Ocimum Sanctum (Basil Herb)

[Dr Dushyant Kamal Dhari]

 

• Botanical Name : Ocimum Sanctum
• Family Name : Lamiaceae
• Common Name : Basil, Sacred Basil, Holy Basil, Tulsi
• Part Used : Leaves, Seeds
• Habitat : Found through out india.
• Product offered : Leaves, Seeds, Wholeplant, Oil

Uses : Basil herb is diaphoteric, anti periodic, stimulating, expectorant and anti-catarrhal. It is used in malaria, catarrh, bronchitis and gastric disorders. It also lowers blood sugar levels and its powder is used for mouth ulcers. Basil herb is widely worshiped in India. It is an aromatic herb and is often used in potpourri and sachets. The cosmetic industry uses basil oil in lotion, shampoo, perfume, and soap.
It is also used in some skin ointments and promoted as a treatment for acne.

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Image shown right is the common basil herb in USA

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[Dr Dushyant Kamal Dhari]

Tulsi to be Used as an Anti-Radiation Medicine

The ancient Indian tradition of growing tulsi (Ocimum sanctum) in the backyard is not without scientific backing. Research shows that the tulsi, or Indian basil, mitigates the ill-effects of radiation, whether background or nuclear, and could protect cells in patients undergoing radiation therapy for cancer.

Scientists at the DRDO’s Institute of Nuclear Medicines and Allied Sciences, and the Department of Radiobiology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, have successfully tested tulsi extracts on mice for its anti-radiation and anti-cancer properties. The DRDO is now preparing a herbal concoction from tulsi that will serve to both prevent and cure the ill-effects of radiation.

In the mouse model, there was no impact on bone marrow after the mice exposed to radiation ingested the tulsi preparation. It is the bone marrow that is affected in case of radiation exposure, and this brings down the immunity level.

The DRDO now proposes to take up human trials, says Dr W. Selvamurthy, chief controller (research and development), DRDO, who presented a research paper on the anti-radiation impact of tulsi extract at the 99th Indian Science Congress, which concluded in Bhubaneswar on Saturday. 

[Dr Dushyant Kamal Dhari]

Few more documented Traditional uses of Tulsi

Health tonic

Take equal amount of leaf juice of tulsi and neem along with little black pepper powder and black salt

Mouth ulcer

Mix the juice of tulsi leaves and lemon and apply on the ulcers

Fever

Take the decoction of leaves along with black salt

Diabetes

Make powder from equal amount of leaves of tulsi, bel and jamun. Take a spoonful orally along with cold water

Itching

Apply the leaf paste topically.

[Amit Karkare]

Thanks for this wonderful information.

one request: the image attached is not of TULSI but of a different plant (may be of same family). Here is a link to a better and correct image from wiki: Wikipedia 

[Amit Karkare]

Ocimum tenuiflorum (syn. O. sanctum), commonly called Holy Basil or Tulsi, is a sacred herb in India, used in teas, healing remedies, and cosmetics. The plant is worshiped as dear to Vishnu in some sects ofv Vaishnavism. It is also used in Thai cooking.

[Debby Bruck]

Dear Amit - Thank you for that correction to the photos. The top one is now corrected. I guess this means that in the U.S. we use another variety of basil to make pesto and grace all our meals.