Top 15 Health benefits of Holy Basil

In India, plants are worshipped as God. Plants like Peepal, Banyan, neem, Mango and certain other herbs are worshipped as the Mother Goddess. This ritual has been performed from immemorial times. They gift us fruits, shade, pure oxygen, woods, medicines and many other things which are precious. Herbs are plants are considered to be Herbal medicine as they provide us with many things which are same as the potent medicine. Here, we will be talking about a herb called Basil; it is also called ‘Holy Basil’ as it is worshipped.

Facts about Holy Basil

Holy Basil or Basil or Tulsi all are same. Explaining the importance of holy basil is like trying to describe the importance of the sun. It is a medicinal herb which is liable to cure any type of disorder. It is taken as a goddess. In India, a special day is worshipped for this herb regarded as ‘Tulsi vivah‘. It is easily available, fragrant and beautiful. The very herb is approximately 2-2 1/2 ft in height and bears tiny green colour leaves. It also bears flowers. In addition to medicinal values, it is known for its religious values also; hence is grown in every household in India. The plant is so fragrant that you can even have the fragrant glimpse from wide apart. It is said that Lord Shree Krishna loved this plant a lot. The leaves and branches of basil are violet, green or black in colour. This very plant is found in several varieties.

Nomenclature

• English name: Holy basil, Basil
• Hindi name: Tulsi
• Sanskrit name: Sugandha, Amrita, Patra Pushpa
• Kingdom: Plantae
• Family: Lamiaceae
• Botanical name: Ocimum sanctum

Uses of Tulsi plant

There are multiple uses of Tulsi plants like

• The leaves are used in many cuisines to give a pungent flavour to the dish.
• Tulsi leaves are flowers are often used in the preparation of herbal tea.
• Leaves of Tulsi mixed with water is given to the dying person so that the departed soul gets heaven.
• In Sri Lanka, Tulsi is used as a mosquito repellant
• Tulsi leaves are kept in grain storage as the insect repellant.

15 Health benefits of Holy Basil/Tulsi

1) For Physical strength

• Mix 20 gm powder of Tulsi with 40 gm powder.
• Give 1 gm of this mixture in winter for a few days.
• It eradicates weakness and enhances and strengthens the body system.
• It also gives strength to tendons and ligaments.

2) For Headache

• Give 1-2 gm powder of its shade-dried buds with honey.
• Or, swallow 5 basil leaves with water every day. It enhances memory power, intelligence and helps in brain development.
• Put a few drops of its oil in nostrils; it cures all types of headaches.
• Apply its oil on hairs. It helps to kill hair lice.

3) For Toothache

• Keep basil leaves with black pepper just below the aching tooth. It gives relief in toothache.
• Mix its juice with lukewarm water and use this water for gargle

4) For Pneumonia

• Take 5-10 gm of the juice of black basil.
• Mix it with double amount of cow’s ghee.
• Give this to the patient twice to thrice a day.

5) For Vomiting

• Give basil juice with the juice of green cardamom and ginger.
• It is beneficial and stops vomiting.

6) For Diarrhoea

• Grind 10 basil leaves with 1 gm cumin seeds.
• Mix honey in it and give this to the patient 3-4 times a day.
• It immediately cures the gripping stomach and controls motions.
• Or, prepare 50-60 gm hot infusion of basil and mix jaiphal powder in it.
• Give this to the patient 3-4 times a day. It cures diarrhoea.

7) For Malaria Fever

• Give the decoction of its leaves at an interval of 3 hours. It cures malaria.
• Give 5-10 mg juice of its leaves with chilli powder mixed in it. Give this thrice a day. It cures malaria fever.
• Take 20 basil leaves and 10 black peppers.
• Prepare a decoction of these and give this to the patient twice a day.
• It is beneficial in all types of fevers.

Basil plant is anti-malaria. The air when comes in contact with the plant, generates such an effect that redirects the malarial mosquitoes away. So, everyone should plant basil plants in their houses.

8) For Snakebite

• Give 5-10 mg juice of its leaves and apply the paste of its buds and root on the bitten area.
• In case the victim his has fainted, put drops of its juice in the nostrils of the victim, repeatedly.

9) For Wounds

• Boil 10-20 gm basil leaves in water and then let it cool.
• Apply the paste on the ulcers.
• Juice of its leaves is also beneficial in healing the ulcers.

10) For Typhoid

• Grind 10 basil leaves and mix the solution with honey and give this to the patient.
• Take equal amount of juice of black basil, forest basil and mint.
• Give this to the patient thrice a day for a week.
• It is beneficial in Typhoid cure.

11) For Skincare

• Basil oil is very beneficial to lighten your skin complexion and also cures all kinds of skin problems.
• Grind basil root and mix ginger root in it. Give this patient in the morning.
• It is beneficial in curing dermatoses.
• To remove blackheads; mix basil leaves paste with brown sugar.
• Gently rub the face with this, it removes all kinds of blackheads and whiteheads from your face.

12) For Cough fever

• Take 21 basil leaves, 5 cloves and 1/2 gm ginger juice.
• Grind them all and strain.
• Warm the mixture and then add 10 gm honey in this.
• Mix with water and give this to the patient.

13) For Dyspepsia

• Give hot infusion of basil leaves thrice a day before meals.
• It can be given in weakened digestion and the weakened state of the body.

14) For Night Blindness

• Put 5-10 mg of basil juice in eyes several times a day.
• It cures night blindness.

15) For Chronic Rhinitis

• Take 50 gm basil leaves, 25 gm ginger and 15 gm black pepper.
• Boil them in 500 ml water and prepare the decoction.
• Strain the solution and add 10 gm powder of cardamom seeds and 200 gm sugar syrup. Make as the solution gets thick.
• Store this in the bottle.
• Give 1 teaspoon of this decoction to children and 2-4 teaspoon for adults.
• It is beneficial in cough, whooping-cough and throat infections.

Holy basil is like the nectar or Amrit in present world. It has the capability to cure many forms of diseases. So why to waste money and heath for such treatments? Always believe in nature and opt for herbal remedies. There are free from side-effects, affordable and eco-friendly. So, take care and live well!