Holy Basil (Tulsi)

A branching, slightly woody annual or short-lived perennial one to three feet tall, with hairy stems, oval, softly toothed leaves in pairs, and long spikes of small purple or white flowers. The leaves smell of clove, pepper, and mint.

Tulsi is sacred in Hinduism, especially to devotees of Vishnu and Krishna, and the plant itself is honored as a goddess. Many households grow it in a special planter (tulsi vrindavan), and the annual Tulsi Vivah festival celebrates its symbolic marriage to Vishnu. Its name means “the incomparable one.”

Three types are recognized: green Rama tulsi, purple Krishna tulsi, and wild Vana tulsi (O. gratissimum), which has a lemony scent.

Easy in warm weather: sow seed on the surface after frost and keep it in sun with regular water. It is frost-tender, so treat it as an annual outdoors or bring a pot inside for winter. Pinch the flower spikes for more leaves, or let them bloom for bees.

Rama (green), Krishna (purple-leaved), and Vana (wild) are the traditional types; ‘Kapoor’ tulsi, sold widely in the U.S., is a hardier annual. Grow it with other basils, lemongrass, and ginger.

Pick leaves and flowering tops as needed, taking the top sets of leaves so the plant branches. Dry in the shade; the scent holds well.

A few fresh leaves steeped in hot water, or chewed on their own, are a daily habit in many Indian homes. Tulsi goes into kadha for colds and coughs, and tulsi with honey is given for a sore throat.

Tulsi is mostly used for tea rather than cooking, but it can flavor syrups, chai, and Thai-style stir-fries (the Thai holy basil, kra pao, is the same species).

Leaves, flowers, and seeds. In Ayurveda tulsi is used for cough, colds, asthma, fever, hiccups, loss of appetite, skin disease, and to relieve stress, and it is valued as a daily tonic.

Ayurveda (tulasi): pungent, bitter, and astringent taste, heating potency, pungent post-digestive effect; reduces Kapha and Vata (and Pitta, according to the Indian pharmacopoeia).

Tulsi’s oil is often dominated by eugenol, the main compound of clove oil, with methyl eugenol, β-caryophyllene, and others in varying amounts depending on type. The leaves also contain ursolic acid, rosmarinic acid, and flavonoids.

A 2017 systematic review of about two dozen human studies found favorable results for tulsi on stress, blood sugar and cholesterol, and immune measures, with no serious side effects reported, but most studies were small and of mixed quality.

Tulsi tea is widely considered safe. Its effects on fertility and pregnancy are not well studied, so pregnant women and those trying to conceive should avoid concentrated supplements, and people on blood thinners or diabetes medicines should check with a doctor.

Tulsi is a sacred plant to many people; if you share it, share it with the respect it is given in Indian homes.