Tulsi: Herb for all Seasons

Even today, you see the elders worshipping Tulsi; it is still considered a Goddess. Many may view it as simply a plant. However, after knowing its history and numerous uses in our day to day lives, we have to agree that Tulsi is nothing short of a miraculous plant.

Ocimum tenuiflorum a.k.a. Holy Basil is an aromatic sacred plant in Hinduism grown mostly in tropical regions like India. Most of the people regionally know it as Krishna Tulsi (Tulasi or Thulasi), based on the dark complexion of Lord Krishna. The plant has purple colored leaves with dark stems and usually takes a longer time to grow compared to its other counterparts. This gives its leaves a less bitter after-taste and makes them very crunchy to chew.

Kala Tulsi, another name for the same plant, is an annual plant. His is to say that it cannot withstand the winter season and dies every year. It then has to be replaced, with seeds sown in the spring season. After watering these seeds from time to time in a uniform manner, they usually germinate after a span of two weeks. Tulsi is preferably grown in rich and well-drained soil. A mixture of peat, soil, and clay with an ideal pH of 6.5 to 7.5 is ideal for the plant. Tulsi also requires an ample amount of sunlight, somewhere between four to six hours a day.

Instead of growing it from scratch, you can also get it from a nursery near your home where it usually comes in a grow bag. It then has to be transplanted to a larger pot where it grows naturally. However you may grow it, Tulsi requires constant care for it to thrive. The pruning of some top leaves give the plant more breathing space and help it grow better. Cutting off flower buds and drying leaves also direct more energy to the plant. Overwatering can kill it so extra care has to be taken while watering it. The symptoms include browning of leaves and their wilting which indicates that there is root rot. To avoid this, it is better to mist the plant.

Traditionally, the various parts of the plant like the stems, leaves, and flowers have known to be of great medicinal use. They are used for curing throat infections, respiratory system problems, nasal lesions, earaches, and skin diseases. The list of benefits further includes using Tulsi oil as eardrops, putting a few purple Tulsi leaves in tea to make it Herbal with Ayurvedic properties, as a key ingredient in Thai cuisine, and as an insect repellent, or in case of Malaria. The fresh leaves are also helpful in case of indigestion, headache, hysteria, insomnia, and cholera.

Apart from that, many people are seen wearing Tulsi beads with these medicinal characteristics while some also believe its wood to be the most powerful in protecting them against negative influences in their lives. Beautifully handcrafted jewelry items made from Tulsi wood are also becoming more and more common these days. After knowing all the benefits and its properties, it is only fair to consider Tulsi as a sacred plant.

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