Tuisi, Quvvx ov Hvvns, :nv ivcvxu~vv

!xco:v~v~niv xv ov !xui~, is oxv ov :nv

noiivs: ~xu :os: cnvvisnvu ov :nv :~xv
nv~iixc ~xu nv~i:ncivixc nvvns ov :nv
vivx:. Tc sacrcd basil Tulsi is rcnowncd lor
its rcligious and spiritual sanctity, as wcll as lor
its important rolc in thc traditional Ayurvcdic
and Unani systcms ol holistic hcalth and hcrb
al mcdicinc ol thc ast.
An imprcssivc array ol hcalth promot
ing, discasc prcvcnting and lilc prolonging
propcrtics ol Tulsi havc bccn dcscribcd and
documcntcd ovcr nvc millcnnia. !n thc past
lcw dccadcs, many ol thcsc bcncnts havc bccn
invcstigatcd and vcrincd by modcrn scicntinc
rcscarch.
According to ancicnt !ndian lcgcnd, thc
plant camc into bcing as an incarnation ol thc
Hindu goddcss Tulsi. !n hcr botanical lorm
shc is thc lavourcd hcrb ol thc gods \ishnu,
Krishna and Ram, as wcll as bcing grcatly rc
vcrcd by 8rahma and Shiva. Tulsi is thought
to opcn thc hcart and mind, and bcstow lovc,
compassion, laith and dcvotion. Tc plant is
widcly incorporatcd in rcligious rituals and
auspicious ccrcmonics throughout thc subcon
tincnt, and is carclully grown and worshippcd
by traditional Hindu lamilics today.
Mcdical, rcligious and culinary usc ol Tulsi
has also bccn documcntcd lor ccnturics in
China and thc rcst ol Asia, thc Middlc ast,
North Alrica and Australia.
Tulsi initially mct with mixcd rcactions
in uropc as it travclcd wcst along thc carly
tradc routcs lrom thc ricnt. Altcr a pcriod ol
cultural assimilation, thc plant bccamc known
to Christians as sacrcd or holy basil, and was
hailcd as Tc King ol Hcrbs by uropcan
hcrbalists and physicians, as wcll as cooks. Tc
namc basil is likcly dcrivcd lrom Grcck words
rclcrring to royalty or king.
Holy basil bccamc routincly includcd in
lcgcnds, ocrings and worship rituals ol many
ol thc Christian dcnominations ol uropc
pcrhaps most notcworthy bcing thc Grcck
rthodox Church. Tc sacrcd plant was givcn
an cspccially lcstivc ccntral rolc in thc an
nual cclcbration ol thc birth ol St. 8asil. Also
known as St. Joscphwort in parts ol uropc,
thc hcrb is lookcd on by many as a gilt ol
Christ.
Tulsi is oltcn cnjoycd as a simplc hcrbal tca
and is lrcqucntly blcndcd with othcr hcrbs
and spiccs lor various mcdicinal and culinary
purposcs.
Indias Holy Basil
Tulsi Queen of Herbs
Ralph Miller, PhD & Sam Miller
Traditionally, Hindus
revere Tulsi as a god-
dess in the form of a
plant bestowed with
great spiritual and heal-
ing powers.
According to legend, no
amount of gold could
outweigh Krishna, but a
single Tulsi leaf placed
on the pan in loving de-
votion tilted the scale.
To inaugurate the
winter wedding season
in many parts of India,
Tulsi, as a plant, is
ceremonially married
to Krishna in the form
of a sacred stone.
*Tulsi is pronounced tool-see.
Center image.
Indian woman perform-
ing morning Tulsi puja
(worship ritual).
Right image.
Tulsi plant with deities
Krishna and Radha.

2 3
Tulsis Health Benefts
!n rcccnt ycars thcrc has bccn a rcsurgcncc
ol intcrcst in invcstigating thc traditional
hcalth promoting uscs ol Tulsi. A considcrablc,
rapidly cxpanding body ol modcrn scicntinc
inlormation is currcntly availablc connrming
many ol thc lilcsupporting bcncnts dcscribcd
in ancicnt !ndian Ayurvcdic (Knowlcdgc ol
Lilc) writings.
