White Lotus Aromatics Newsletter - Holy Basil, August 3, 2001
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Holy Basil
#26 August 3rd, 2001l
The water-carriers sprinkled all the streets
From spirting skins, the housewives scattered fresh
Red powder on their thresholds, strung new wreaths,
And trimmed the tulsi-bush before their doors.
The paintings on the walls were heightened up
With liberal brush, the trees set thick with flags,
The idols gilded; in the four-went ways
Suryadeva and the great gods shone
'Mid shrines of leaves; so that the city seemed
A capital of some enchanted land.
Arnold, Edwin, Sir, 1832-1904: THE LIGHT OF ASIA
Holy Basil/Tulsi/Ocimum sanctum Plant description(Technical)
Subshrubs to 1 m tall, much branched. Stems erect, base woody, spreading pilose.
Petiole 1-2.5 cm; leaf blade oblong, 2.5-5.5 ? 1-3 cm, puberulent, glandular,
pilose on veins, base cuneate to rounded, margin shallowly undulate-serrate,
apex obtuse. Verticillasters 6-flowered, in pedunculate, terminal thyrses or
panicles 6-8 cm; bracts sessile, cordate, ca. 1.5 ? 1.5 mm, apex acute; peduncle
1-1.5 cm. Pedicel ca. 2.5 mm. Calyx campanulate, ca. 2.5 mm, villous, tube ca.
1.5 mm; middle tooth of upper lip broadly oblate, abruptly acute; lateral teeth
broadly triangular, shorter than lower lip teeth, spinescent; lower lip teeth
lanceolate, apex spinescent; fruiting calyx to 6 ? 4 mm, conspicuously veined.
Corolla white to reddish, ca. 3 mm, slightly exserted, sparsely puberulent;
tube ca. 2 mm, dilated at throat; upper lip less than 1 ? 2.5 mm, lobes ovate;
lower lip oblong, ca. 1 ? 0.6 mm, flat. Stamens slightly exserted, free; posterior
filaments puberulent at base. Nutlets brown, ovoid, ca. 1 ? 0.7 mm, glandular-foveolate.
Fl. Feb-Jun, fr. Mar-Aug.
http://hua.huh.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/Flora/taxon.pl?ACT=desc&FLORA_ID=11746&TAXON_ID=200019919
Plant description(Simple)
General Description: erect, herbaceous, much-branched, softly hairy annual;
long, thin leaves, possessing many essential oil gland sacks; flowers are purplish
or crimson in closedly whorled racemes; at least two types in cultivation: Sri
tulsi, green in color, is the most common, and Krishna tulsi has purple leaves
http://members.aol.com/ratrani/holybasil.html
Images;
http://hua.huh.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/Flora/taxon.pl?ACT=desc&FLORA_ID=11746&TAXON_ID=200019919
excellent botanical illustration
Holy Basil-Tulsi in Indian Tradition
The Holy Basil plant from which the oil is distilled has been revered in
India for thousands of years. It has a special place in the courtyard of Hindu
families. The daily routine of many families is centered around this plants
worship. When one begins to investigate its therapeutic and medicinal properties
in indigenous systems of medicine, then it is easy to see why the plant is considered
so special. The sages and seers of ancient times were keen to instill in people's
hearts appreciation for the healing virtues to be derived from plants. Among
the many botanical treasures with which the country was blessed they discovered
several that had a wide range of applications for curing common illness's or
preventing diseases altogether. Holy Basil was one that was at the top of their
list as it could easily be cultivated in a wide range of climates and filled
the surrounding atmosphere with a type of charged aroma which was in itself
an elixir of the finest quality. This coupled with the rich inner world that
often is part of the Eastern heart and mind, brought this plant into a world
of symbolic imagery which is a delight to read about.
Perfect picture of devotion:
The following episode was written by Huyler as he witnessed Tulsi worship in
an Orissan home. It conveys the intimate relationship the Hindu has with Tulsi,
and it teaches, through exquisite example, how we may worship Her.
"'O Tulsi, you who are beloved of Vishnu, You who fulfill the wishes of the
devout, I will bathe You. You are the Mother of the World. Give me the blessings
of Vishnu.'
The high, cracked voice of Manjula pierces the damp predawn hush. Joining her
voice, other women also sing the praises of the Goddess. They all kneel before
a meter-high terracotta planter shaped like a miniature temple adorned with
sculptures, and containing a green-leafed Tulsi [photo, page 32]. Rising to
her feet, Manjula pours holy water from a small, brightly polished brass pot
into the cupped palm of her right hand and sprinkles it upon the leaves of the
bush. Her expression is one of adoration but also one that portrays many years
of close association, of friendship. For Manjula, the Goddess is incarnate in
this herb, representing the duty and dedication, the love, virtue and sorrow
of all women. She is a link to Manjula's own soul.
