Botanical name : Ocimum sanctum Linn (White variety)

Family : Lamiaceae

SANSKRIT SYNONYMS

Tulasi, Surasa, Svetatulasi.

AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES

Rasa : Kashaya, Tikta

Guna : Lakhu, Rooksha

Virya : Ushna

PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES

English : Holy basil, Sacred basil, White basil

Hindi : Tulsi

Malayalam : Tulasi, Velutta tulasi, Veluttatrittav.

PLANT DESCRIPTION

An erect much branched undershrub, grows up to 1 m in height. Leaves are pale greenish in color, simple, opposite, elliptic, oblong, obtuse or acute, serrate, entire, pubescent on both sides. Petiole slender and hairy. Flwers purplish in elongate recemes. Fruits nutlets, smooth, not mucilaginous when wet.

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES

Plant pacifies vitiated tridoshas, cough, asthma, bronchitis, fever, toxins, vomiting, lumbago, gastric distension, genito-urinary diseases, ringworm and skin diseases.

Useful part : Whole plant.