Kcy historical documcnts includc thc
Rigveda (8ook ol tcrnal Knowlcdgc),
thought to havc bccn dcvclopcd around ccc
nc, thc Carak and Susrut Samhita mcdical tcxts,
circa a,cc to 6cc nc, and Nighantu Adarsha,
rcviscd in cc ~u. !n such Ayurvcdic scripturcs,
Tulsi is lrcqucntly mcntioncd as onc ol thc
main pillars ol hcrbal mcdicinc. Tc sacrcd
plant is dcscribcd as a protcctor ol lilc, prc
vcnting miscry and discasc lrom birth through
old agc and dcath and cvcn thcn aiding thc
passagc to thc hcavcns.
Traditional medical uses
Rcnowncd as a gcncral tonic and vitalizcr,
Tc lixir ol Lilc, Tulsi has bccn traditionally
cmploycd in hundrcds ol dicrcnt lormula
tions lor thc trcatmcnt ol a widc rangc ol
disordcrs, including thosc ol thc mouth and
throat, lungs, hcart, blood, livcr, kidncy, and
thc digcstivc, mctabolic, rcproductivc and ncr
vous systcms. Tulsi is commonly uscd to trcat
coughs, colds and u, hcad and car achcs, rhcu
matism and arthritis, malaria, lcvcr, allcrgics,
and various skin discascs, to rcducc thc toxicity
ol various poisons, including inscct and rcptilc
bitcs, to cxpcl intcstinal parasitcs, rcpcl insccts
and purily thc air.
Top image.
Husband and wife team
in northern India enjoying
a cup of Tulsi tea in their
Rama Tulsi feld near har-
vest time.
Along with several hun-
dred other farmers, they
grow Tulsi for Organic
India, one of Indias largest
international suppliers of
organic Tulsi.

Modern perspectives
Currcnt scicntinc rcscarch ocrs substantial
cvidcncc that Tulsi protccts against and rc
duccs strcss, cnhanccs stamina and cndurancc,
incrcascs thc bodys cm cicnt usc ol oxygcn,
boosts thc immunc systcm, rcduccs inamma
tion, protccts against radiation damagc, lcsscns
aging lactors, supports thc hcart, lungs and
livcr, has antibiotic, antiviral and antilungal
propcrtics, cnhanccs thc cm cacy ol many othcr
thcrapcutic trcatmcnts, and providcs a rich
supply ol antioxidants and othcr nutricnts.
vcrall, Tulsi is a prcmicr adaptogcn, hclp
ing thc body and mind to adapt and copc with
a widc rangc ol physical, cmotional, chcmical
and inlcctious strcsscs, and rcstorc disturbcd
physiological and psychological lunctions to a
normal hcalthy statc.
Tcsc gcncral vitality cnhancing and hcalth
promoting propcrtics, in addition to Tulsis
many morc spccinc thcrapcutic actions, likcly
account lor much ol thc cxccptionally broad
rangc ol Tulsis traditional mcdical uscs, as wcll
as contributing to its mythological importancc
and rcligious sanctity.
e holy basil Tulsi is one of the most potent
general adaptogens known to modern science,
strengthening the bodys natural capacity to adapt
to a wide variety of stresses, and restore and main-
tain healthy homeostatic equilibrium.
Tulsi thus ofers remarkable preventative and cura-
tive potential with respect to many stress-related
degenerative disorders, such as cancer, heart dis-
ease, arthritis, diabetes and neurological dementia.
2 3
Holistic Health Promotion
nhanccs gcncral hcalth and wcllbcing,
having positivc ovcrall cccts on thc body
and mind.
Stress Resilience
!ncrcascs thc capacity to copc and adapt to
changing and challcnging cnvironmcnts,
and rcduccs thc ncgativc physical and psy
chological cccts ol strcss (adaptogcnic).
Energy and Performance Enhancement
!mprovcs stamina and cndurancc, and in
crcascs thc bodys cm cicncy in using oxygcn.
nhanccs protcin synthcsis and strcngth.
Anti-Aging Efects
Slows thc biological aging proccss by rcduc
ing thc impact ol physiological aging lac
tors.
Antioxidant Activity
Providcs signincant antioxidant and lrcc
radical scavcnging protcction. Ncutralizcs
dangcrous biochcmicals that contributc to
prcmaturc aging, cataracts, canccr and othcr
dcgcncrativc discascs.