"Manjula's actions are repeated by the other women. Beneath their feet are designs
of flowers and conch shells painted directly onto the ground with white rice
powder and sindur (vermilion). Placing the brass pot on the ground amid the
paintings, Manjula lights camphor incense in a clay pot and waves the clouds
of sweet smoke over and around the bush and its container. Holding a clay lamp
filled with lighted ghee in her right hand, she rotates it in a large circle
three times in front of the tulsi plant. Bowls of fruit (bananas, apples, guavas
and the meat of dried coconuts) and hibiscus and marigold flowers are placed
on the ground before the terracotta. "Incense sticks are lit as Manjula once
again presses her hands together in reverence, singing:
'O Tulsi! Within your roots are all the sacred places of the world. And inside
your stem live all the Gods and Goddesses. Your leaves radiate every form of
sacred fire. Let me take some of your leaves that I may be blessed.
' With her right hand clasped around the stem of the small bush, she shakes
it gently, causing three leaves to flutter to its base. Thanking the Goddess,
she places a single leaf between her palms and prostrates herself before the
planter. After lying in this posture of absolute supplication for several minutes,
Manjula again kneels before the Tulsi shrine and lovingly asks the Goddess if
she may be allowed to dress Her. Taking a length of red cotton cloth from a
basket, she wraps it around the bush. Then she places bright red hibiscus flowers
in the upper leaves and hangs garlands of marigolds around the stem and the
planter. Culminating the ceremony, Manjula puts the tulsi leaf in her mouth,
taking into her body the spirit of the Goddess. Followed by the other women,
she walks seven times around the elaborately sculpted planter, chanting:
'O Goddess Tulsi, You who are the most precious of the Lord Almighty [Vishnu],
who live according to His Divine Laws, I beseech you to protect the lives of
my family and the spirits of those who have died. Hear me, O Goddess!'
"As the first rays of the rising sun hit the tulsi's top leaves, the ritual
has ended. Every morning and every evening of the year, Manjula prays to Tulsi
at the shrine on the doorstep of her house, but that worship is usually simple
and straightforward, entailing sprinkling the bush with holy water, adorning
it with a few hibiscus blossoms, and shaking down a few leaves to eat as part
of her prayers. This morning's elaborate ritual celebrates the first day of
Kartika, a month particularly sacred to Vishnu and his Goddess-consort Tulsi.
By caring for and honoring this sacred bush, Manjula creates a bond with the
Goddess. Representing honor, virtue and steadfast loyalty, this humble bush
of herbal leaves is the archetype of Hindu femininity, revered by men and emulated
with empathy by women. She is Tulsi, Mother of the World."1 http://www.hinduismtoday.com/1997/3/#gen359
the entire article on Tulsi in Hinduism Today is splendid
http://hinduism.about.com/religion/hinduism/library/weekly/aa062000a.htm
a great site giving good legendary background on Tulsi
Medicinal Uses: Medicinal uses:1-2: Leaves are diaphoretic,
antiperiodic, bronchitis, gastric & hepatic disorders etc. A tea prepared with
the leaves of O. sanctum is commonly used in cough, cold, mild, indigestion,
diminished appetite and malaise. Anthelmintic, deodorant, stimulant, anti-inflammatory,
cardiotonic, blood purifier, useful in skin diseases, antipyretic particularly
in malarial fevers. Externally applied on chronic non healing ulcers, inflammation,
skin disorders, useful in nausea, pain in abdomen, worms, allergic rhinitis,
all types of cough, respiratory disorders. It acts as a powerful mosquito repellent.
