You might have seen your grandma chew a couple of leaves of tulsi in the morning or give you tulsi water when you were sick. Well, she had very good reasons behind it. Also known as 'elixir of life' and 'queen of herbs', tulsi has been used for thousands of years in Ayurveda to cure all sorts of ailments and flush out toxins from the body.
It treats skin disorders:
Since tulsi is rich in antioxidants such as Vitamin K and Vitamin E, it can be a real blessing for your skin. It's purifying, and antibacterial properties work wonders in curing acne, skin-scars and
skin infections such as ringworm and vitiligo. You can apply it straight to the skin or consume it orally for better results. To make a tulsi face mask, take equal amounts of tulsi leaves, neem leaves and two cloves, and grind it well with little water. Apply it for 15 minutes and then rinse it off with cold water.
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It cures fever, cough and cold:
In Ayurveda, the decoction of Tulsi leaves is known to boost immunity and relieve fever, cough and cold. Tulsi is a natural antibiotic, and its healing properties can quickly lower your fever. Applying tulsi paste on cold feet during fever helps in bringing down the temperature. For cough and cold, warm tulsi tea should be consumed twice a day.
With our busy yet sedentary lifestyle, stress and related problems are becoming more prevalent every day. Thankfully, tulsi can reduce your stress levels. Tulsi is an adaptogenic herb that controls your
cortisol levels and relieves you from worry, stress and anxiety. With its healing and calming properties, tulsi tea can help you relax and think better.
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It is excellent for dental health:
Tulsi is a useful herb for some common oral infections as well. Its antibacterial properties destroy germs and bacteria in the mouth and improve your oral hygiene. It's also a great mouth freshener and prevents tartar, plaque and dental cavities. Brush your teeth with powdered tulsi leaves for better results.
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It helps with asthma and other respiratory ailments:
Tulsi is recommended for asthmatic patients as its consumption relieves you from congestion and shortness of breath. Asthma and other respiratory illnesses happen primarily because of
Kapha imbalance, which causes excessive accumulation of mucus and leads to congestion. Drinking warm tulsi water with little honey helps a lot in such cases.
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It soothes eye infections:
It is not very widely known, but tulsi is a promising herb for ocular diseases too. Its antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial properties protect eyes from infections and conditions such as conjunctivitis, cataracts, glaucoma and other vision defects. You can also wash your eyes daily with tulsi water to improve eyesight.
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It reduces risk of heart attacks:
Tulsi contains flavonoids which prevent clot formation in the arteries reducing your risks of heart attacks. It is also a natural remedy for controlling cholesterol by lowering bad cholesterol and increasing good cholesterol. Drinking tulsi juice daily can help you prevent heart diseases.
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It makes you healthy hair:
Tulsi is the most suitable home remedy if you are fighting grey hair,
dandruff and dry
scalp. Regular head massage with tulsi oil will improve blood circulation and
strengthen the hair. Also, apply tulsi paste in combination with neem to promote
hair growth, and sesame and fenugreek for an itch-free scalp.
Tulsi is an herb of all seasons, and its medicinal powers are the reason that it is revered so much in the Indian subcontinent. Adding this precious herb into your daily routine will enhance the quality of your life immensely.