Radiation Protection
Rcduccs thc ccll and tissuc damagc causcd
by harmlul rays ol thc sun, T\, computcrs,
Xrays, radiation thcrapy, high altitudc air
travcl, ctc.
Immunity Tune-Up
Strcngthcns and modulatcs thc immunc
systcm. Rcduccs allcrgic histaminc, asth
matic and othcr advcrsc immunc rcactions.
Anti-infammatory Action
Rcduccs thc painlul and dangcrous inam
mation that plays a kcy rolc in various lorms
ol arthritis, canccr and dcgcncrativc ncuro
logical disordcrs.
Antibiotic Protection
crs signincant natural antibactcrial, anti
viral and antilungal protcction and is, thcrc
by, hclplul in trcating many scrious systcmic
discascs, as wcll as localizcd inlcctions.
Heart and Vascular Protection
Lowcrs dangcrous cholcstcrol and strcss
rclatcd high blood prcssurc, protccts thc
hcart and blood vcsscls, and has mild blood
thinning qualitics, thcrcby dccrcasing thc
likclihood ol strokcs.
Liver Support
Gcncrally contributcs to hcalthy livcr lunc
tion, improvcs thc mctabolic brcakdown and
climination ol dangcrous chcmicals in thc
blood, and countcracts various livcr discascs.
Lung and Bronchial Support
!n addition to contributing gcncrally to
rcspiratory hcalth, Tulsi has bccn shown to
bc hclplul in thc trcatmcnt ol a varicty ol
scrious allcrgic, inammatory and inlcctious
disordcrs accting thc lungs and rclatcd tis
sucs.
Nutrition
Contains vitamins C and A, and mincrals
calcium, zinc and iron, as wcll as chloro
phyll and many othcr phytonutricnts. Also
cnhanccs thc cm cicnt digcstion, absorption
and usc ol nutricnts lrom lood and othcr
hcrbs.
Allopathic Medicine Complement
nhanccs thc ccctivcncss and rcduccs thc
ncgativc and oltcn dangcrous sidc cccts ol
many standard modcrn mcdical trcatmcnts.
Other Benefts
Lowcrs lcvcrs, protccts against gastric ulccrs,
rcduccs dangcrous blood sugar lcvcls in dia
bctics, and supports dcntal and pcriodontal
hcalth (and diminishcs bad brcath). Also
protccts against mcrcury poisoning, spccds
hcaling ol bonc lracturcs, rcduccs nausca,
vomiting and cramping, and rcpcls insccts,
including mosquitocs and licc.
High Safety Margin
Rcscarch indicatcs that Tulsi has a vcry
high salcty margin with cxccptionally low
toxicity, providing gcncral bcncncial cccts
at doscs without advcrsc rcactions or othcr
undcsirablc sidc cccts.
When I was frst intro-
duced to the sacred Tulsi,
my frst reaction, as a
Western scientist, was
disbelief. ere seemed
to be far more wide-rang-
ing health benefts attrib-
uted to this plant than
could be possible for a
single agent. Yet, I real-
ized that there must be
compelling reasons why
Tulsi has, for thousands
of years, remained one
of the most cherished
of Indias sacred healing
plants.
Dr. Ralph D. Miller
From the Introduction to
Tulsi, e Mother Medicine
of Nature.
* Full references provided in Tulsi, Mother Medicine of Nature (Singh, Hoette and Miller, ) and available on request.
Modern scientifc research provides evidence that Tulsi ofers the following benefts:*
Health Beneft Highlights
4 5
Tulsis Botanical Identity
Tulsi is idcntincd by botanists primarily
as Ocimum sanctum (Rama and Krishna Tulsi
varictics) or morc rcccntly Ocimum tenuiforum,
and Ocimum gratissimum (\ana Tulsi varicty).
8clonging to thc Lamiaceae/Labiatae mint lam
ily, thcsc and othcr closcly rclatcd spccics and
varictics (c.g., Ocimum canum) arc cousins ol
thc lamiliar swcct basil cooking hcrb Ocimum
basilicum. !n parts ol !ndia, all ol thc basils arc
honourcd as Tulsi.
