Know your deshi ‘superfoods’: Holy basil
Holy basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum), popularly known as "tulsi", is one of the most used medicinal herbs in Bangladesh.
It has been revered since ancient times in the Indian sub-continent as an herb that can promote good health.
Modern science has shown that holy basil provides favorable clinical effects for immunity and infections, inflammation, and metabolic disorders including diabetes.
Traditional uses of holy basil include treating infectious conditions like bronchitis, cold, flu, and fever.
It is also vouched for in Ayurvedic medicine for treating dysentery, nausea and indigestion, asthma, anxiety, back pain, diabetes, heart disease, headache and stress.
It's used to treat snakebites, ringworm and as a mosquito repellent.
Holy basil can be used in many ways. You can directly consume the leaves from the plant or put crushed leaves in your tea. Holy basil tea is known to help in relaxation.
You can also make essential oil out of the leaves and flowers of the plant.
Holy basil is also used in cooking various dishes for its spicy taste.
One can also get it as a supplement. It comes in the pill form or as a liquid extract.
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