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Tulsi, holy basil: a gentle energy tonic

Dr. Ed Bauman, Shiela Moorthy

Abstract
This article aims to enlighten readers on the many ways that tulsi, holy basil, can enhance health when taken
internally as food and beverage or supplements to manage for daily use, and how when taken alone or with
modern medicine, it can reverse chronic disease states.

Background and uses benefits are Rama or Sri tulsi (green leaves),
Krishna or Shyama tulsi (purplish leaves)
Belonging to the genus Ocimum, basil is from Ocimum tenuiflorum/Ocimum sanctum L., and
the mint family, Lamiacea. Over 150 different Vana or wild/forest tulsi (dark green leaves)
types of basil are grown for their aromatic Ocimum gratissimum (2). These contain high
leaves and volatile oils. Native to south Asia, levels of eugenol (3). Tulsi leaves can be taken
an important cultivar of this family is the fresh or can be dried and made into a powder,
holy basil (Ocimum Sanctum Linn./Ocimum that can be used in herbal formulas.
Tenuiflorum/Ocimum gratissimum). Tulsi has
been used in AAAyurvedic therapy for numerous Active constituents
health conditions as a medicinal tea or extract.
Scientific findings have been widely reported The primary phytochemical constituents of tulsi
on its salutatory benefits as an adaptogen are oleanolic acid, ursolic acid, rosmarinic acid,
(stress mediator) that is immunomodulatory, eugenol, carvacrol, linalool, β-caryophyllene
anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic, hepato- (about 8%) (4). The tulsi leaf’s active essential
protective, cardio-protective, neuro-protective, oils consist of eugenol (~70%), β-elemene (~11.0%),
anti-microbial, and anti-diabetic (1). β-caryophyllene (~8%) and germacrene (~2%),
with the balance being made up of various
Plant specifics trace compounds, mostly terpenes (5).

Tulsi is a perennial plant. It is an erect, and Uses in traditional medicine
many branched sub-shrub, 30-60 cm (12-24 in)
tall with hairy stems and leaves that are green In AAyurveda, tulsi is referred to as ‘The Incomparable
or purple. The types of tulsi with medicinal One’, ‘The Queen of Herbs’ and revered as ’The Elixir

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