Holy Basil known as “Tulsi” is a common herb used in naturopathy for a wide range of illnesses; this is possible because it is rich in many powerful healing phytochemicals and nutrients. It is commonly referred to as the “Queen of Herbs”.

Holy Basil is one of the best medicinal herbs discovered by man; it has been greatly valued and worshiped in India for thousands of years because of its endless list of miraculous and medicinal properties.

Health Benefits of Holy Basil

It is one of the most important herbs used in Ayurvedic medicine; in Sanskrit, it is called “the incomparable one” and it is used in religious celebrations in Mid-eastern religions. It has tremendous health benefits and we will be looking at some of them.

1. It Fights Stress

This herb is popular for its adaptogenic properties; it supports and improves the way the body responds to stress; it is rich in vitamin C and powerful antioxidants that prevent free radicals from causing oxidative stress and damages. This also helps in the treatment of metabolic, chemical, psychological/emotional and physical stress.

Their powerful nutrients soothe the nerves, bring down high blood pressure, fight and reduce inflammation and loosen tensed blood vessels. Take tulsi tea or decoction daily to help you ease stress and fight off its negative impact on your health.

2. It Cures Cancer

Regular consumption of the leaves of holy basil boosts the immune system and makes it impossible for cancer to weaken and overpower the body. These leaves are packed full of powerful phytochemicals like rosmarinic acid, apigen, myretenal, luteolin, and eugenol all help to prevent chemically induced liver, oral, skin and lung cancers. They help to increase the activities of antioxidants in the body, induce death of cancer cells, prevent the spread of cancer cells, prevents the growth of blood vessels which can contribute to the growth and severity of cancer and it also prevents problems with gene expression.

SEE ALSO: Herbal Treatment and Cure for Cancer (List of Herbs)

It also helps treat radiation damage and help one overcome the side effects of too much exposure to radiation; it protects tissues against damages caused by radiation. This leave effectively fights cancers and tumors without side effects. Take the tea or decoction daily when battling cancer and to prevent cancer if you think you are at risk of cancer. The leaves can even be used to cook.

3. It Makes the Eyes Healthy

Basil leaves have wonderful properties that protect the eye from viral, bacterial and fungi infections; it is used in Ayurveda medicine to cure pink eye also known as conjunctivitis, this is due to its soothing and anti-inflammatory properties.

It is even used to treat cataracts; turmeric and holy basil are used in making herbal eye drop which is applied topically to treat oxidative stress and dissolve that insoluble protein that forms cataracts.

SEE ALSO: Top 10 Medicinal Benefits of Mango Leaves and Uses

To treat eye problems; soak some basil leaves in water for hours and use this water to wash your eyes. This will help you treat boils, pink eye, eye infections, eye inflammation, stress and other eye problems. Take the tea or decoction regularly to prevent and treat glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, defects in vision and ophthalmia. The leaves are rich in vitamin A, C, and antioxidants.

4. It Treats Headaches

This herb is effective in treating and relieving headaches and migraines. It also relieves sinuses, coughs, flu and colds. Holy Basil is packed with powerful sedative, disinfectant, anti-congestive and analgesic properties like carvacrol, eugenol, methyl-chavicol, and camphene.

5. It Fights Respiratory Disorders

This herb is loaded with healing compounds like camphene, cineole, and eugenol which fights respiratory disorders, clears the respiratory airways and prevent congestion. It makes breathing easier and reduces the severity and frequencies of asthmatic attacks because it has anti-asthmatic properties.

6. It Balance the Hormones

This helps to maintain healthy and normal levels of hormones in the body; it has many compounds that help it to achieve this. This will help the body to handle stress well, improve the functions of the brain, boost reproduction and other vital metabolic reactions that hormones are involved or required.

7. It Prevents Rapid Aging

This wonderful herb is rich in phytonutrients, antioxidants, vitamins A, and C which fights the activities of free radicals because they cause rapid and premature aging. In Ayurveda medicine, they use this herb to make a tonic which helps one to retain youthful look and vigor.

8. It is Used for Oral Cares

The powerful antibacterial properties of Holy basil helps in preventing and fighting oral infections; they are used to treat mouth odor, bad breath, plaque, dental cavities, tartar, and plaque. It protects the teeth and gums; it has astringent properties that make the gums stronger and helps them hold the teeth tighter. Avoid chewing much of the leaves as this can harm the teeth because it contains mercury but you can take the tea or decoction daily.

Holy Basil is also an excellent mouth freshener and oral disinfectant. It can keep the mouth fresh for a very long time, it can destroy 99% of the germs in the mouth due to its powerful antibacterial properties. The herb can also cure mouth ulcers and prevent oral cancer caused by chewing tobacco or smoking.

9. It Makes the Skin Healthy

The rich antioxidants and nutrients contained in these leaves keeps the skin healthy and protect it from damages. It also treats skin infections, disorders both internal and external ones and it controls extra oil on the surface of the skin. Holy Basil gives the skin a soothing and cooling effect. It keeps the skin flawless and free from all disease and infections.

SEE ALSO: 10 Health Benefits of Lemon Grass and Medical Use!

You can take the tea or decoction to treat skin problems and keep it healthy from inside; you can also make a paste with the leaves by crushing them, and then apply this paste on the affected skin part. It is even believed that it repels mosquitoes and other insects.

10. It Cures Fever

Its rich content of phytochemicals makes it effective in treating fevers and bringing down high body temperature; it also has potent antimicrobial properties that protect the body from all sorts of infections including viral, bacterial and fungal infection. Fever is the way the body responds to infections; so when basil leaves are taken regularly, it will prevent infections in the first place.

It is effective against typhoid, malaria, flu, fungus and allergic reactions; its antimicrobial properties can destroy the pathogens causing these conditions and thereby heal the fever. When down with a fever take a decoction or tea made with holy basil leaves and flowers; take it daily till you see improvement.