Natural Miracles

Holy Basil scientifically known as Ocimum Sanctum also known as Tulsi meaning "the incomparable one" is undoubtedly one of the best medicinal herb that has been discovered. It

is a member of the mint, or Labiatae, family and has endless miraculous and medicinal values and has been worshiped and highly valued in India for thousands of years.

Holy Basil is Native to tropical Southeast Asia, although it now grows in many tropical climates across the globe. Historically used in these areas as medicine because of its widespread healing power.

The most compelling data, however, suggests that holy basil possesses its greatest potential in the areas of stress relief and relaxation. And in the fast paced world in which we live, these findings may prove to be extremely significant.

 

Holy basil leaves are now regarded by most countries as adaptogen herbs (anti-stress agents) and have been used widely to promote health throughout the entire body.

Tulsi has also been known to  purify water making it drinkable, kill germs within it.

The nutritional value is also high as it contains:

• vitamin A and C

• calcium

• zinc

• iron

• chlorophyll

 

Health Benefits of Holy Basil/ Tulsi

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The health benefits of Tulsi include the following:

 

Anti-aging: 

Vitamin-C, A, phytonutrients and the essential oils in Holy Basil are excellent antioxidants and protect the body from nearly all the damage caused by free radicals in the body, which are hazardous byproducts of cellular metabolism that are responsible for a wide swath of diseases, including cancer. In the traditional Indian medicine system called Ayurveda, it is considered as a tonic to retain youth and avoid premature aging.

 

Asthma: 

Tulsi is very beneficial in the treatment of asthma, since it relieves congestion and facilitates smoother breathing. The phytonutrients and essential oils, along with the other minerals in it, help cure some of the underlying causes of asthma as well.

 

Dental Care:

 Holy Basil destroys the bacteria that are responsible for dental cavities, plaque, tartar, and bad breath, while also protecting the teeth. It also has astringent properties which promote healthy gums.

 

Eye Care: 

Wash your eyes daily with a few leaves of basil soaked in water and you will be free from conjunctivitis, boils and many other problems of the eyes which are caused due to viral, bacterial or fungal infections. It also soothes eye inflammation and reduces stress. Regular consumption can protect your eyes from much of the damage done by the free radicals, such as cataracts, macular degeneration, glaucoma, vision defects, and opthalmia, due to the high antioxidant content of its essential oils, vitamin A and vitamin C

 

Fever: 

The miraculous healing properties of Holy Basil come mainly from its essential oils and the phytonutrients contained in it. Holy Basil is an excellent antibiotic, germicidal, fungicidal and disinfectant agent and very efficiently protects our body from all sorts of bacterial, viral and fungal infections. Fever is mainly caused due to infections from protozoa (malaria), bacteria (typhoid), viruses (flu) and even allergic substances and fungus. Fever is not actually an ailment in itself. It is just a symptom which shows that our body is fighting against less visible infections. The tremendous disinfectant, germicidal and fungicidal properties of tulsi destroys all those pathogens discussed above and heals the resulting fever. It is an old practice in India to have a decoction of tulsi leaves and flowers in case you are suffering from a fever.

 

Headache: 

Headaches, migranes, sinus pressure, cough and cold, or high blood pressure can be effectively controlled by the use of a single tulsi serving. Camphene, Eugenol, Cineol, Carvacrol and Methyl-Chavicol have excellent analgesic, sedative, anticongestive and disinfectant properties.

 

Heart Diseases: 

Holy Basil contains vitamin-C and other antioxidants such as eugenol, which protect the heart from the harmful effects of free radicals. Additionally, eugenol is very beneficial in reducing the cholesterol levels within the blood.

 

Immunity: 

Holy Basil is so good for boosting up the immune system that it is hard to describe in words. It protects against nearly all infections from viruses, bacteria, fungi and protozoa. Recent studies show that it is also helpful in inhibiting the growth of HIV and carcinogenic cells.

 

Kidney Stones:

 Tulsi, being a detoxifier and a mild diuretic, helps to reduce the uric acid level in the body, which is the main culprit as far as kidney stones are concerned.  It also helps to clean out the kidneys through increased frequency of urination. Acetic acid and certain components in tulsi essential oils also facilitate dissolution of the stones. Finally, it has pain-killer effects and help bear the pain from kidney stones as they pass.

 

Lung Disorders:

 The compounds like vitamin-C, Camphene, Eugenol and Cineole that are present in the essential oils of tulsi do not only cure the infections in the lungs, but also cure congestion of the lungs. Furthermore, they are found to be effective in healing the damages caused to the lungs due to smoking, Tuberculosis and lung cancer. It also helps to cure tuberculosis due to its antibiotic properties.

 

Oral Care: 

Tulsi is an excellent mouth freshener and oral disinfectant and its freshness lasts for a very long time. Holy Basil destroys more than 99% of the germs and bacteria in the mouth and this effect can last all day. It also cures ulcers in the mouth. Finally, it is also known to help inhibit the growth of oral cancer which can be caused by chewing tobacco.

 

Respiratory Disorders: 

Tulsi, along with curing viral, bacterial and fungal infections of the respiratory system, gives miraculous relief in congestion due to the presence of components like Camphene, Eugenol and Cineole in its essential oils. It is very effective in curing almost all varieties of respiratory disorders including bronchitis, both chronic and acute.

 

Stress:

When stress becomes chronic, or on-going, it can create problems. Stress hormones have other, not-so-obvious effects. They play a role in metabolism, inflammation, and immune system responses. So when our body is continually stressed, that is, continually bombarded by high levels of cortisol and corticosterone, our digestive function can become impaired - leading to increased appetite and weight gain, our nervous system can be damaged - leading to anxiety or depression, and our immune system can be suppressed - leading to sickness or even autoimmune diseases.

Holy basil functions as an adaptogen, enhancing the body's natural response to physical and emotional stress. Adaptogenic herbs do not alter mood, but rather, they help the body function optimally during times of stress Tulsi soothes the nerves, lower blood pressure, reduce inflammation and thus reduce stress.  The component Camphene which is found in Tulsi enables this process to take place. Potassium is also found in Tulsi which also reduces blood pressure-related stress by replacing sodium and loosening the tense blood vessels.

 

Other Benefits:

It can protect your body from radiation poisoning and also heal and damages from that sort of condition.

It can be given after surgery to help heal wounds quickly and also to protect those healing areas from infections.

It acts as a vaccine against pox if consumed regularly.

It is anticarcinogenic and found to be effective in healing nearly all types of cancer and tumors. Being an expectorant is one of the most prized properties of Holy Basil, making it very efficient in curing coughs and colds.

It is beneficial in reducing labor pain, destroying rabies germs, treating, cholera, whooping cough, measles, mumps, rheumatism, nausea, septic, urinary and genital infections, destroying worms in the stomach. Furthermore, its dried leaves can be mixed with food grains to be used as an insect repellant.

 

Apart from these many functions, more alternative applications and uses of this truly miraculous plant are always being discovered or experimented with.

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