Holy basil cut leaf – Ocimum sanctum

Holy basil ( Ocimum sanctum or Ocimum tenuiflorum ) is a variety of basil native to South Asia. Known for its strong symbolic and spiritual significance, this plant is used in many traditional medicinal preparations. Its leaves are picked when ripe, slowly dried, and then cut for optimal use in infusions.

Description

Dried dark green to brownish leaves, roughly chopped. Peppery, slightly lemony, and camphoraceous odor. Intense aromatic flavor. Use in herbal tea, decoction, or Ayurvedic blend.

Nomenclature

• Common names: Holy basil, tulsi, tulasi
• Latin name: Ocimum sanctum / Ocimum tenuiflorum
• Family: Lamiaceae
• Part used: Leaf
• Form: Cut, dried
• Origin: India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia
• English name: Holy basil
• German name: Holy Basil
• Name in Spanish: Albahaca sagrada
• Name in Italian: Basilico sacro
• Name in Arabic: الريحان المقدس (ar-Rīḥān al-Muqaddas)

Main virtues

Holy basil is valued for its mentally and physically balancing properties. It is used as an infusion in Ayurvedic wellness treatments, and sometimes as a fumigation in purification rituals.

Main constituents

Essential oils (eugenol, carvacrol, linalool), flavonoids, tannins, ursolic acid.

Use and dosage

• Infusion: 1 teaspoon for 250 ml of hot water, let infuse for 10 minutes.
• Ayurvedic blends: in combination with ginger, cardamom or cinnamon.
• Energy treatment: used in fumigation or purification ritual according to Hindu tradition.

Precautions, side effects and contraindications

• Not recommended for pregnant women without professional advice.
• Do not use for extended periods of time without supervision.
• Store in a dry place away from light.

History and origin

Revered in Hinduism, tulsi is grown in temples and homes as a sacred protector. It is said to attract beneficial energies and calm the mind. Used for millennia in Ayurveda, it is also renowned for its respiratory and purifying benefits.

Miscellaneous information

• Storage: opaque jar or kraft bag away from humidity.
• Packaging: kraft bag, metal box, tinted glass jar.
• Appearance: Dark green to brownish leaf fragments.
• Odor: peppery, camphorous, fresh.

Sources and references

• Pl@ntUse – https://uses.plantnet-project.org
• Traditional Ayurveda Texts
• Indian Pharmacopoeia and Hindu Spiritual Literature
• Botanical corpus of sacred Lamiaceae

🔎 Information

The products on aromacentre.fr are not medicines. They are natural, plant-based treatments. All usage advice on our site is for informational purposes only. Any additional requests should be made to a qualified healthcare professional. In accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 December 2006 on nutrition and health claims made on foods, we are unable to publish this information on the site. Taking this product does not exempt you from consulting a doctor or prescribing it. Ask your doctor or healthcare practitioner for advice. Be sure to read the precautions for use before using any medicinal plants. The use of herbal preparations is not recommended without consulting your doctor or pharmacist. The substances they contain may interact with medications prescribed by the patient, reducing their therapeutic effectiveness or causing toxicity. They can also worsen the weakening of the body's vital functions, thus exposing the patient to increased morbidity and life-threatening risks.

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