by Marc Cohen, PhD [1]
GreenMedInfo.com [1]
Tulsi: First Aid in a Teacup
Do you enjoy the anticipation of travel, and yet seek ways to reduce the stress and anxiety that inevitably accompanies the journey? Are you concerned about the physical demands on your body, and the unavoidable exposure to a wide range of contagious diseases and toxins?
Here’s a simple herbal remedy that can address most stress and travel related ills – as easily as enjoying a soothing cup of tea!
How are we affected by air travel?
Modern air travel has opened the world to a range of new business, leisure and living options. In 2013, over 3 billion commercial passengers will take to the skies. Yet, traveling in a pressurized metal cabin 10km above sea level can have its drawbacks.
Despite all efforts by the industry to make flying as comfortable as possible, travelers are unavoidably subject to a wide range of physical, mental and emotional stressors from the time they leave home until arriving at their desired destination.
No wonder travelers often arrive at this destination feeling worse off than when they started!
A review of the hundreds of scientific studies of Ocimum Sanctum, commonly known as Tulsi, or Holy Basil [2], reveals that Tulsi is the ideal solution for all these challenges. Science therefore supports the ancient wisdom behind tulsi, and suggests that tusi is an essential travel companion.
Tulsi – the “Incomparable One”
Tulsi is revered within India as being without equal for its medicinal and spiritual properties. The tulsi plant is regarded as the holiest of all plants by Hindus and within Ayurveda [3], tulsi is known as “The Incomparable One”, “The Queen of Herbs” and considered an “elixir of life” and a potent adaptogen that promotes longevity.
It may seem strange that tulsi, which is considered the most potent medicinal herb in India, is relatively unknown outside India. The reason for this may be tulsi’s greatest use is in prevention as an “adaptogen”, yet this is a concept not widely used in the west.
Adapting to stress – treatment in a teacup
Adaptogens are agents that help the body cope with stress, enhance physical and mental health and promote longevity [4]. Adaptogens are therefore primarily used by healthy people to improve defenses, and increase resistance to a broad spectrum of harmful physical, chemical and biological stressors.
As the pre-eminent adaptogen, tulsi has a unique combination of anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and other actions that combine to help the body and mind adapt and cope with a wide range of physical, emotional, chemical and infectious stresses.
Tulsi’s unique pharmacological activity particularly helps address many issues faced by modern air travelers such as infection, fatigue, thrombosis, anxiety and dealing with restraint, noise, hypoxia, (from oxygen reduction), radiation, industrial chemicals and poor sleep.
The beneficial effects of tulsi have been demonstrated in numerous animal experiments and humans trials have shown that tulsi can improve general anxiety and stress scores, relieve symptoms such as forgetfulness and feelings of exhaustion and assist with sexual and sleep problems.
Taking the pressure off travel
Despite being pressurized, an aircraft flying at cruising altitude aircraft has cabin air with approximately 20-25% less oxygen than at sea level. At a height of around 10km, aircraft are also less protected from cosmic radiation by the earth’s atmosphere with even greater radiation exposure occurring on flight paths further away from the equator.
Ionizing radiation causes harmful biological effects by directly damaging living tissues, cells and disrupting molecules such as DNA, yet tulsi has been shown in multiple experiments to protect against such damage. Tulsi has also been shown to protect against radioactive iodine; a significant contributor to the health hazards from nuclear accidents [5] as well as a range of environmental chemicals and other toxins.
Protecting the Taj Mahal
While regular consumption of tulsi tea has been shown to assist in the detoxification from environmental chemicals, tulsi plants have also been shown to detoxify the environment and reduce air pollution. This has led to thousands of tulsi plants being planted around the Taj Mahal in Agra to help protect the iconic marble building from environmental pollution damage.
Kicking the travel bugs
The Centre for Disease Control in the US currently list over 60 infectious diseases related to travel. (wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/diseases). Travellers are more prone to infections due to greater exposure to different pathogens and the immune suppressant effects of travel stress. Yet, recent research suggests that tulsi may support the human immune system to fight off infections while at the same time suppressing many bugs.
As a mouth wash, tulsi tea can treat bad breath, mouth ulcers and prevent dental plaque. Thus, it appears that travelers may benefit from swishing and gargling their tulsi tea before swallowing it.
Treatment as a treat
While herbal therapies are often bitter tasting concoctions, tulsi tea is a flavourful, caffeine-free, herbal tonic that is a treat served either hot or cold. The pleasant taste and aroma of tulsi is attributed, at least in part, to its eugenol content, which also confers medicinal anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. These properties confer a host of beneficial protective effects and when taken on a regular basis, tulsi serves as preventative treatment for a wide range of conditions.
