Tulsi (Ocimum Sanctum) or Holy Basil is a powerful herb that has been used in Ayurveda and different traditional medicinal treatments in India for several thousand years. The Tulsi is often considered a sacred plant in India and is often worshipped. It is well known for that Tulsi leaves to have potent powers to throw out toxins from the body.
Nutritionist Avni Kaul says Tulsi is highly beneficial for human health. Basically, due to the composition of its essential oil having eugenol, camphor, nerol, flavonoids, and several terpenes.
This rich mix of organic compounds provide a number of health benefits and can help relieve acne, asthma, respiratory issues, inflammation, and lower your chances of heart diseases and atherosclerosis.
Tulsi also is a rich source of calcium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, vitamin C, iron, sodium, zinc, thiamin, niacin, riboflavin, folate, vitamin A, B6, and K.
In this article, Delhi’s eminent Nutritionist Avni Kaul shares incredible benefits of Tulsi (Holy Basil) on your health.
Reduces Fever
The wondrous healing properties of holy basil come mostly from its essential oils and the phytonutrients in it. Holy basil is a great antibiotic, germicidal, fungicidal, and disinfectant agent and very strongly protects your body from all kinds of bacterial, viral, and fungal infections.
Fever is mostly caused due to infections from protozoa (malaria), bacteria (typhoid), viruses (flu), and even allergic substances and fungus. Fever, in reality, is not an ailment in itself. It is just a symptom which shows that your body is fighting against less visible infections. The strong disinfectant, germicidal, and fungicidal qualities of Tulsi destroy all those pathogens and heal the resulting fever. It is an ancient practice in India to have a decoction of Tulsi leaves in case anybody is suffering from a fever.
Relieves From Symptoms Of Respiratory Disorders
Tulsi, besides curing viral, bacterial, and fungal infections of the respiratory system gives amazing relief from congestion due to the presence of components like camphene, cineole, and eugenol, in its essential oils. It is very good in curing almost all respiratory disorders including bronchitis, both chronic and acute.
Prevents Lung Disorders
The components such as vitamin C, camphene, eugenol, and cineole available in the essential oils of Tulsi not only gives relief from the infections in the lungs but also assists clear the lung congestion. Furthermore, they are effective in healing the damages caused to the lungs due to smoking.
Helps With The Treatment Of Asthma
Tulsi is highly beneficial in the treatment of asthma as it relieves congestion and facilitates smoother breathing. The phytonutrients and essential oils available along with the other minerals in it, help cure some of the underlying causes of asthma too.
Lowers Stress
Vitamin C and other antioxidants present inside Tulsi, apart from repairing damages done by free radicals, also reduces the stress caused by these oxidants. Tulsi soothes the nerves, lowers blood pressure, reduces inflammation, which in result reduces stress. Potassium, in Tulsi, also lowers blood pressure-related stress by replacing sodium and relaxing the tensed blood vessels.
Dental Care
Tulsi destroys the bacteria which are responsible for dental cavities, plaque, tartar, and bad breath, besides also protecting the teeth. It also contains astringent properties which make the gums hold the teeth tighter, therefore keeping them from falling. However, Tulsi also has few compounds like mercury, which has high germicidal properties that can be harmful to the teeth if kept in direct contact for a prolonged duration. Thus, it is advised to avoid chewing these leaves. However, it is not harmful if you do not chew it or consume its decoction.
Relieves Headache
Any headache caused due to a migraine, sinus pressure, high blood pressure, cough, and cold can be effectively controlled by the use of a single Tulsi serving. Camphene, eugenol, cineol, carvacrol, and methyl-chavicol, in Tulsi, have excellent analgesic, sedative, anti-congestive, and disinfectant qualities.
In Buenos Aires, 2018 Summer Youth Olympic Games Nutritionist Avni Kaul was the Advisor (Nutrition) from India. She is a Gold-medallist master’s science graduate from the University of Delhi in the subject of Food and Nutrition. Avni Kaul is a diet and nutrition columnist in some of India's leading newspapers and magazines like -
Columnist at TimesNow
Columnist at NDTV Food
Columnist at Grazia
Columnist at Deccan Herald
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