26 August/September 2019
herbs for thriving
By Heather Wood Buzzard
eyond the basil with
which you adorn your
cauliflower-crust
pizza exists an entirely
different botanical
delight known for her
divine fragrance and
origin: holy basil, or tulsi.
Though botanically related
to culinary basil (Ocimum
basilicum), and even
somewhat interchangeable
in terms of its effect on the
body, holy basil (Ocimum
sanctum) is set apart from
culinary basil and revered
because of its hallowed
history. In Sanskrit, the
word tulsi translates to “the
incomparable one.” Taken
in the form of a delicious
tea or tincture, holy
basil makes for a gently
tonifying, adaptogenic
medicine that promotes a
healthy response to stress,
normalized digestive
function, and a calm,
connected mind and body.What’s an Adaptogen?
Adaptogens are compounds that aid organisms in acclimating to and bolstering their
resistance against stress and illness, normalizing organ function in a subtle, non-specific,
yet powerful way. By promoting a less-dramatic response to stress that is more sustainable
and resolves gradually, adaptogens help to moderate and control endocrine function and also
improve mental health over time.^1
Tulsi nourishes the nervous and immune systems. As an adaptogen, it can help to support
the body’s unique response to stress and to maintain optimal overall health throughout the
year. Adaptogens like tulsi are super-powered herbs that practically everyone in our high-
stress, high-tech society can benefit from because of their incredible ability to shape-shift
according to the needs of the person using them.
Tulsi meets you where you already are. Tulsi not only takes things down a notch when you’re
stuck in stress mode, but its immunomodulatory effects make it an excellent daily tonic for
guarding against bacteria and viruses.
It is no wonder that one of tulsi’s many names is “Mother Medicine of Nature.” Tulsi is
a prominent plant—perhaps the most adored of all, referred to as “the elixir of life”—in
Ayurvedic medicine, which is one of the oldest schools of thought regarding health and
healing, originating, like tulsi, in India.
The evidence pool (both historical and anecdotal as well as current and well-researched) is
growing: holy basil is a profound protector against environmental, oxidative, and other stressors,
a calmative medicinal for the mind, a cleanser on both physical and spiritual levels, and an
example of how a long-revered plant can be incredibly relevant to the ills of modern society.^2
Stress does not exist in a vacuum, and almost every organ system is nourished and
optimized by the regular, generous use of tulsi. Of course, it is no substitute for all the other
factors that comprise a healthy lifestyle (diet, exercise, and sleep being chief among them),
but this sacred plant has a way of smoothing everything out despite our excesses and our
tendencies towards chaos or anxiety. It is no wonder that tulsi is one of the most common
herbs in Ayurvedic medicine and is referred to fondly as “an herb for all reasons.”^3
Tulsi also has a unique effect on the thyroid, helping the body to lower inflammation and
adaptively regulate thyroid hormones, which can be immensely useful for those who struggle
with thyroid dysfunction.^1 When it comes to the rulers of the body—the heart and the brain—
tulsi is considered both a cardioprotective herb and a cerebral stimulant, lowering feelings of
anxiety and aiding memory and focus while also increasing circulation.^4Tulsi:
A Sacred
Botanical