Holy basil (Ocimum sanctum Linn.)

Ocimum Sanctum Linn. Family Lamiaceae An annual plant, 30-60cm high, much branched; stem and branches usually purplish, sub-quadrangular; leaves 2.5-5 by 1.6-3.2cm, elliptic oblong-obtuse, pubescent on both side and minutely gland-dotted. Flowers are in racemes REGIONAL NAMES English - Holy Basil Bengali - Tulsi Gujarati - Tulsi Hindi - Kata tulsi, tuls Malayalam - Tulasi Marathi - Tulasa, Tulasi chajadha Kannada - Vishnu Tulasi, Kari Tulasi, Sri Tulsi Tamil - Thulasi Telugu - Tulasi, Krishna tulasi, kari tulasi, sri tulasi.

An annual plant, 30-60cm high, much branched; stem and branches usually purplish, sub-quadrangular; leaves 2.5-5 by 1.6-3.2cm, elliptic oblong-obtuse, pubescent on both side and minutely gland-dotted. Flowers are in racemes

REGIONAL NAMES   

English - Holy Basil
Bengali - Tulsi
Gujarati - Tulsi
Hindi - Kata tulsi, tuls
Malayalam - Tulasi
Marathi - Tulasa, Tulasi chajadha
Kannada - Vishnu Tulasi, Kari Tulasi, Sri Tulsi
Tamil - Thulasi
Telugu - Tulasi, Krishna tulasi, kari tulasi, sri tulasi     
                   
DISTRIBUTION :Found thought India.  

PART USED : Whole plant

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES AND USES

The drug has numerous pharmacological activities like hypoglycaemic, immunomodulalory, anti-stress, antiulcerogenic, anti hypertensive, CNS depressant, radioprotective, antitumour and antibacterial. Tulsi is aromatic, carminative, antipyretic, diaphoretic and expectorant. It has been found to be very effective in treatment of viral encephalitis and tropical pulmonary, eosinophilia in children. The plant is also used in snakebite & scorpion sting.

The Tulsi or holy basil is an important symbol in the Hindu religious tradition and is worshipped in the morning and evening by Hindus at large. The holy basil is also a herbal remedy for a lot of common ailments. Here're top fifteen medicinal uses of Tulsi.