Herbs in My Garden and What to Do with It: GOTU KOLA

In Ayurvedic medicine, holy basil has been used for thousands of years. However, it is just in recent decades (and especially the past few years) begun gaining popularity in the West.

The plant is said to be an adaptogen.

Adaptogens essentially adapt to serve the body where it needs them most. Typically, adaptogens are characterized as stress-busters, and this is where we will find the majority of research on tulsi.

While all scientific research on the plant has been done on lab animals and not reproduced in humans, case after case of anecdotal evidence and thousands of years of use can’t be wrong.

Holy basil has numerous beneficial properties including:

• Adaptogenic (anti-stress)
• Antibacterial
• Anti-fungal
• Antioxidant
• Anti-inflammatory

These properties alone can account for many potential benefits including increased sense of well-being, increased immune function, and disease prevention.

Known benefits of holy basil include:

• Memory booster
• Fever reduction
• Cough soothing
• Sore throat relief
• Soothing to bites, cuts, and scrapes
• Headache treatment
• Increased kidney function
• Balanced emotional health
• Clearing acne
• Possible blood sugar regulation

Both as a general health tonic and as a treatment for specific maladies, tulsi has been the go-to herb for millennia. Experience holy basil benefits today - by growing your own!

Source: http://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/ciencia/ciencia_industryhealthiermedica139.htm