Vegetus_logo

Know Your Medicinal Plant—Holy Basil (Tulsi)*

Hindi name: Tulsi

Latin name: Ocimum tenuiflorum

Appearance: A small, aromatic herbaceous annual with fragrant green or purple leaves and purple or white tubular flowers on terminal spikes.

Habitat: Native to India and other tropical areas of Asia; grown extensively in Central and South America; in more temperate regions, holy basil is often grown in pots from seed. 

Key constituents: Volatile oil—eugenol; flavonoids—apigenin, luteolin; triterpene—ursolic acid; saponins

Properties: Antispasmotic, analgesic, blood sugar regulator, fever reducer, adaptogenic, anti-inflammatory

Parts used: Aerial parts—leaves and flowers

Practical preparations and uses: Raw form—(ingested) thought to promote overall health, help body adapt to new demands or stress, fight infection; juiced form—as a topical for skin infections, insect bites, ringworm; as an oral rinse for mouth sores; as drops for ear infections; decocted form—taken internally for fever; powdered form—topically applied to mouth sores; tincture form—taken internally for respiratory infections (colds, coughs, bronchitis, pleurisy), fever, to reduce inflammation, to moderate blood sugar, to boost immunity, to promotes overall health.

Source: Chevallier A. Holy basil, tulsi (Hindi). Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine. New York, NY: DK Publishing; 2016:116.

*Consult with a qualified healthcare professional before attempting to self-treat ailments.    

Latest Recipes

Sign up for NHR’s FREE E-Newsletter!

          • Receive notifications when a new issue of NHR is available
          • Get free recipes, tips on healthy living, and the latest health news
Email(Required)

Subscribe to NHR Print for only $18 a year!

Get unlimited access to content plus receive 6 eye-appealing, information-packed print issues of NHR delivered to your mailbox.

Sign up for our free email newsletter!

It’s easy! Just fill out the information below to receive our free monthly email newsletter.