Welcome to CannaGlobe’s Weekly Hit, your preferred guide to the world of good health through Cannabis and Mushrooms.
Holy Basil, Batman! You’ll say the same thing after you read how incredibly powerful holy basil actually is. Ocimum tenuiflorum or tulsi (holy basil’s formal name) is different from basil varieties used in cooking. Native to Southeast Asia, holy basil has a history in Indian medicine for treating conditions ranging from eye diseases to ringworm. Valued as a tonic for body, mind, and spirit, this green leafy plant has numerous therapeutic uses for its different parts. Its fresh flowers are recommended for bronchitis, while leaves and seeds, combined with black pepper, are suggested for malaria. The entire plant treats diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting, and pills and ointments are used for eczema. An alcohol extract is used for stomach ulcers and eye diseases, and an essential oil from the leaves is effective against insect bites.
The therapeutic value of the entire holy basil plant is nutritionally rich, containing vitamins A and C, calcium, zinc, iron and chlorophyll. Holy basil has been shown to have antidepressant and antianxiety properties similar to antidepressant drugs and it can help people feel more social and less anxious.
Abundant in antioxidants, holy basil assists in detoxifying the body. Studies have demonstrated that holy basil offers protection against toxic chemicals and may also reduce cancer risk by slowing the growth of cancer cells. For people with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, holy basil can assist in reducing blood sugar levels using all its parts. It can also help prevent diabetes-related symptoms such as weight gain, excess insulin in the blood (hyperinsulinemia), high cholesterol, insulin resistance and high blood pressure (hypertension). Animal studies revealed that rabbits eating fresh holy basil leaves had significant changes in their fat molecules, with decreased “bad” cholesterol (LDL) and increased “good” cholesterol (HDL).
No wonder they called it holy basil! As you can see, there are all kinds of tremendous benefits to incorporating this into your diet!
