10 Amazing Health Benefits and Uses Of Basil

Tulsi also known as basil, is a fairly common plant in Indian households. Considered holy by many religions, the tulsi plant is revered for its divine properties. Tulsi has been used in India for around 5000 years and is acclaimed for its healing properties of the mind, body and spirit. The antioxidants present in Tulsi makes you look younger and fresher. Tulsi is very healthy for the skin. It works well as a skin and hair moisturizer too. Here are the top 10 benefits of tulsi.

Cures Fever and Common Cold:

The tulsi medicinal uses begins with the ability of the leaves to cure many kinds of fever. Tender Tulsi leaves boiled in water act as a preventive against malaria and dengue fever.  In case of acute fever, a decoction of the leaves boiled with cardamom powder in half a litre of water mixed with sugar and milk brings down the temperature. Tulsi is also a good germicidal agent and a disinfectant that protects the human body from all types of viral infections.

Stress Reliever:

The anti-oxidants present in Tulsi help in balancing different
processes of the body. Drinking Tulsi extract daily smoothes the nervous
system and helps to relieve stress.

Tulsi Beats Cancer

Tulsi is anti-carcinogenic in nature and helps to treat some forms of cancer including breast cancer. Tulsi restricts the blood vessels that feed tumours. It also helps to inhibit the growth of oral cancer that is caused due to tobacco. But tulsi should not be used as a sole treatment of cancer however.

Keeps your skin and hair healthy and glowing:

Dry and damaged hair is often a cause of concern for beauties. Further high pollution in cities and several other factors combine to wreak havoc on our crowning glory and damage our hair to the very roots. It is highly important to keep ourselves hydrated and eat a balance diet to ward off hair problems. Always rely on herbal products and homemade remedies for hair problems rather than using over the counter, chemical laden hair care products which do nothing but make the matter worse for us. Tulsi is a wonder herb which helps to achieve lustrous shiny and healthy hair.

One of the major causes of hair loss is dandruff and dry scalp. Add a small quantity of Tulsi oil to regular carrier oil like coconut oil and massage well on your scalp. Tulsi helps to improve the blood circulation and keeps your scalp cool reducing itchiness and dandruff and thus promotes hair growth. You can also apply tulsi paste which keeps the scalp, roots clean and keeps the dandruff at bay. Regular massage of tulsi oil in your scalp energizes you and your hair.

Skin with blemishes can also benefit from Tulsi leaves. Make a face pack
using one egg white and Tulsi leaves paste. Then rub the mixture gently
on the face particularly on the infected areas of the skin. Wash off
the face pack after 20 minutes scrubbing it gently. The egg white used
will tighten the pores while the tulsi paste will disinfect the skin and
prevent infections which cause pimples and acne. Rubbing finely powdered dry tulsi on the face like a loose powder adds glow to the face glow and removes dark spots from the face.

Boosts Immunity:

Tulsi has a complex constitution that includes immunity booster, adaptogens and anti-oxidants. Hence, tulsi juice when taken every week keeps our scalp healthy and hydrated.

Apart from all these benefits, it has been recently discovered that tulsi has environmental benefits too. Tulsi apparently gives out oxygen for 20 hours and ozone for 4 hours along with the formation of nascent oxygen which absorbs harmful gases like carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide from the environment.

After knowing all these amazing benefits of this herb, I’m sure all of you would try these home remedies. It will work wonders on your life and living habits.

Heals Wounds, Cuts and Burns:

Dry tulsi leaves in a shade, add alum, grind and sieve well and store the powder in a clean glass bottle. Apply the powder on wounds and cuts. Pain due to burns can be alleviated by applying equal amounts of Tulsi juice and coconut oil mixed in it.

Cures Ringworm:

Using tulsi paste and lemon helps to cure ring worms.

Prevents Inflammation:

Tulsi leaves contain anti-bacterial and anti-fungal compounds. A paste made of Tulsi leaves along with sandalwood paste and rose water can be applied on the face as it helps to prevent inflammation.

Beats Headache:

Basil leaves are a good medicine for headache. Pounded leaves mixed with sandalwood paste can be applied on the forehead for relief from headache.

Cardiovascular benefits:

Tulsi extract found in the herbal tea is abundant in magnesium, which is a vital nutrient required for the prevention of heart disease. The magnesium in holy basil helps our blood vessels work properly. It prevents deposition of cholesterol and promotes free flow of blood, and also reduces the risk of atherosclerosis. Other antioxidants found in this herb protect the heart from free radical damage. Regular intake of holy basil tea has been known to reduce cholesterol levels and lower blood pressure.