TULSI, QUEEN OF HERBS, THE LEGENDARY "INCOMPARABLE ONE" OF INDIA, IS ONE OF THE HOLIEST AND MOST CHERISHED OF THE MANY HEALING AND HEALTH-GIVING HERBS OF THE ORIENT.

The sacred basil Tulsi is renowned for its religious and spiritual sanctity, as well as for its important role in the traditional Ayurvedic and Unani systems of holistic health and herbal medicine of the East.

An impressive array of health promoting, disease preventing and life prolonging properties of Tulsi have been described and documented over five millennia. In the past few decades, many of these benefits have been investigated and verified by modern scientific research.

According to ancient Indian legend, the plant came into being as an incarnation of the Hindu goddess Tulsi. In her botanical form she is the favoured herb of the gods Vishnu, Krishna and Ram, as well as being greatly revered by Brahma and Shiva. Tulsi is thought to open the heart and mind, and bestow love, compassion, faith and devotion. The plant is widely incorporated in religious rituals and auspicious ceremonies throughout the subcontinent, and is carefully grown and worshipped by traditional Hindu families today.

Medical, religious and culinary use of Tulsi has also been documented for centuries in China and the rest of Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, Europe and Australia.

Tulsi initially met with mixed reactions in Europe as it traveled west along the early trade routes from the Orient. After a period of cultural assimilation, the plant became known to Christians as sacred or holy basil, and was hailed as “The King of Herbs” by European herbalists and physicians, as well as cooks. The name basil is likely derived from Greek is likely derived from Greek words referring to “royalty” or “king.”

Holy basil became routinely included in legends, offerings and worship rituals of many of the Christian denominations of Europe — perhaps most noteworthy being the Greek Orthodox Church. The sacred plant was given an especially festive central role in the annual celebration of the birth of St. Basil. Also known as St. Josephwort in parts of Europe, the herb is looked on by many as a gift of Christ.

Tulsi is often enjoyed as a simple herbal tea and is frequently blended with other herbs and spices for various medicinal and culinary purposes.