Tulsi - A Wonder herb

Ocimum sanctum, commonly known as tulsi or holy basil is found in most Indian homes more than any other plant. A tulsi plant in the courtyard of a traditional home is linked with both religious practice and healthy living. The tulsi plant is associated with so many therapeutic properties that it is difficult to know clearly where it should be used in modern therapeutic practice.

A review of the scientific literature leads us to the use of Ocimum sanctum in respiratory disorders. It is a simple remedy for cough and cold and for the treatment of fever. It is the Krishna tulsi, darker in colour which is used rather than the lighter coloured Shyam tulsi. To prevent coughs and colds, it has been suggested in Ayurvedic medicine that five leaves of the plant, after washing carefully, should be taken every day. Tulsi leaves, together with neem leaves and black pepper, have been reported to prevent and treat fevers, including malarial infection.

Having few leaves of tulsi boiled in water every morning is reported to exert an anti-stress effect. Tulsi and honey is undoubtedly effective in treating a persistent cough. Keeping a tulsi plant in the home has been looked upon as creating healthy atmosphere, and Ayurvedic physicians believe that it particularly helps person with a tendency to

succumb to respiratory problems and asthma. It is very possible that the benefits of this simple home remedy would be manifold.

At the Science Day on 28 February, the Indian Council of Medical Research exhibited at their office some plants reported to have therapeutic properties. Tulsi were one of the plants on the table, and the anti-stress property of the plant was mentioned. Till now, there were not many methods available to clearly determine whether a plant has clear anti-stress activity or not. Most of the earlier work has been carried out on animals and there are limitations to this type of experimental work. For example, it is not really very easy to find out whether a plant can prevent cough or cold. Today we have methods available for carrying out such studies in humans and also to find out if tulsi has an anti—stress activity.

The Indian Council of Medical Research, the Council of Research in Ayurvedic and the Central of Research in Unani medicine all have programmers for clinically evaluating medicinal plants. Tulsi will certainly to be one of the plants which will be tested. In recent years, the sale of the Korean plant, ginseng, has increased dramatically in India, and is being prescribed as a tonic, and as a medicine which enhances well being, diminishes stress and raises the quality of life.

In fact, these are the very qualities that have been associated for centuries with the tulsi plant in India. It would not come as a surprise if, in the years ahead, tulsi too finds a national and international market for its many faceted properties. Till these clinical trials are carried out and the results assessed, one can safely continue taking five tulsi leaves every day.