Tulsi Plant Medicinal Uses That Are Proven By Science
Tulsi, also called Ocimum sanctum or Holy Basil, is a medicinal herb in the mint family that comes in 150 different varieties worldwide. It usually tastes bitter, and its roots, leaves, and seeds all have healing properties. Tulsi is popular as the “queen of herbs” because people has often used in Ayurvedic and naturopathic medicine. It helps the body naturally heal itself. People can benefit from both the leaves and the flowers of Tulsi to harness tulsi plant medicinal uses.
Tulsi can help with various health issues, from fever to kidney stones. Ayurvedic texts have also said that the “wonder herb” is a stimulant, a fever-reducing agent, and an aromatic substance. Indian mythology attaches a great significance to basil by recognizing it as a holy herb. People worship tulsi morning and evening, which also hold considerable importance in Vastu. Read the following to understand the tulsi plant medicinal uses .
Tulsi Plant Medicinal Uses for Preventive care
(a) Remove toxicants and heavy chemicals
Numerous research studies have shown tulsi’s ability to protect against toxicants. These studies show that tulsi protects against genetic, immunological, and cellular damage caused by pesticides, medicines, and industrial pollutants.
Thus, tulsi protects against the harmful effects of industrial chemicals, including butylparaben, carbon tetrachloride, copper sulfate, and ethanol, and common pesticides like rogor, chlorpyrifos, endosulfan, and lindane.
Tulsi plant medicinal uses also include protection against the harmful effects of acetaminophen, meloxicam, paracetamol, haloperidol, and anti-tubercular medicines and again heavy metals such as lead, arsenic, cadmium, chromium and mercury, and radiation.
Tulsi plant medicinal uses include reduction in effects of organ damage and postradiation survival in experimental animals by scavenging free radicals and lowering radiation-induced oxidative cellular and chromosomal damage.
(b) Safeguards against infections
Modern study has shown that tulsi possesses antibacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal activity. Tulsi boosts immunological responses in nonstressed and stressed animals and healthy humans against infectious threats. Experimental evidence suggests that the tulsi plant medicinal uses are in urinary tract infections, skin and wound infections, typhoid fever, cholera, tuberculosis, gonorrhea, various types of pneumonia, and fungal infections, as well as mosquito-borne diseases like dengue, malaria, and filariasis.
Tulsi’s action against water-borne and food-borne infections suggests you can use it to preserve food, and herbal raw materials, purify water and sterilize hands by hand sanitisers.
Tulsi’s broad-spectrum activity, which includes activity against dental decay-causing Streptococcus mutans, implies we can use as a herbal mouthwash for foul breath, gum disease, and mouth ulcers.
Experiments on animals demonstrate that tulsi can boost wound-breaking strength and speed wound healing. Tulsi plant medicinal uses include antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic properties that help wounds heal.
(c) Boosts mental health
Modern life’s many demands and fast pace also generate psychological stress. This stress compounds the harmful effects of chemical pollutants. Fear of ubiquitous hazardous chemicals can lead to increased stress and anxiety that may be just as toxic as the chemicals generated.
Regular use of tulsi protects and detoxifies the body’s cells and organs and can also reduce toxic stress by relaxing and soothing the mind and delivering antidepressant activity and good effects on memory and cognitive function.
Animal investigations show that tulsi has anti-anxiety and antidepressant qualities similar to diazepam and other antidepressants.
Animal studies show tulsi plant medicinal uses can improve memory and cognitive function and prevent aging-induced memory loss. In human trials have shown that tulsi can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. A 6-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study found that tulsi improves general stress scores, sexual and sleep issues, and forgetfulness and weariness.
Modern scientific research reveals tulsi plant medicinal uses treat many stressful conditions. Still, Ayurveda recommends it as a preventive therapy to boost the ability to adjust to both psychological and physical stress and prevent stress-related disorders. Many Ayurvedic practitioners encourage the daily use of tulsi tea.
Curative tulsi plant medicinal uses
(a) Useful in Kidney stones & Gouty Arthritis
Tulsi cleanses the body and has diuretic qualities. It lowers the amount of uric acid in the body, which is the main thing that causes kidney stones. Gout sufferers also feel better when their levels of uric acid go down.
(b) Respiratory Issues
Tulasi leaves have long been used to cure common colds and fevers. The combination of honey, ginger, and tulsi is thought to be useful in treating respiratory infections such as bronchitis, bronchial asthma, sore throat, influenza, cough, and cold. Tulsi is a key element in several Ayurvedic cough syrups and expectorants.
Furthermore, the tulsi plant medicinal uses include keeping a healthy respiratory tract; it aids in the mobilization of mucus in bronchitis and asthma.
(c) Digestive Health
Consuming tulsi leaves and drinking Tulasi tea stimulates the appetite and promotes digestion by reducing gas and bloating and improving the flow of stomach fluids.
It has also been discovered that the phytochemical components present in tulsi fight Staphylococcus aureus infection, which is the leading cause of diarrhea.
