Tulasi

English name : Holy Basil

Scientific name : Ocimum Tenuiflorum

Tulasi,or Tulsi, as it is commonly pronounced, is a flowering plant of the mint family ( Lamiaceae ).It grows in abundance in the Indian subcontinent and in South East Asia. Besides its usage in Hindu worship rituals, its medicinal properties are well known in Ayurveda. It is enjoyed the world over as a Herbal tea to reap its healing properties.

Description

Tulasi is a small annual and short lived perennial shrub. When completely mature, it measures up to 1 metre in height. The leaves of this plant are fragrant and come in two colors, namely, green and purple.

Types of Tulsi

Majorly, there are three varieties of the Tulsi plant:

1. Rama Tulsi
2. Krishna TulsiVana Tulsi
3. Rama Tulsi

Rama Tulsi is also called Green Leaf Tulsi and this Tulsi breed has light purple flowers with a clove-like smell emanating from it. Rama Tulsi contains ‘Eugenol’,which is found in Clove and has a mild flavour.

Krishna Tulsi

This type of Tulsi is also known as the ‘Purple Leaf Tulsi’.It contains a mild clove-like flavour in It and tastes just like pepper to your taste-buds. Krishna Tulsi is a friend to your immune system as it helps battle ailments like throat infections, respiratory problems, skin diseases and ear aches. The oil extracted from Krishna Tulsi is used as ear drops. It is also used in treating malaria, indigestion, insomnia and cholera.

Vana Tulsi

Vana Tulsi is a native plant of India, Sri Lanka and certain parts of Northeastern Africa. Vana Tulsi is usually grown for its medicinal properties and also has been imbibed into Indian religious beliefs. This particular type of.Tulsi must be protected from severe cold climates as it tends to freeze up easily. Vana Tulsi thrives in dry conditions where there is plenty of sunlight.

It has light-green leaves that are accompanied by a lemon-like aroma and flavour too. Vana Tulsi gives the human immune system a boost and is infused with tea and taken for this purpose.

Benefits of Tulsi

1. Tulsi for skin
   -Helps in skin brightening
   -Assists in curing marks due to acne on the face
   Helps in treating skin infections and most types of skin allergy. Just grab 3-4 fresh Tulsi leaves from your home garden. Wash it and injest it orally to reap its benefits.
2. Tulsi for hair
   -Helps in preventing hair fall
   -Reduces greying of the hair and assists in keeping your hair black and thick
   -Can reduce dandruff
   -Helps prevent dry scalp
3. Tulsi for weight loss
   -Tulsi tea controls your metabolism, thus helping your body better absorb essential nutrients from the food you eat
   -Tulsi tea improves your digestive system which is important in losing weight quickly
   -Tulsi tea contains zero calories and also increases your stamina
4. Tulsi for eyes
   Boil Tulsi leaves in water and leave overnight to cool down. Apply on eyes the next morning for a soothing effect
5. Tulsi prevents premature ageing
   Vitamins C and A as well as phytonutrients are essential to the human body and are found in the oil extract from the Tulsi plant. These are excellent anti-oxidants that protect the body from premature ageing.
   Tulsi extract is available as a product in most pharmacies. Add 2 drops in your tea or coffee.

In case you haven’t already, then bring home a Tulsi plant and share the healing and blessings of this magical gift of Mother Nature with your friends and family.

Disclaimer : This article is for informational purposes only. Please consult with your doctor/physician before using Tulsi for medical purposes.