
● The journal of plant medicines by Case Adams
● Banyan Botanicals / Ayurvedic herbs
● Nadkarni K., Nadkarni A. Indian Materia Medica with Ayurvedic, Unani-Tibbi, Siddha, Allopathic, Homeopathic, Naturopathic & Home Remedies. Vol. 2. Bombay
