Holy basil, also known as tulsi, plays an important part in Ayurveda, an ancient, holistic system of healing which originated in India and is still practiced today. It is known that the use of holy basil for its medicinal benefits goes back at least 3,000 years and that the earliest written mention of it occurs in the Rig Veda – circa 1500 B.C.!
A native to tropical regions of Asia, the medical value of holy basil is certainly well-proven, but it is only in fairly recent times that the west is beginning to discover the amazing health benefits the use of this herb can bring with it. Below is a discussion of four of its most important medical properties.
Acne
The bane of teenagers everywhere, acne appears to be very susceptible to the use of holy basil. A study out of Thailand found that they were able to use the antimicrobial properties of holy basil to treat this skin condition. Distilled into a 3.0% solution, the holy basil was able to effectively kill of the bacteria that is the underlying cause of the acne. This is believed to result from the presence of eugenol, a compound also found in cloves.
Cancer
In an edition of Nutrition and Cancer last year, a summation of many scientific studies on holy basil in regards to cancer was given and the reviews were rave. Holy basil seems to be an effective anti-carcinogen for many reasons. First, its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties greatly reduce some of the suspected underlying causes of the disease to begin with. Secondly, it appears that compounds in the holy basil can effectively kill of cancer cells while keeping healthy ones intact.
Diabetes
The benefits of holy basil for diabetes treatment has been known at least since the nineties. In one study, researchers treated diabetic participants with holy basil and found that, at the end of the study, holy basil was able to reduce fasting blood glucose levels by 17.6% and post-meal blood glucose levels by 7.3%. This would represent a significant improvement for those trying to cope with this disease.
Elevated Cortisol Levels
Elevated cortisol levels, often due to chronic stress, were declared Public Enemy #1 by Psychology Today due to the detrimental effects that it can have on the body, including the risk for weight gain, the development of heart disease and the possibility of immune system degradation. Holy basil, however, has been found to lower cortisol levels through reducing emotional stress and anxiety, thus improving overall health.
In short, the medicinal capabilities of holy basil seem to border on the miraculous. It is not only effective for minor ailments like acne, but can also pit itself successfully against serious conditions like cancer and diabetes.
Sources: hinduism.about.com, healthline.com, stylecraze.com
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