http://www.indianherbs.com/ocimum.htm
Other_info Ethnobotany Use
Ache(Ear) Ocimum sanctum Elsewhere
Ache(Ear) Ocimum sanctum Nepal
Ache(Stomach) Ocimum sanctum Elsewhere
Anasarca Ocimum sanctum India(Santal)
Bactericide* Ocimum sanctum Elsewhere
Bite(Dog) Ocimum sanctum India(Santal)
Bite(Snake) Ocimum sanctum India(Santal)
Bronchitis Ocimum sanctum Elsewhere Bronchitis Ocimum sanctum Nepal
Catarrh Ocimum sanctum Elsewhere
Cholera Ocimum sanctum India(Santal)
Cold Ocimum sanctum Curacao
Collapse Ocimum sanctum India(Santal)
Cough Ocimum sanctum India(Santal)
Demulcent Ocimum sanctum Elsewhere
Diaphoretic Ocimum sanctum Elsewhere Dropsy Ocimum sanctum India(Santal)
Expectorant Ocimum sanctum Elsewhere
Expectorant Ocimum sanctum Nepal
Fever Ocimum sanctum India(Santal)
Gastritis Ocimum sanctum Elsewhere Gravel Ocimum sanctum India(Santal)
Hemiplegia Ocimum sanctum India(Santal)
Hemorrhage Ocimum sanctum India(Santal)
Insecticide* Ocimum sanctum Elsewhere
Insectrepellant Ocimum sanctum Elsewhere
Labor Ocimum sanctum India(Santal)
Laxative Ocimum sanctum India(Santal)
Malaria Ocimum sanctum Elsewhere
Nausea Ocimum sanctum India(Santal)
Parturition Ocimum sanctum Philippines
Puerperium Ocimum sanctum India(Santal)
Rabies Ocimum sanctum India(Santal)
Ringworms Ocimum sanctum Elsewhere
Septicemia Ocimum sanctum India(Santal)
Skin Ocimum sanctum Elsewhere
Stimulant Ocimum sanctum Elsewhere
Tuberculosis* Ocimum sanctum Elsewhere
Urogenital Ocimum sanctum Elsewhere
Febrifuge Ocimum sanctum Elsewhere
Tumor Ocimum sanctum Ei
Tumor(Abdomen) Ocimum sanctum India
Lactagogue Ocimum sanctum Malaya
Bronchitis Ocimum sanctum Malaya
Rheumatism Ocimum sanctum Malaya
Demulcent Ocimum sanctum Malaya
Fever Ocimum sanctum Malaya
Gastrosis Ocimum sanctum Malaya
Laxative Ocimum sanctum Malaya
Collyrium Ocimum sanctum Kemangi
Conjunctivitis Ocimum sanctum Kemangi
Ophthalmia Ocimum sanctum Kemangi
http://ars-genome.cornell.edu:80/cgi-bin/WebAce/webace?seme=3&db=ethnobotdb&
class=Taxon&object=Ocimum%20sanctum
Holy Basil/Ocimum sanctum
Essential Oil-Tamil Nadu State, India
Physical description-clear to light green mobile liquid
Olfactory description-very rich sweet fresh herbaceous-minty topnote
with pronounced clove/anise like accents which last well into the heart and
base notes. Powerful suave purifying radiance ripples out from the perfume blotter
and fills the nasal passages which an easily inhalable aromatic elixir. Volatile
Components of Holy Basil(I do not yet have a detailed analysis of this oil so
will list a few of its basic components for interests sake)
CARVACROL Leaf 180 - 210 ppm GEO
CINEOLE Leaf: GEO
Odor Description : Eucalyptus Mint Herbal Rosemary
EUGENOL Leaf 4,200 - 4,970 ppm GEO
Odor Description : Pungent Spicy Clove
EUGENOL-METHYL-ETHER Leaf 1,200 - 1,400 ppm GEO
Odor Description : Sweet Fresh Warm Spicy Carnation
LINALOL Leaf: GEO
Odor Description : Fresh Floral Sweet Woody Green Natural
METHYL-CHAVICOL Leaf: GEO
Odor Description : Sweet Phenolic Anise Harsh Spice Green Herbal Minty
Further information on Tulsi-Ocimum sanctum
As mentioned above their are many practical therapeutic uses to which the Tulsi
plant is used in ayurvedic and other indigenous systems of medicine. Some of
the sites selected below contain information regarding both the oil and the
fresh and dried plant and the uses to which they are put.
http://www.pioneerherbs.com/ocimum_sanctum.htm
therapeutic information
http://www.hindustantimes.com/nonfram/220699/detOPI04.htm
importance of tulsi
http://women.indya.com/women/healthbasil2908.htm
incredible tulsi
http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/yod/july/tulsi.htm
medicinal value of Tulsi
http://ayurved-online.com/archive/tulsi.html
in ayurveda
http://www.ayurveda.com/materiamedica/Ocimum%20sanctum-Tulsi-Holy
%20Basil.htm
ayurveda
http://members.aol.com/ratrani/holybasil.html
monograph
http://www.thehimalayadrugco.com/h-ocimum.htm
research information