Tulsi, also known as the Indian basil or holy basil, is considered sacred and holy in the Hindu religion. The bushy, aromatic perennial shrub is native to the Indian subcontinent and has been found mainly in South Asia before becoming widely popular in the West recently for its medicinal values.
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This plant is found in two main varieties – Shyama or Krishna tulsi, with dark green or purple leaves and a purple stem; and Rama tulsi, the one in light green. Shyama tulsi is beneficial for its medicinal properties, while Rama tulsi is widely known for worshiping in India.
Tulsi
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Tulsi is not only grown and cultivated for religious and medicinal purposes, but also for its essential oil. Tulsi is known for its strong antioxidant, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-diabetic, anti-allergic, anti-microbial, and immunity-enhancing properties, aside from various other beneficial compounds and nutrients. Meanwhile, this low-calorie herb is rich in various nutrients like calcium, iron, and omega-3 fats, and also contains various vitamins. Therefore, the extract obtained from the plant is used in curing a number of diseases and ailments such as the common cold, cough, malaria, heart diseases, and many more.
Here are the top benefits of tulsi for your health and skin:
Benefits of tulsi for your health
1. Acts as a stress buster
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Tulsi is also known to possess anti-stress agents. Consuming tulsi or tulsi tea regularly can help you regulate your stress hormone levels and smoothens the functioning of your nervous system, thus reducing stress. Moreover, it enhances your stamina and boosts the immune system.
2. Prevents and heals common ailments
Tulsi contains germicidal and anti-viral agents, which protect the human body from all types of viral infections like fever, cold, cough, and flu. Chewing fresh tulsi leaves or drinking tulsi tea acts as an antibiotic and helps in mobilizing mucus in bronchitis, asthma, influenza, cough, and cold. It also cures headache caused by sinusitis, allergies, cold, and even migraines.
3. Cures serious diseases
Tulsi also acts as a preventive and curative medicine against more serious diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, heart disease, neurological dementia, and even cancer. In particular, its antioxidants and anti-carcinogenic properties helps in the treatment of breast and oral cancer.
4. Beneficial for diabetic patients
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Tulsi is one of those magical herbs that controls your blood sugar levels. Daily consumption of tulsi tea or leaves boosts metabolism of the body and transforms excess sugar into energy.
5. Treats arthritis
The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of tulsi make it an effective solution for joint pains and arthritis. Along the same lines, it also helps prevent gastric ulcers.
6. Helps in digestion
Tulsi is also a supportive agent for the proper digestion and absorption of food. Therefore, regularly having tulsi tea can be a solution for various stomach problems like acidity, constipation, and flatulence.
7. Aids in weight loss
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Consuming tulsi tea is known to be the most natural and effective treatment to lose body weight, as it helps you burn fat.
8. Improves vision
Tulsi is rich in Vitamin A, which is essential for healthy vision. Tulsi juice is an effective remedy for sore eyes and night blindness, and also protects your eyes from various bacterial and fungal infections like conjunctivitis and boils.
9. Prevents mosquitoes
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Tulsi also helps in repelling mosquito bites and other harmful and poisonous insect bites, thereby purifying your environment.
Benefits of tulsi for your skin
1. Makes you look younger and gives you glowing fresh skin
Tulsi acts as a brilliant moisturizer for your skin. Its antioxidants make you look younger and fresher, adding an extra glow to your face.
2. Lightens scars and marks
A paste made of tulsi leaves can work wonders on your skin by lightening all kinds of scars, black marks, and dark spots. To get better results, you can also add besan (gram flour) to the tulsi paste.
3. Treats pimple and acne
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Tulsi leaves prevent the outbreak of pimples and acne by purifying your blood and removing toxins. To take it further, Tulsi helps in clearing bacteria from your skin and tightens your pores, preventing the appearance and growth of blackheads on your skin.
4. Cures skin infections and ringworms
Tulsi contains anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and antibiotic properties, which restricts the growth of bacteria and prevents skin infections and various skin diseases like eczema, ringworms, skin irritation, itching, and inflammation.