8asils arc nativc to tropical Asia, likcly hav
ing originatcd in !ndia. Robust Tulsi varictics
rcadily grow wild in many arcas ol Asia and
Alrica. Tulsi is a bushy pcrcnnial shrub, usually
cultivatcd annually lrom sccd, although it can
also bc propagatcd lrom tip or root cuttings. !t
is usually plantcd (or transplantcd) immcdiatcly
altcr thc rainy scason cnds. !n good soil and
hot sunny wcathcr, Tulsi may grow to a mctcr
or morc in hcight and bc rcady lor harvcst in a
lcw months. Much largcr spccimcns havc bccn
notcd and undcr spccial circumstanccs an indi
vidual plant may livc lor a dccadc or morc.
Lcal color rangcs lrom light grccn (\ana) to
dark purplc (Krishna), thc tiny owcrs rangc
lrom whitc to rcddish purplc. Highly aromatic,
dicrcnt varictics ol Tulsi may smcll and tastc
ol pcppcrmint, clovcs, licoricc or lcmon, as wcll
as having distinct charactcristics ol thcir own.
Tc lcavcs ol Tulsi arc most commonly uscd
lor thcir hcalth bcncnts, although all parts ol
thc plant, including thc roots, stcms, owcrs
and sccds, havc signincant and dicring mc
dicinal and rcligious symbolic propcrtics. Tulsi
bcads, madc lrom thc woody stalks, arc com
monly strung in nccklaccs, bracclcts, bclts, and
mcditation malas or rosarics, which arc bclicvcd
by many to havc spiritual as wcll as physical
protcction bcncnts.
Tulsis Chemistry
Tc chcmical composition ol Tulsi is highly
complcx, containing many nutricnts and othcr
biologically activc compounds, thc propor
tions ol which may vary considcrably bctwccn
strains and cvcn among plants within thc samc
ncld. Furthcrmorc, thc quantity ol many ol
thcsc constitucnts is signincantly acctcd by
dicring growing, harvcsting, proccssing and
storagc conditions that arc not yct wcll undcr
stood.
Tc nutritional and pharmacological prop
crtics ol thc wholc hcrb in its natural lorm,
as it has bccn traditionally uscd, rcsult lrom
syncrgistic intcractions ol many dicrcnt ac
tivc phytochcmicals. Conscqucntly, thc ovcrall
cccts ol Tulsi cannot bc lully duplicatcd with
isolatcd compounds or cxtracts. 8ccausc ol its
inhcrcnt botanical and biochcmical complcxity,
Tulsi standardization has, so lar, cludcd mod
crn scicncc. Pcrhaps bcst known ol thc many
activc compounds that havc bccn idcntincd
and cxtractcd arc cugcnol (an csscntial oil) and
ursolic acid. Although Tulsi is known as a gcn
cral vitalizcr and incrcascs physical cndurancc,
it contains no cacinc or othcr stimulants.
Tulsi is traditionally takcn in a varicty ol
lorms, including cold and hot lrcsh or dricd
lcal tca inlusions (hcrbal tcas), lrcsh grccn lcal,
lcal juicc, ground or powdcrcd lcal, alcohol
tincturcs, poulticcs and oil (ghcc) prcpara
tions, as wcll as sccd, root and stcm lormula
tions, both intcrnally and topically. !n addition,
modcrn human clinical studics and animal cx
pcrimcnts also cmploy various cxtracts and iso
latcd compounds, somctimcs administcrcd by
injcction. Tc dicring Tulsi prcparations likcly
vary to a considcrablc dcgrcc, both chcmically
and in thcir ovcrall pharmacological cccts.
Left image.
Rama Tulsi has green
leaves, white-to-purplish
fowers, and a green or
purplish stem.
Center image.
Pure Krishna (or Shyama)
Tulsi is completely
purpleleaves, stem and
blossoms. Since Krishna
and Rama Tulsi are variet-
ies of the same basil spe-
cies, they often cross-pol-
linate if grown in the same
vicinity, producing mixed
varieties.
Right image.
Vana (or Van) Tulsi has
green leaves and stem, and
generally white fowers.
Its leaves are usually larger
and more pointed than
those of Rama or Krishna.
Tulsi is known in difer-
ent regions, languages
and dialects of India by
a variety of other names,
including Tulasi, Surasah,
Ajaka, Parnasa, Manjari,
Haripriya (beloved of Lord
Vishnu) and Bhutagni
(destroyer of demons).
