Ocimum tenuiflorum (also known as Ocimum sanctum, Tulsi, Tulasī (तुलसी) in Sanskrit and Hindi, (തുളസി) in Malayalam, (துளசி) in Tamil, (ತುಳಸಿ) in Kannada, Maduruthala in Sinhalese), is an aromatic plant in the family Lamiaceae. It is an erect, much branched subshrub 30-60cm tall, with simple opposite green or purple leaves that are strongly scented, and hairy stems. Leaves have petioles, and are ovate, up to 5cm long, usually somewhat toothed. Flowers are purplish in elongate racemes in close whorls.[1] Tulsi is native throughout the Old World tropics and widespread as a cultivated plant and an escaped weed.[2] It is cultivated for religious and medicinal purposes, and for its essential oil. There are two main morphotypes cultivated in India, green-leaved (Sri or Lakshmi tulsi) and purple-leaved (Krishna tulsi).[3]
It is known across South Asia as a medicinal plant, commonly used in Ayurveda, and has an important role within the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism, in which devotees perform worship involving Tulsi plants or leaves.
There is also a variety of Ocimum tenuiflorum which is used in Thai cuisine, and is referred to as Thai holy basil, or kha phrao[4]—not be confused with ordinary "Thai Basil", which is a variety of Ocimum basilicum.
Tulsi as an Ayurvedic medicine
Tulsi, as used in Ayurveda.
Tulsi has been used for thousands of years as a prime herb in Ayurvedic treatment, for its diverse healing properties. It is mentioned by Charaka in the Charaka Samhita,[5] the central teaching of Ayurvedic medicine. Tulsi is considered to be an adaptogen, balancing different processes in the body, and helpful for adapting to stress. [6] Marked by its strong aroma and astringent taste, it is regarded in Ayurveda as a kind of "elixir of life" and believed to promote longevity.[7]
Tulsi’s extracts are used in ayurvedic remedies for common colds, headaches, stomach disorders, inflammation, heart disease, various forms of poisoning, and malaria. Traditionally, tulsi is taken in many forms: as an herbal tea, dried powder, fresh leaf, or mixed with ghee. Essential oil extracted from Karpoora Tulsi is mostly used for medicinal purposes and in herbal cosmetics. Widely used in skin preparations for its anti-bacterial activity. For centuries, the dried leaves of Tulsi have been mixed with stored grains to repel insects.[8]
Recent studies suggest that Tulsi may be a COX-2 inhibitor, like many modern painkillers, due to its significant amount of eugenol (1-hydroxy-2-methoxy-4-allylbenzene).[9][10] Studies have also shown Tulsi to be effective for diabetes, by reducing blood glucose levels.[11] The same study showed significant reduction in total cholesterol levels with Tulsi. Another study showed that Tulsi's beneficial effect on blood glucose levels is due to its antioxidant properties.[12] Tulsi also shows some promise for protection from radiation poisoning[13] and cataracts.[14]
Thai cuisine
Holy basil, known as kha phrao in Thai (กะเพรา) is a herb commonly used in Thai food[15][16]. Both are Ocimum tenuiflorum, also know as Ocimum sanctum. Thai holy basil (Thai: krapao / กะเพรา) should not be confused with horapa (Thai: โหระพา), which is normally known as Thai basil.[15][16], or with Thai lemon basil, (Thai: แมงลัก).
The most well known dish made with this herb is Pad kaphrao (Thai: ผัดกะเพรา) - beef, pork or chicken stir fried with Thai holy basil.
Tulsi in Hinduism
Scripture
Tulsi plant and gooseberry plant with enclosure "Katte" .
Tulsi is an important symbol in many Hindu religious traditions which link the plant with the Goddess figure described in the Puranas. The name "Tulsi" in Sanskrit means "the incomparable one"[17]. The Tulsi plant is known in India in two forms - dark or Shyama (Krishna) Tulsi and light or Rama Tulsi. The later (Rama Tulsi) possesses greater medicinal value and is commonly used for worship.
Tulsi is regarded as a goddess (an avatar of Lakshmi) and a consort of Vishnu. A garland of tulsi leaves is the first offering to the Lord as part of the daily ritual. Tulsi is accorded the sixth place among the eight objects of worship in the ritual of the consecration of the kalasha, the container of holy water.
According to one story, Tulsi was a gopi who fell in love with Krishna and so had a curse laid on her by His consort Radha. She is very dear to Vishnu. Tulsi is also mentioned in the stories of Mira and Radha immortalised in Jayadeva's Gita Govinda. One story has it that when Krishna was weighed in gold, not even all the ornaments of His consort Satyabhama could outweigh Him. But a single tulsi leaf placed on one side by his consort Rukmini tilted the scale.
Tulsi is ceremonially married to Vishnu annually on the eleventh bright day of the month of Kaartika in the lunisolar calendar. This festival continues for five days and concludes on the full moon day, which falls in mid-October. This ritual, called the "Tulsi Vivaha", inaugurates the annual marriage season in India.
In the Christian tradition it is said that Tulsi grew around the place of Crucifixion(requires source?). Tulsi is also mentioned in Shiite writings.
As a deity
Tulsi as worshiped in deity form.
