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Herbs > Ayurvedic Herbs and their Healing Power > Holy Basil
By Dr. Satish Kulkarni
The colloquial name in India for holi basil is tulsi and
its botanical name is ocimum sanctum. Holi
basil is a herb with multiple branching of stems and
a typical aromatic smell. Leaves are hairy, green,
smooth and pungent in taste. The small compact
clusters of flowers are arranged on branches which
are called mangiri. These bear fruits and
seeds which are brownish in color and have typical
odor. Leaves and manjiri are edible part of
the plant and have medicinal value.
This medicinal herb is known to Indians
from vedic period. (Vedas= songs of
life written by Indian sages) Hindu religion has
given special honor to Holy basil in their life and
the plant itself is treated as god at some places.
The leaves are included in many religious
performances. They are included in tirth (holy
liquid) and prasad (Holy food) of pooja
(worshiping god) and the custom is followed by
generations after generations.
Holy basil has many medicinal
properties. The leaves are included in most of the
herbal nervo-tonics. A fresh juice/ decoction of holy
basil with few other herbs is taken for improving
memory. Herb can be tried in conditions like
Alzheimer, alcohol brain syndrome which are modern
diseases and until now there are no perfect remedies
for these disorders. I myself have given a clinical
trial of this herb for the patient who complained
partial loss of memory after accident and observed
miraculous results. Systemic clinical trials under
medical supervision may give a valuable gift to
medical science and patients suffering from loss of
memory may be benefited.
Sanhitas (ayurvidic megabooks)
talk about diaphoretic properties of herb. A fresh
juice/ decoction/ powder of dry leaves or a vati
(tablet form) prepared from a group of herbs like
clove, cardamom, holy basil etc. is recommended for
pyrexia unknown origin. A herbal tea prepared from a
group of herbs which have similar action is used as a
preservative measure from seasonal troubles such as
common cold, cough, influenza etc. This herbal tea is
a proven remedy in sore throat, hoarseness of voice
and vocalist’s voice culture treatment. A
patient of mine who was a case of ca larynx claimed
relief from pain with regular consumption of the
herbal tea prepared out of holy basil, clove,
cardamom, ginger and honey etc.
Ayurvedic practitioners use this herb in
common cold, sinusitis, laryngitis, pharyngitis,
cough, acute/ allergic/ asthmatic bronchitis etc.
These times tested medicines are very useful in
tribal/ rural area where there is scarcity of health
care. The popularity of alternative therapies in
increasing in cities also where allergies due to
allopathic medicines is a ‘difficult to tackle’
problem. In pediatric cases where repeated
respiratory infection in winter/rainy season is the
trouble, medicines like holy basil, cardamom, clove,
ginger etc. can be of great use. One school of ayurvedic
medicines has suggested use of this herb in viral
conditions like measles, chickenpox etc. It is
confirmed that the use is safe and gives some relief
from itching and malaise.
Some traditional healers use this
medicine in ‘blood purification’ where the
cause of trouble is ‘impurities in blood’.
Conditions like boils, blisters, abscesses,
furuncles, carbuncles etc. are included in this
group. A fresh juice applied to area of insect bite
gives soothing to that irritated body part. In
fungal/ bacterial infections of skin, this herb has a
role in follow-up treatment where recurrence is
common. In shalakya tantra (The branch of ayurvedic
medicine which is dedicated to treatment of diseases
of the ear-nose-throat and eye) ayurvedic sagas
have recommended external use of medicine for sore
eye, ear pain etc. Few gynecologists use this herb in
gynecological conditions like scanty/ painful menses,
menopausal troubles etc. Some say, it is having
anti stress properties. A juice taken orally or
applied externally on forehead gives relief from
cluster/ tension headache. In conditions like oral
ulcers, leukoplakia (trouble of mucosal lining of
mouth), oral troubles related to tobacco chewing etc.
holy basil can give some relief.
In short the herb is effective
in respiratory troubles like common cold, cough,
influenza etc. It is also used for conditions where
‘purification’ of blood is the line of
treatment. The herb has role in conditions like
impairment of memory. It has medicinal as well as
religious status in Indian life.
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Index
Quick Reference
Alfalfa
Aloe Vera
Arnica
Asafoetida
Betel Leaves
Bishop’s Weed
Blessed Thistle
Burcock
Cascara Sagrada
Cardamom
Chamomile
Chaparral
Chicory
Cinnamon
Comfrey
Coriander
Curry Leaves
Dandelion
Echinacea
Euphrasia
Fenugreek
Garlic
Ayurvedic Garlic
Ginger
Aurvedic Ginger
Ginko Biloba
Ginseng
Goji
Gotu Kola
Guarana
Henna
Holy Basil
Hoodia Gordonii
Horny Goat Weed
Hyssop
Isapghula
Kalonji
Kava
Lavender
Liquorice
Mullien
Sage
Sandalwood
Sarsaparilla
St Johns Wort
Tee Tree
Thyme
Tribulus
Turmeric
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