Botanical Name: Ocimum basilicum Linn.

Family: Labiatae; Lamiaceae.

 

 Introduction:

Its properties and usage are similar to Tulsi

 

Names in different Indian languages

 

English

Sweet Basil, Basil Herb, common basil

Hindi

Babul, babuyitulsi

Kannada

Kamakasturi, tulsi

Malayalam

Ramatulsi

Sanskrit

Barbari

Tamil

Tirunittu, tiruniruppaccai

Telugu

Bhutulasi, vebudipatri

Unani

Faranjmishk

Folk

Bana-Tulasi,Sabzaa

 

 

 

 

Synonyms

 Tuvari, Tungi, Kharpushpa, Ajgandhikaa, Baabui Tulasi.

 Ocimum caryophyllatum Roxb.

Ocimum minimum Linn.

Ocimum. pilosum Willd

Classification according to Charaka, Susrutha & Vagbhata

 

Charaka

 

Susrutha

 

Vagbhata

 

 

          
        

  

 

Varieties & adulterants - (CV – controversy, AD – adulterants) 

 

 

Phannijja – CV

Sitarjaka –CV

Krsnarjaka -CV


Morphology

Branched, aromatic under shrub 30-50 cm high, sometimes  woody, hairy.

Leaves—simple, opposite, larger than tulsi, oblong or ovate-oblong, obtuse or acute, - entire or subserrate. Petioles slender hairy 

Flowers— very small, borne in terminal and axillary racemes.

Fruits— subglobose or broadly oblong nutlets.

Flowers and fruits almost throughout the year (mainly during September-February).

 


Distribution & Habitat

All over India

 

Chemical constituents:

 linalool ,methyl ether ,eugenol, caffeic acid, flavonoids. Thymol, xanthomicrol,.Aesculetin, p-coumaric acid, eriodictyol,

 

Properties:

RASA-katu, tikta

GUNA-laghu, ruksha

VIRYA-ushna, ( according to bavaprakasha sita)

VIPAKA-katu

 

Karma –hridyam, ruchyam, deepana, vishahara, krimighna

stimulant, carminative,antispasmodic, diuretic, expectorant, demulcent, antibacterial, antifungal, insecticidal

 

Srotogamitva:

 Dosha Pittavardhak, kaphavatashamak. (reducing foul smell of sputum).

Dhatu : Rakta (skin disorders), fat metabolism.

Mala Mutra (dysuria), diaphoretic, mala (foetid smell scavenger).

Organs : Heart, respiratory system.

 

 Indication:

Hikkä, Kãsa, svãsa, visha, Krimi

asthma, cardiopathy, otalgia, bronchitis, hiccough, fever, vomiting, lumbago, poison

Part used:

  Whole plant

 

Dosage: 

Leaf juice 10-15 ml

Powder 2-4 g

Decoction 50-100 ml

 

 

Therapeutic Uses:

  1. Leaf paste + haridra useful in insect bite – external and internal

 

 

Descriptions on  Ayurveda books / Nighandu:

  

1.

2

3

4

5

 

 

 

 

Medicinal plants of India ; Ayurveda

Encyclopedia of Indian Medicinal Plants/Herbs mainly using in Ayurveda with good quality pictures and information like therapeutic usage of Medicinal Plants, cultivation, morphology, habitat, flower characters, Chemical content, parts used, research works etc.

medicinal plants