Botanical name : Ocimum sanctum Linn (Black 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, Black basil
Hindi : Krishntulsi
Malayalam : Tulasi, Krishnatulasi, Karutta truttav
PLANT DESCRIPTION
An erect much branched undershrub, grows up to 1 m in height. Leaves are pale dark brown 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.