The presence of a Tulsi plant symbolizes the religious bent of a Hindu family. In many traditions (i.e Vaishnavism), a household is considered incomplete if it doesn't have a Tulsi plant. Many families have the Tulsi planted in a specially built structure, which has images of deities installed on all four sides, and an alcove for small earthen oil lamp. Some households can even have up to a dozen Tulsi plants on the verandah or in the garden forming a "Tulsi-van" or "Tulsivrindavan" — a miniature basil forest.
Places that tend to inspire concentration and places ideal for worship, according to the Gandharva tantra, include "grounds overgrown with Tulsi plants". The Tulsi Manas Mandir at Varanasi is one such famous temple, where Tulsi is worshipped along with other devas (demi-gods/goddesses). Vaishnavites, or followers of Vishnu, revere the Tulsi leaf because it pleases Vishnu the most and thus is as an inherent part of offerings of naivedya. They also wear beaded necklaces made of Tulsi stems. The manufacture of these Tulsi necklaces is a cottage industry in places of pilgrimage and temple towns. Another name for Tulsi within the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition is Vrindadevi, meaning 'the goddess of Vrindavan'.
Puja
A Tulsi plant decorated for worship, with fireworks display
Followers of Hindu traditions often keep a Tulsi plant in front of their house. On a specific day each year known as 'Kartik Shukla Dwadashi' (usually about two weeks after Diwali) there is a tradition wherein Tulsi plants will be beautifully decorated with structures made of sugarcane, mango leaves and flowers and then a puja (form of worship) is offered.
As with Diwali celebrations there are usually clay lamps lit around the Tulsi plant and the house. In some parts of India people will have also have fireworks displays to mark the occasion. In northern India and in Gaudiya Vaishnava communities it is called the 'Tulsi vivah' or the wedding day of Tulsi with Krishna in his Sila form. There is another celebration called Tulsi Ekadashi where Tulsi is worshipped on the Ekadasi day.
Gallery
Flowers of the Holy Basil
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See also
Notes
- ^ Warrier, P K (1995). Indian Medicinal Plants. Orient Longman, p. 168.
- ^ Staples, George; Michael S. Kristiansen (1999). Ethnic Culinary Herbs. University of Hawaii Press, p. 73. ISBN 9780824820947.
- ^ Kothari, S K; Bhattacharya, A K, et. al. (Nov/Dec 2005). "Volatile Constituents in Oil from Different Plant Parts of Methyl Eugenol-Rich Ocimum tenuiflorum L.f. (syn. O. sanctum L.) Grown in South India". Journal of Essential Oil Research: JEOR. Retrieved on 2008-09-05.
- ^ Staples, ibid.
- ^ NIIR Board, National Institute of Industrial Research (India). Compendium of Medicinal Plants, 2004. National Institute of Industrial Research, p. 320. ISBN 9788186623800.
- ^ Botanical Pathways article with clinical trials details
- ^ Puri, Harbans Singh (2002). Rasayana: Ayurvedic Herbs for Longevity and Rejuvenation. CRC Press, pp. 272-280. ISBN 9780415284899.
- ^ Biswas, N. P.; Biswas, A. K.. "Evaluation of some leaf dusts as grain protectant against rice weevil Sitophilus oryzae (Linn.).". Environment and Ecology (Vol. 23) ((No. 3) 2005): pp. 485-488.
- ^ Indian J Exp Biol. 1999 Mar;37(3):248-52.
- ^ Prakash P, Gupta N. Therapeutic uses of Ocimum sanctum Linn (Tulsi) with a note on eugenol and its pharmacological actions: a short review.
- ^ Effect of Ocimum sanctum Leaf Powder on Blood Lipoproteins, Glycated Proteins and Total Amino Acids in Patients with Non-insulin-dependent Diabetes Mellitus. Journal of Nutritional & Environmental Medicine. V. RAI MSC, U. V. MANI MSC PHD FICN AND U. M. IYER MSC PHD. Volume 7, Number 2 / June 1, 1997. p. 113 - 118
- ^ Evaluation of Hypoglycemic and Antioxidant Effect of Ocimum Sanctum,. Jyoti Sethi, Sushma Sood, Shashi Seth, and Anjana Talwar. Indian Journal of Clinical Biochemistry, 2004, 19 (2) 152-155.
- ^ Devi, P. Uma; Ganasoundari, A.. Modulation of glutathione and antioxidant enzymes by Ocimum sanctum and its role in protection against radiation injury. Indian Journal of Experimental Biology, v.37, n.3, 1999. March,:262-268.
- ^ Sharma, P; Kulshreshtha, S; Sharma, A L. Anti-cataract activity of Ocimum sanctum on experimental cataract. Indian Journal of Pharmacology, v.30, n.1, 1998:16-20
- ^ a b [1]Adventures in Thai Cooking and Travel
- ^ a b [2]Gernot Katzer's Spice Pages
- ^ Organic India article
External links
Further reading
Winston, David, and Steven Maimes (2007). ADAPTOGENS: Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief. Healing Arts Press. Contains a detailed monograph on Holy Basil (Tulsi, Ocimum sanctum, O. tenuiflorum) as well as a discussion of health benefits.
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