Tulsi – Health Benefits, Uses, and Side Effects

Tulsi has a special place in medicinal herbs all over the world. 

On one hand, where it has been given the ranks of a holy plant and known for spirituality, its medicinal capabilities and benefits have made it popular as well.

Today, in this blog post, we are going to discuss everything you ought to know about this medicinal herb so that even you can make the most out of this alternative medicine.

So, let’s cut to the chase and dive straight into it.

What is Tulsi?

Tulsi, bearing the scientific name Ocimum sanctum is an adaptogenic herb that can do wonders when it comes to adapting the body to situations where stress is high and a quick boost in energy is required.

It is also known as holy basil and has been mentioned in Ayurveda a lot many times, making it a source of an alternative medicine founding its origin in India itself!

It is very closely related to culinary basil which is natively found in the Southeast Asian countries and India as well.

If you ever read Ayurveda, you will find comprehensive details about Tulsi. It has been called the ‘Mother Medicine of Nature’ and also, ‘The Queen of Herbs’. It surely ranks on top when it comes to medicinal herbs.

Other synonyms of Tulsi are Apetrakshsi, Sulbha, Surasa, Raihan, Krishnamul, Tulas, Gagger Chettu, Vrinda, and more.

Which Compounds can be found in Tulsi?

Being an adaptogenic herb, the Holy Basil has the following compounds that make it so special –

• Eugenol – This is a terpene that is known to have strong pain-relieving properties.

• Ursolic and Rosmarinic Acid – These are compounds that are rich in antioxidants. They are anti-inflammatory and possess anti-aging properties as well.

• Apigenin – It aids the body for waste removal at the cellular level, making Tulsi an effective flavonoid.

• Lutein – This compound provides Carotenoid, an antioxidant that is crucial for eyesight.

• Ocimumosides A and B – These compounds are great serotonin and dopamine regulators. These work well when it comes to reducing stress and balancing the aforementioned neurotransmitters.

Now that we know what makes the Holy Basil so effective, it’s important to discuss its health benefits in much detail.

Health Benefits of Tulsi

There are many health benefits of the Holy Basil which we have mentioned here in this section.

• Treats Common Cold

Being a popular immunomodulatory herb in the world, Holy Basil has this rare property to fight against common cold.

Its antimicrobial and anti-allergic properties do well to keep the nasal mucous membrane from suffering inflammation.

• Treats Asthma

Tulsi has been known to keep the patients from regular recurrence of an Asthma attack. The bronchial tubes need to be well-cared and Tulsi can do it for you.

The anti-inflammatory properties of the Holy Basil make sure there is no inflammation of the mucous membrane of the bronchial tubes.

Not just that, Tulsi does its best to remove any excess mucus from the lungs, thanks to its expectorant properties.

• Treats Fever

The immunomodulatory and antimicrobial nature of this medicinal herb comes to the forefront when treating Fever.

It does well to improve the immune system of a body and when required, can also normalize body temperatures through its antipyretic and diaphoretic properties.

• Treats Stress

Being a well-known adaptogenic herb, Tulsi can effectively deal with stress. It improves a person’s ability to deal with highly stressful situations without succumbing to the pressure.

Eugenol and ursolic acid in Tulsi can effectively regulate the increase in the formation of adrenocorticotropic hormone which eventually leads to high cortisol levels.

• Treats Heart disease

We know how good Tulsi is to treat with high-stress, right? Eugenol and ursolic acid in Holy Basil successfully regulates the amount of cortisol released in the body, preventing the body from any kind of cardiac lipid peroxidation.

This results in a healthy heart.

• Treats Liver disease

Viruses and free radicals attack the liver resulting in viral hepatitis.

The liver cells get damaged and require antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties of the Tulsi plant which also acts as a hepatoprotective agent.

Uses of Tulsi

There are so many ways Tulsi can be used to reap its health benefits. Let’s discuss a few.

• Adaptogenic Tea

The adaptogenic properties of Tulsi can be leveraged daily by preparing tea from it. As we already know how adaptogens help the body deal with stress, preparing tea with tulsi added into it is a great way to get started.

• As a Symbol of Purity

This holy plant is being used now for over 5,000 years as a symbol of purity and sanctity.  In the Hindu tradition, it has been used to protect the energy of the establishment and maintain its purity.

• Effective Tonic for Brain

The anti-depressive and anxiety-regulating abilities of Tulsi can effectively manage your nervous system and keep its cognitive abilities intact.

The tea, when prepared with honey, can really turn out to be a tonic your brain can get maximum benefits from.

• As a Mouthwash

Did you notice how multinational brands are using Tulsi in the toothpastes they manufacture?

The antibacterial and anti-inflammatory actions make it a perfect mouthwash for your daily usage.

It can effectively reduce Streptococcus mutans and make your mouth free from any germs or bacteria.

• Tulsi Juice

That’s true! You can actually use Tulsi juice to rejuvenate your immune system. It is very refreshing and tasty at the same time. The juice can be used externally as well.

Side Effects of Using Tulsi

The possible side effects of Tulsi have not been documented given to the lack of research. But, the known side effects have been related to lowering of blood sugar levels and liver damage if used in greater amounts.

Tulsi consumption can lead to an overdose causing nausea, diarrhea, or even convulsions.

Over to You

There you go! We hope the blog post helped you understand everything you ought to know about Tulsi. Did you find this piece of content useful? Let us know in the comments.