Holy herbs and holy cows? They actually exist. A look at Indian culture reveals this. For our health, we are primarily interested in the holy herb Holy Basil, also known as Indian basil or Tulsi. In the Indian medical system of Ayurveda, Holy Basil is one of the stars for the well-being of body and mind. Here is an overview of the most important aspects of Ayurveda and Holy Basil.
The World of Ayurveda
To understand what Holy Basil is and how it works, let's start with a brief excursion into the world of Ayurveda. The Asian medical systems of TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) and Ayurveda look back on a tradition thousands of years old.
Ayurveda – The Science of Good Living
Ayurveda is a holistic approach that ensures well-being and the harmonization of body and soul, primarily through plant-based, individual nutrition. An Ayurvedic practitioner first determines where any ailments might lie through a physical examination, checking the pulse, urine, tongue, eyes, hair, skin, and nails. Following this, the doshas are determined. This is the individual constitution of the person and their characteristics. In general, there are three doshas:
- Kapha: The Kapha type (elements earth and water): sluggish, slow, stable
- Pitta: The Pitta type (elements fire and water): bright, glowing, overheated
- Vata: The Vata type (element air): light, mobile, fragile
These three “dispositions” can also occur in mixed forms and vary depending on internal or external factors. According to Ayurveda, the goal is now to balance any imbalance of the doshas using plants like Holy Basil. This is pursued through individualized nutritional therapy. The goal is to restore the balance of the doshas in order to achieve greater well-being and health for body and soul. This balance can be disturbed both from within and without, for example by a lack of exercise, psychological stress, and poor nutrition.
Indian Basil: Holy Basil keeps Doshas in check
Regarding the doshas, Indian basil is considered one of the stars of Ayurveda. It plays a central role in the Indian medical system. It has a harmonizing effect on the doshas. Holy Basil weakens Kapha and mitigates Vata and Pitta.
The Incomparable: The Legend of Tulsi, Indian Basil
Tulsi (Indian: the incomparable), the shrub, is considered both sacred and healing in ancient Indian Sanskrit texts. Similar to the elderberry bush in Europe, which also stood in courtyards for protection and in which, according to Germanic mythology, the Germanic protective goddess Holla lived. Back to Holy Basil, Ayurveda, and India: the shrub is considered sacred there because the Vedic deity Vishnu manifests in the plant and provides protection. For this reason, the plant is a staple in Indian courtyards, gardens, and ceremonies, and serves as a place of prayer.
For the Indian people, Holy Basil is considered an elixir of life and a symbol of a long and healthy life. Let's look at the ingredients of Holy Basil. It is rich in antioxidants, which can be attributed to the valuable content of its secondary plant compounds, such as essential oils and chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is the pigment-providing secondary plant compound found, for example, in Matcha tea.
Application of Holy Basil
In Ayurveda, the use of Tulsi is recommended for digestive problems, for alleviating coughs and other upper respiratory complaints, and for regulating blood sugar levels. Like the medicinal plants Ginseng or Ashwagandha, Holy Basil is an adaptogenic medicinal plant that helps the body adapt to stressful situations. For this reason, this divine herb is also used for sleep disorders, states of restlessness, and exhaustion.
• Discover the world of adaptogenic plants. You can find them here.
