Tulsi is the Hindi word for the herbaceous plant scientifically named Ocimum sanctum L. You might know this plant as holy basil or sacred basil, its common names in English. Dried and fresh tulsi leaves have long been an essential ingredient in Thai and Indian food. The Indians also employ tulsi, which is native to the Indian subcontinent, as a healing herb in their medicinal tradition known as ayurveda. Today, the fixed oils extracted from the leaves and seeds of tulsi are used in standardized medicinal preparations. A fixed oil does not evaporate and usually comes from a plant.
Ayurveda
The World Health Organization says approximately 80% of the population uses traditional medicinal preparations mostly based on plants. Tulsi has long been a part of the ayurvedic cooking and medicinal traditions. The Indian book of medicinal plants, "Indian Materia Medica," provides information that indicates tulsi was used to treat bronchitis and rheumatism, along with improving the body's disease resistance.
Thai Food
Tulsi is an integral ingredient in Thai food. Called "ka-prow" in Thailand, tulsi imparts a subtly spicy, licorice flavor to foods like coconut mild curry, fresh salads and stir fry dishes. Common basil (Ocimum basilicum) found at the grocery store has light green leaves that are wide, smooth and tender. Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum), on the other hand, has thicker, darker, slender leaves.
Staph Infection
Tulsi could be an effective antibacterial agent against the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus pumilus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, according to a study performed by the University of Delhi Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research. The results, published in the "Indian Journal of Experimental Biology," indicate that because tulsi shows anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity, it might be just the right thing to treat inflammation from a staph infection.
Constituents
Results of phytochemical studies carried out by the Department of Plant Biology & Plant Viotechnology at St. Joseph's College in Tamul Nadu, India show the constituents of tulsi, O. sanctum. According to confirmed results from three forms of tulsi extract, tulsi contains flavonoids, tannins, phenols, glycosides, carbohydrates, steroids, amino acids, saponin, fixed oils and perhaps resin. It does not contain alkaloids.
Dose
The University of Michigan Health Center provides a suggested dosage based on information from clinical trials. It suggests, "1,000 to 2,500 mg per day of dried, powdered leaf."
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