Holy Basil, an adaptogen
Slip away into your innermost self.
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Tulsi, comprising several species in the basil family, is more commonly known as holy basil or tea basil across our island archipelago. It has a wide range of applications for spiritual, religious and traditional medicine purposes, and is commonly found in home gardens and growing wild across our island archipelago.
Holy basil’s scientific name is Ocimum sanctum
Holy basil’s origin is the Indian subcontinent, where the plant goes by the name Tulsi in Hindi. The holy basil is not like the sweet basil you use in pasta sauces or on pizzas. This leafy medicinal is called the ‘Queen of Herbs’ as all parts of the plant can be used from leaves to the seed, as tonic for the body, mind, and spirit.
Purple tulsi in Zen’s garden.
One of its most outstanding properties is its ability to ease inflammation and joint pain along with aiding the body in tackling stress and everyday anxieties. It targets metabolic stress, helps with weight loss and cholesterol levels, while counteracting the effects of stress-induced ulcers. Holy basil is also high in antioxidants and helps your body to detox and aids in preventing cancer by reducing the growth of cancerous cells. It can help protect against infection, lower your blood sugar, lower your cholesterol, and protect your stomach. What an incredible cure for all!
The very special quality about the holy basil is its ability to function as an adaptogen. An adaptogen is a natural substance found in plants that helps your body adapt to stress and promotes mental balance, meaning that this powerful plant has antidepressant and anti-anxiety properties. It is also an antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and a powerful analgesic or painkiller.
In certain Afro-Caribbean religious traditions, holy basil is used to clean, refresh and purify the home while warding off negative energies. In these same traditions, holy basil baths are made to bring abundance and good luck to members of the family and community while protecting homes from bad energies. There is little knowledge present in our communities around the folkloric use and how our ancestors used this medicine.
holy basil flowering and going to seed in my home garden.