5. Treats vitiligo
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Regular intake of tulsi leaves helps in curing vitiligo, a skin disease that causes white patches on the skin.
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To maximize the benefits of tulsi for your skin, here are some few simple and easy homemade face pack recipes:
1. For refreshing skin
Make a smooth thick paste of tulsi juice, honey, and besan and apply it on your skin to get a cooling sensation and a refreshing look. Leave the pack on for 15 minutes and wash it thoroughly with fresh water.
2. To get rid of acne and scars
Make a paste of ground neem and tulsi leaves, and also add 2 ground cloves. Apply this pack on your face avoiding the eye area, and leave it on for 30 minutes before washing it off with cold water.
3. To detoxify your skin
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Make a smooth paste with crushed tulsi leaves and a few drops of lemon juice, and apply it on your face. Keep it on until it dries completely, and rinse it off with cold water.
4. To hydrate skin and remove dead skin cells
Make a thick paste of dried tulsi leaf powder and curd, and apply it on your face. Leave it on for 15 minutes before scrubbing and washing it off thoroughly with water.
5. To enhance and lighten your skin tone
Make a smooth paste of oatmeal, tulsi paste, and milk powder, and apply it on your face. Leave it on for 15-20 minutes before rinsing it off with ice cold water.
6. To brighten your skin
Make a smooth paste with ground tulsi leaves, milk powder or milk, and a little water, and apply it on your face and neck. Let it dry for 15-20 minutes and wash it off thoroughly with plain water.
7. For glowing skin
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Make a mixture of tomato pulp and ground tulsi leaves, and apply it on your face. Keep it on for 15 minutes until the pack dries, and then wash it off with plain fresh water.
8. For all skin types
Prepare a face pack by mixing tulsi powder, sandalwood powder, fuller’s earth, olive oil, and rose water, and apply it on your face. Leave it on for 20-30 minutes until it dries and wash it off with cold water.
This magical herb is not only beneficial for your skin and health, but is also equally beneficial for your hair and scalp. Some of the essential benefits of tulsi for your hair are as follows.
1. Boosts immunity of your hair and scalp
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Tulsi has antioxidant properties and also acts as an immunity booster for your hair, keeping your scalp and hair healthy.
2. Energizes your hair
A regular massage with tulsi oil can help you energize your hair and improve blood circulation.
3. Strengthens hair shaft and rejuvenates hair follicles
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This Indian basil is also effective in strengthening the hair shaft and stimulating the hair follicles.
4. Treats dandruff
Dandruff leads to hair fall. To get rid of dandruff, the easiest remedy is to apply tulsi paste on your scalp. It will let you keep your roots clean while hydrating your scalp, thus putting an end to having a dry, flaky scalp.
5. Reduces itchiness of the scalp
A paste of tulsi leaves applied on your hair and scalp can reduce the itchiness of your scalp.
6. Prevents hair loss
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One of the common hair problems is hair loss, which is the result of itchiness, excess dryness, or sweatiness of your scalp. Therefore, applying tulsi oil can help you get rid of hair loss issues and promote hair growth.
7. Prevents hair damage
The antioxidant properties of tulsi also help prevent your hair from damage due to pollution, dirt, and radiation.
8. Treats grey hair
Dried tulsi leaves powder mixed with amla powder, when applied on your hair and scalp, can help prevent your hair from greying early.
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Even though the holy Indian basil has superb healing properties, medicinal values, and health benefits, it also has certain side-effects. Have a look at what you should be aware of:
1. Tulsi might interfere with the processing of certain drugs in your body.
2. Excess consumption of tulsi by diabetes patients can lead to hypoglycaemia, a condition which abnormally lowers the blood sugar level.
3. Tulsi has blood thinning properties, which might lead to a complicated situation for people who are already under anti-clotting medication.
4. Basil leaves decrease fertility, and therefore women trying to become pregnant or starting breastfeeding should avoid the intake of tulsi.
5. One of the primary constituents of tulsi is eugenol. Excess consumption of tulsi might lead to eugenol overdose, which could result in poisoning, nausea, dizziness, coma, and many more.
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