The Power Of Tulsi How And Why You Should Be Eating Tulsi Leaves Everyday

Written by Chaitra Krishnan, MA (Journalism & Mass Communication)  • 

Tulsi is considered to be a sacred plant and it is worshipped in many households. If you ever thought that it’s one of those religious practices that don’t make any sense practically, you may want to think things over because tulsi is scientifically proven to have multiple health benefits! Ocimum sanctum is the scientific name of tulsi and it is also known as the holy basil. It not only gives us oxygen but also keeps insects and pests away. This is just one of the many reasons why people grow tulsi inside their houses.

Oral consumption of tulsi has proven to be beneficial in many ways. You can either chew a couple of leaves in the morning or soak some of them in a glass of water and drink it the next day. It’s hard to deny that a large part of our health issues is either caused or triggered by our lifestyle and habits. Making tulsi a part of our life can help bring a balance to at least some of these issues. Here are some of the most significant benefits of the herb:

1. It’s An Adaptogen

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Adaptogens are non-toxic plants that help the body adapt to different types of stressors, be it physical, chemical, or biological. These plants are used in Chinese and Ayurvedic healing treatments since ages and even western medicine has now started to recognize their benefits. Within Ayurveda, tulsi is known as “the queen of herbs” and as “the incomparable one,” alluding to the fact that it’s considered the most elite herb. Tulsi helps in boosting our immunity against many diseases and it promotes the general well being our body (1).

2. Protection From Infections

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Tulsi’s anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal properties protect us from many pathogens that cause infections like urinary tract infections, skin infections, and diseases like malaria (2). Tulsi protects us from tooth decay by fighting the infectious micro organisms that invade our oral health (3). Also, in case of a cut or a wound, many people apply tulsi as it believed to curb infections and promote faster healing.

3. Protection And Detoxification

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The beneficial compounds present in tulsi and its anti-oxidant properties protect our body from toxic chemicals that can cause internal injury and health problems. Not just that, tulsi also helps in the safe excretion of these harmful elements from our body by boosting the function of the liver.

Krishna Tulsi, the blackish-purple variety is known to have better anti-oxidant capacity when compared to Vana Tulsi, the green variety. Toxic components enter our body from air, water, and food, through metabolic activities. However, today the environmental pollution and our eating habits are unhealthy to the extent that the consumption of tulsi is needed more than ever before (4).

4. Deals With Stress

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It’s hard, isn’t it? Maintaining a balance between work, family, and friends? There’s hardly any time to relax and sometimes self-care feels more like a burden due to lack of time. By helping us adapt to the changes that lead us to physical and mental stress, tulsi keeps us healthy and calm. Physical stressors include straining the body, exposure to extreme temperatures, lack of rest while mental stress is all about the psychological stress. The therapeutic benefits of tulsi are proven to soothe our mind and protect it from depression and anxiety. Tulsi tea is considered to be “liquid yoga” on account of its various health benefits (5).

5. Cures Fever

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Fever is one of the most common ailments that affect us. It’s not wise to rely on western medicine every time you have a cough or a cold because that may weaken your immune system. In such cases, opting for a home remedy can help. Tulsi leaves can cure fever as it has antibiotic properties. Make a decoction of tulsi leaves and powdered cardamom in half a liter of water. Boil the ingredients until the water reduces to a thick liquid. Add some milk and/or sugar to it and take a sip once every few hours to get relief from fever (6).

6. Promotes Recovery From Dengue

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Dengue is one of the most common mosquito-borne diseases in India. Every year during monsoon, numerous people suffer from this fatal disease. Boil some tulsi leaves in a glass of water and add two grams of black pepper powder to it. This drink is believed to boost immunity and speed up the recovery from dengue (7).

No wonder our ancestors gave such importance to tulsi! Has tulsi consumption ever benefited you? Would you like to make it a part of your daily life? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.

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