According to a 2013 review, holy basil’s key biochemically active ingredients are eugenol, carvacrol, ursolic acid, -caryophyllene, and rosmarinic acid, which have anti-ulcer and anti-secretory characteristics that might treat gastric ulceration in stomach epithelial tissue.
Tulsi plant medicinal uses have anti-ulcer and ulcer-healing effects in numerous animal models, including aspirin, indomethacin, alcohol, histamine, reserpine, serotonin, acetic acid, meloxicam, cold restraint, pyloric ligation, and stress-induced ulceration models. This anti-ulcer efficacy reduces acid-pepsin secretion and lipid peroxidation and enhances gastric defense mechanisms such as mucin secretion, cellular mucus, and mucosal cell lifespan.
(d) Cardiovascular Health
Various medicinal components found in tulsi help decrease cholesterol and blood sugar levels, hence preventing various cardiovascular disorders.
A 1997 study investigated the effect of Tulsi leaf powder supplementation on fasting blood sugar levels, serum lipids, and tissue lipids in diabetic rats. Fasting blood sugar, uronic acid, total amino acids, triglycerides, and overall cholesterol and phospholipids were all reduced in this investigation.
(e) Eye disorder
Tulsi plant medicinal uses include Tulsi leaf juice combined with Triphala (Emblica Officinalis, Terminalia bellirica, and Terminalia chebula) is frequently used as an eye tonic. This combo has also been recommended to cure eye disorders or infections such as glaucoma, cataract (aqueous extract of fresh tulsi leaves helps), and chronic conjunctivitis.
(f) Oral Problems
Tulsi’s broad-spectrum activity, which includes tulsi plant medicinal uses against Streptococcus mutans, the organism that causes tooth decay. Study suggests that it can be used as a herbal mouthwash to treat bad breath, gum disease and mouth ulcers.
(g) Cancer
According to a 2013 review, certain of tulsi’s phytochemicals, including eugenol, rosmarinic acid, apigenin, luteolin, -sitosterol, and carnosic acid, help individuals avoid and treat diseases such as skin, oral, lung, and liver cancer. According to the review, these phytochemicals accomplish this by enhancing antioxidant activity, changing gene expression, causing apoptosis, and preventing angiogenesis and metastasis.
Additional Tulsi Plant Medicinal Uses
(a) Quit Smoking:
Tulsi leaves aid in the battle against cancer and prevents it from harming you. The easiest way to quit smoking is to eat tulsi leaves, which assist remove nicotine from your system. It contributes to blood cleansing. Here are some ways tulsi can help you quit smoking.
- Chew Tulsi leaves whenever you feel the need to smoke.
- Make a habit of drinking tulsi tea.
Tulsi can help you quit smoking if you learn how to deviate and restrain yourself from giving in to the urge. It’s all in your head, and breaking the habit is the first step to changing it.
(b) Tulsi Hair Care:
Tulsi plant medicinal uses have several benefits for hair health. All it does is make your hair look better in every way. Here are some of the ways tulsi can help your hair.
It can help reduce hair loss and prevent greying and keeps hair thick and dark.
Tulsi can help with dandruff and helps in the prevention of dry scalp.
(c) Weight Loss with Tulsi:
Tulsi plant medicinal uses also include weight loss. To know how to burn fat quickly and without negative effects, you should consume tulsi tea. Two glasses every day will have a significant effect. You should also remember that drinking tulsi tea will only function better if you exercise. Tulsi tea can help you lose weight even if you don’t exercise, but it will help you lose weight faster. Tulsi can help you lose weight in a variety of ways.
How to Consume Tulsi?
- Tulsi leaves can be eaten raw, plucked fresh from the plant, or made into kadha.
- Tea
(i). Boil 1 cup of water and pour it over 1 teaspoon of fresh tulsi leaves, 1/2 teaspoon of dried tulsi leaves, or 1/3 teaspoon of tulsi powder to prepare tulsi tea.
(ii). Allow the water in a pot or cup to soak for 15-20 minutes.
(iii). Strain the leaves, if desired, and serve.
- Tulsi powders and supplements are also available for purchase on the market.
Side effects of Consuming Tulsi
- Tulsi may impair the reproductive function of women attempting to conceive.
- Some people feel nausea or diarrhea when they first consume tulsi tea, so start with tiny amounts and gradually increase your consumption.
- Tulsi may lower blood sugar levels and should be used with caution in people with diabetes who are on blood sugar-lowering medication.
(Also Read- Easy to Follow Tulsi plant Vastu Guide)
Conclusion
In Hinduism, holy basil is a religious emblem and a medicinal herb. Hindus, specifically in south Asia, worship holy basil in the morning and evening. Maybe the herb’s importance comes from the fact that it can be used to treat health problems. The Tulsi plant’s medicinal uses include a first-aid treatment for diseases of the lungs, stomach, and skin. Ayurveda is also used to treat diseases as serious as tumorous growths, which are not as common as the ones listed above. Studies show it has many potentials as an immunomodulator, cytoprotective, and anticancer agent.