Tulsi – Ocimum sanctum, commonly known as the holy basil is an extremely useful and important Ayurvedic herb. Tulsi attracts more energy from the sun as compared to the other plants and thus blossoms very well in strong sunshine in Indian tropical weather. Under the sun, the leaves become bigger and thicker and also turn dark green, towards black, this variety is called Krishna Tulsi or black tulsi. Similarly, there is green tulsi and other types like sabza. Tulsi varieties are used in other countries too, in fact all over the world.
Why this popularity? Because anywhere we live, one problem that affects us all, if the weather is cold or rainy, it causes common cold and chest congestion. Tulsi is one of the best remedies against this. It has the ability to destroy excess Kapha and Vata. Tulsi juice when taken with honey, is excellent to do away with a cold. Even in a child, one drop of the Tulsi juice with honey, reduces cold and cough in the chest.
When we drink tea, adding two crushed leaves of Tulsi to it will act as a immune booster against common colds. Alternatively, take a few Tulsi leaves in water, add, lemongrass and mint, a little ginger and bring to a boil, filter it, and add 2-3 lemon drops to make a lovely cup of herbal tea.
Tulsi is intense in taste and a little bitter and pungent, it has a lot of agni or fire. I would not say that pitta increases by eating a leaf of tulsi, rather it balances the agni in the body.
Another important area of action of the tulsi plant is heart and circulation. When the heart pumps, circulation happesn and every cell of the body is replenished with oxygen. The strength of the heart is enhanced by tulsi.Lord Vishnu has his abode in the heart and Vishnu likes the Tulsi plant. Vishnu is the deity of the ‘present’. The present tense is life itself. As the heart beats lub-dub, incessantly, it marks the present, like a non-stop watch.Thus Vishnu is very fond of Tulsi.