Holy Basil (TULASI)
Every Hindu keeps these plants in his house. A
special altar is consecrated for the purpose. Daily worship is
offered. It is adored as a goddess. The leaf is offered to Lord Hari,
Lord Rama, and Lord Krishna during worship. Food that is prepared in
the house is first offered to Tulasi (holy basil).
Binda, wife of Sankhachuda, was favored by Lord
Krishna and transformed into this herb. Tulasi Jayanti is celebrated
on Sukla Dvadasi in the month of Kartika (October-November). Every
Sukla Dvadasi is very famous for Tulasi worship.
Holy Basil is a well-known small herb in India
about 1 to 3 feet high. It is found in most of the gardens. It is
cultivated for its medicinal value and worship in Hindu temples,
especially by the Vaishnavites.
There are two important varieties. One is black
and the other white. The black variety is most efficacious
medicinally. There are the red and blue varieties also. The other
varieties are mul-tulasi, kal-tulasi, nai-tulasi, ‘tiruneetu
pacchalai’, etc. The white variety is called Siva-tulasi also The
black one is called Krishnatulasi. Tiruneetu Pacchalai is also called
Vibhuti-pacchalai or Rama-tulasi. In Hindi it is called Sabja.
The leaves possess stimulant, expectorant,
aromatic, carminative, anti-febric, anti-periodic and diaphoretic
properties. The seed is a demulcent.
The whole Tulsi plant is used for medicinal
purpose but the leaves are generally used. The leaf checks the
formation of sputum in the respiratory passages. It is beneficial in
bronchitis, pneumonia, whooping cough, influenza, consumption and
asthma. It is beneficial in every disease where there is excess of
sputum.
The power of dry leaves is used as snuff in ozaena
for destroying maggots. Like eucalyptus, Tulasi drives away all
mosquitoes. It is advisable to keep Tulsi plant in front of the
houses and backyards. If the body is covered with leaves, mosquitoes
will not bite.
Tulasi is useful in all kinds of insect bites. In
snakebite it is very efficacious. Rub the bitten part well with the
juice of Tulasi. It may be repeated. Internally give two teaspoonfuls
of the juice. Apply the leaves as poultice to the part.
Tulasi tea is very useful in fever and cold. You
can add milk also to this tea. This tea can be given to children and
babies when they suffer from fever and cough. Or the juice of fresh
leaves can be given. The juice can be mixed with a little honey or
breast milk. If it is given with an equal quantity of fresh ginger
juice, the effect is more marked. The powder of a little pepper and
long pepper may also be added.
The leaves are rubbed with the limb juice over
ringworm.
The medicated oil (Tulasi leaves boiled with
gingelly oil) is used in earache and discharge of pus from the ear.
It is put into the nose in ozaena.
The seeds are mucilaginous. They are used as
diuretic in scanty urine and cough. Tulasi is useful in scorpion
bite, constipation, and remittent and intermittent fevers.
In Malaya people keep the leaves over the graves
of their dead for the peace and welfare of the departed soul.
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