When considering that the potent health benefits of tulsi come in a form that is extremely pleasant and easy to take, it seems little wonder that tulsi is worshipped as the most valued herb in India.
Now that science has begun to unravel some of its mystery, it seems likely that tulsi will start travelling the globe as the first aid discerning travellers can take – before they get sick.
So next time you are travelling, make sure you pack your tulsi tea bags!
Read the full article here: http://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/ultimate-herbal-traveling-companion-tulsi [1]
[6]Professor Marc Cohen is co-author of Herbs & Natural Supplements: An Evidence Based Guide, and Professor of Health Sciences at RMIT University as Program Manger for the world’s first online Master of Wellness Program. Professor Cohen is a registered general practitioner with degrees in western medicine, physiology and psychological medicine and PhD’s in Chinese medicine and biomedical engineering.
Selected References from 300 peer reviewed studies. [Also, see the GreenMedInfo.com dataset on Tulsi [2].]
1. Bhattacharyya, D., T. K. Sur, et al. (2008). “Controlled programmed trial of Ocimum sanctum leaf on generalized anxiety disorders.” Nepal Medical College journal
2. Gupta, S. K., J. Prakash, et al. (2002). “Validation of traditional claim of Tulsi, Ocimum sanctum Linn. as a medicinal plant.” Indian Journal of Experimental Biology
3. Joseph, L. J., U. S. Bhartiya, et al. (2011). “Radioprotective effect of ocimum sanctum and amifostine on the salivary gland of rats after therapeutic radioiodine exposure.” Cancer Biotherapy and Radiopharmaceuticals
4. Kukreja, B. J. and V. Dodwad (2012). “Herbal mouthwashes – A gift of nature.” International Journal of Pharma and Bio Sciences
5. Mahajan, N., S. Rawal, et al. (2012). “A phytopharmacological overview on Ocimum species with special emphasis on Ocimum sanctum.” Biomedicine and Preventive Nutrition.
6. Maheshwari, R., Rani, B., Yadav, RK., Prasad, M. (2012). “Usage of Holy Basil for Various Aspects.” Bulletin of Environment, Pharmacology and Life Sciences
7. Maimes, S. (2004). Maimes Report on Holy Basil. Rochester New Hampshire, SALAM Research Centre.
8. Mohan, L., M. V. Amberkar, et al. (2011). “Ocimum sanctum linn (TULSI) – an overview.” International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Review and Research
9. Mondal, S., B. R. Mirdha, et al. (2009). “The science behind sacredness of Tulsi (ocimum sanctum linn.).” Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
10. Pandey, G. and S. Madhuri (2010). “Pharmacological activities of Ocimum sanctum (Tulsi): A review.” International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Review and Research
11. Pattanayak, P., P. Behera, et al. (2010). “Ocimum sanctum Linn. A reservoir plant for therapeutic applications: An overview.” Pharmacognosy Reviews
12. Prakash, P. and N. Gupta (2005). “Therapeutic uses of Ocimum sanctum Linn (Tulsi) with a note on eugenol and its pharmacological actions: A short review.” Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
13. Reshma, K., A. V. Rao, et al. (2008). “Radioprotective effects of ocimum flavonoids on leukocyte oxidants and antioxidants in oral cancer.” Indian Journal of Clinical Biochemistry
14. Saxena, R. C., R. Singh, et al. (2012). “Efficacy of an extract of Ocimum tenuiflorum (OciBest) in the management of general stress: A double-blind, placebo-controlled study.” Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2012.
15. Singh, N. and M. Gilca (2008). “Tulsi – A potential protector against air travel health problems.” Natural Product Radiance
16. Singh, N., Hoette, Y., Miller, R. (2010). Tulsi: The Mother Medicine of Nature. Lucknow, International Institute of Herbal Medicine.
17. Singh, S., H. M. S. Rehan, et al. (2001). “Effect of Ocimum sanctum fixed oil on blood pressure, blood clotting time and pentobarbitone-induced sleeping time.” Journal of Ethnopharmacology
18. Sundaram, R. S., M. Ramanathan, et al. (2012). “Investigation of standardized ethanolic extract of ocimum sanctum linn. (holy basil) leaves for its in vitro antioxidant potential and phenolic composition.” Asian Journal of Chemistry
19. Thakur, K. and K. S. Pitre (2009). “Anti-inflammatory activity of extracted eugenol from ocimum sanctum L. leaves.” Rasayan Journal of Chemistry
20. Wani, N. S., A. K. Bhalerao, et al. (2013). “Formulation and evaluation of herbal sanitizer.” International Journal of PharmTech Research