Hindu denominations
may regard Tulsi Devi as
representing the Goddess
as Lakshmi, Sita, Vrinda,
Radha, Rukmani or other
feminine deities.
4 5

For many benefts, Tulsi is efective taken in daily
or as a few cups of herbal tea (e.g., tsp/cup).
varieties, or in combination with other herbs, spices,
sweeteners, lemon or milk, for varying tastes and
medicinal benefts. Combinations may include ginger,
lemon grass, licorice, brahmi (gota kola) or other
herbs, masala chai spices (such as cardamom, cinna-
mon, cloves and pepper) and regular black or green
tea. Tulsi tea is prepared from fresh or dried leaf and
served hot or cold.
!n spitc ol thc many imprcssivc accomplish
mcnts ol Vcstcrn mcdical scicncc, thc typically
lragmcntcd approach ol modcrn allopathic
mcdicinc has not bccn ablc to copc with thc
growing array ol chronic dcgcncrativc cnviron
mcntal, lilcstylc and pcrsonal strcssrclatcd dis
ordcrs that plaguc modcrn socicty. Tc mcntal
and biological strcssors ol thc dcmanding and
rapidly changing social and physical cnviron
mcnts ol modcrn urban lilc arc lcading lactors
in illncss and prcmaturc dcath throughout thc
industrializcd nations, and arc cmcrging as
hcalth criscs in dcvcloping countrics world
widc.
Strcssrclatcd disordcrs, such as canccr,
cardiovascular discasc, diabctcs, ncurological
dcmcntia, arthritis and othcr autoimmunc dis
ordcrs, havc almost bccomc synonymous with
Vcstcrnstylc matcrial progrcss. Furthcrmorc,
many modcrn mcdical trcatmcnts cntail sub
stantial advcrsc sidc cccts and compounding
sccondary hcalth risks.
A signincant complcmcntary rolc is cmcrg
ing lor traditional hcrbal mcdicincs and holis
tic approachcs to hcalth in thc prcvcntion and
trcatmcnt ol thc pcrvasivc illncsscs ol modcrn
civilization. Rccognizing thc importancc ol
broadcning Vcstcrn mcdical pcrspcctivcs, thc
Vorld Hcalth rganization has rccommcndcd
that traditional hcalth and lolk mcdicinc
systcms bc intcgratcd with modcrn mcdical
thcrapics to morc ccctivcly addrcss hcalth
problcms worldwidc. Tis ongoing cvolution
in hcalth carc includcs thc growing scicntinc
Indian farming family and
helpers harvesting a rich
crop of pure Krishna Tulsi.
cxamination and vcrincation ol many prcviously
uncxplorcd or prcmaturcly rcjcctcd traditional
trcatmcnts and holistic pcrspcctivcs.
Substantial cvidcncc has accumulatcd that,
in addition to Tulsis many spccinc thcrapcu
tic applications, thc hcrbs powcrlul gcncral
adaptogcnic propcrtics ocr signincant prcvcn
tativc and curativc potcntial with rcspcct to thc
strcssrclatcd dcgcncrativc discascs cndcmic to
industrializcd socictics. ngoing clinical invcs
tigation ol Tulsis hcalth promoting qualitics is
surc to bcar rich lruit.
Rclativcly littlc known in thc Vcst, thc holy
basil Tulsi is ccrtain to cmcrgc in thc ncar luturc
as a major playcr in thc growing ncld ol hcrbal
hcalth supplcmcnts and mcdicincs, both in daily
scllcarc and in prolcssionally managcd hcalth
carc systcms.
Tulsi in Modern Society
6
Selected References*
Agarwal, P., Rai, \. and Singh, R.8. (.6).
Randomizcd placcbocontrollcd, singlc
blind trial ol holy basil lcavcs in paticnts
with noninsulindcpcndcnt diabctcs mcl
litus. Int. J. Clin. Pharmacol. er., ():
c6c.
8hargava, K.P., and Sing, N. (..). Antistrcss
activity ol Ocimum Sanctum. Ind. J. Med.
Res., ,:..
Chavan, S.R. and Nikam, S.T. (.a) Mosquito
larvicidal activity ol Ocimum basilicum Linn.
Ind. J. Med. Res., ,:aacaaa.
as, S.K., Chandra, A., Agarwal, S.S., and
Singh, N. (.). Ocimum sanctum (Tulsi)
in thc trcatmcnt ol viral cnccphalitis. e
Antiseptic, pp...
ymock, V. Vardcn, C.J.H. and Hoopcr, .
