Ingredient profile
Tulsi
Ocimum tenuiflorum
Holy basil, a sacred household herb traditionally used to support respiratory health and resilience.
- Hindi
- तुलसी
- Sanskrit
- Tulasi
- Family
- Lamiaceae
- Part used
- leaf
Traditional use
Tulsi, or holy basil, is an aromatic plant with green or purple leaves, grown in courtyards across the subcontinent and revered in Hindu tradition.
In Ayurvedic tradition
Ayurveda regards tulsi as a rasayana that supports respiratory health and resilience to everyday stress. A few fresh leaves or a cup of tulsi tea is a common daily ritual.
Ayurvedic properties
- Rasa (taste): Pungent, bitter
- Guna (qualities): Light, dry
- Virya (potency): Heating
- Vipaka (post-digestive effect): Pungent
- Effect on the doshas: Balances kapha and vata
How it is traditionally taken
Fresh leaves are chewed or brewed as tea; dried leaf powder is used in capsules and blends.
Safety notes
Generally used as a food herb; consult a doctor if pregnant or on blood-thinning medication. Use as directed on the product label. This profile is for general education and is not medical advice.
References
- Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (monograph: Tulasi) pharmacopoeia