(.). Ocimum sanctum. !n: Pharmacographia
Indica, A History of Principal Drugs of
Vegetable Origin. London: Kcgan Paul,
Trcnch, Trubncr & Co. Ltd., :6.
Jalil, A. (.,c). Clinical trial ol Ocimum sanctum
(Tulsi) in pcptic ulccr and hypcracidity pa
ticnts. J. Res. Ind. Med., (a):aa.
Mcdiratta, P.K. and Sharma, K.K. (accc).
cct ol csscntial oil ol thc lcavcs and
nxcd oil ol thc sccds ol Ocimum sanctum on
immunc rcsponscs. J. Med. Aro. Plant Sci.
aa,6,cc.
Mcdiratta, P.K., cwan, \., 8hattacharya, S.K.,
Gupta, \.S., Maiti, P.C. and Scn, P. (.,).
cct ol Ocimum sanctum on humoral im
munc rcsponsc. Ind. J. Med. Res., ,:.
Mchta, A., Chopra, S., Mchta, P. and Kharaya,
M.. (.,). Antimicrobial activity ol somc
csscntial oil against ccrtain pathogcnic bac
tcria. Bull. Bot. Soc. Univ. Saugar, .:aa6.
Ncwark, T.M., and Schulick, P. (accc). Beyond
Aspirin. Natures Answer to Arthritis, Cancer
& Alzheimers Disease. Hohm Prcss. Prcscott,
Arizona.
Pushpangadan, G., and Sobti, S.N. (.,,).
Mcdicinal propcrtics ol Ocimum (Tulsi) spc
cics and somc rcccnt invcstigation ol thcir
cmcacy. Ind. Drugs, .(..): ac,.
Rastogi, R.P. and Mchrotra, 8.N. (.)
Ocimum sanctum !n: Compendium of
Indian Medicinal Plants. Publication and
!nlormation ircctoratc, CS!R, Ncw clhi,
:.c.
Sakscna, A.K., Nath, C. and Singh, N. (.,)
cct ol Ocimum sanctum (Tulsi) on
physical cndurancc during thcrmal strcss.
Physiology of Human Performance. Proc.
National Symposium on Physiology of Human
Performance. clcncc !nstitutc ol Physiology
and Allicd Scicnccs, Govt. ol !ndia, pp. .c
...
Sarkar, A., Lavania, S.C., Pandcy, .N. and
Pant, M.C. (.). Changcs in thc blood
lipid pronlc altcr administration ol Ocimum
sanctum (Tulsi) lcavcs in thc normal albino
rabbits. Ind. J. Physiol. Pharmaco, ():..
.a.
Singh, N., and Misra, N. (.). xpcrimcntal
mcthods Tools lor asscssmcnt ol anti
strcss activity in Mcdicinal plants. J. Bio
Chem. Res., .a(.a):.a.a,.
Singh, N., Hocttc, Y., and Millcr, R. (acca).
Tulsi, e Mother Medicine of Nature.
!ntcrnational !nstitutc ol Hcrbal Mcdicinc.
Lucknow, !ndia.
Singh, N., \crma, P., Misra, N., and Nath,
R.(..). A comparativc cvaluation ol somc
antistrcss agcnts ol plant origin. Ind. J.
Pharmacol., a:.c.
Singh, S. (.) Comparativc cvaluation ol
antiinammatory potcntial ol nxcd oil ol
dicrcnt spccics ol Ocimum and its pos
siblc mcchanism ol action. Ind. J. Exp. Biol.,
6(.c):.ca.c..
Uma cvi, P., Ganasoundari, A., Rao, 8.S. and
Srinivasan, K.K. (.). !n vivo radioprotcc
tion by Ocimum avonoids: survival ol micc.
Radiat. Res., ..(.):,,
*A more complete bibliography is provided in Tulsi,
Mother Medicine of Nature (Singh, Hoette and
Miller, ) and is available on request.
, July . Ralph & Sam Miller,
e Green Isle Enterprise
140 Saltair Lane, Salt Spring Island, BC
250-653-4507 gie@saltspring.com
Images : Maurya brothers, IITC Organic India Pvt. Ltd.