HerbalGram 98 • May - July 2013 2013 July - May • 98 HerbalGram Holy Basil Profile • Garlic and Blood Pressure • 100+ Year-Old Phytomedicine Company Artichoke and Cholesterol • ABC Celebration • Chocolate and Stroke Risk Holy Basil Profile • Garlic and Blood Pressure • Herbs Reproductive for Female Health Company Phytomedicine • • Year-Old Herbal 100+ Insect Repellents • Chocolate and Stroke Risk The Journal of the American Botanical Council Number 98 | May - July 2013 Black Cohosh Adulteration Herbs for Female US/CAN $6.95 Reproductive Health www.herbalgram.org www.herbalgram.org Herbal Insect Repellents Herb Profile Holy Basil Ocimum tenuiflorum (syn. O. sanctum) Family: Lamiaceae (formerly Labiatae) INTRODUCTION or “pleasing basil”), is known as Forest or Vana Tulsi. Even Holy basil is a perennial or annual in the mint family though it is a different species, O. gratissimum also is consid- ered sacred in India and is used in the same ways as the O. that exhibits the square stem and volatile oils characteristic 2 of its family.1 It is erect, very branched, strongly aromatic, tenuiflorum varieties. and mildly hairy.2 Holy basil is native to India and parts of Tulsi is one of the principal herbs used in the Ayurvedic M I S S I O N D R I V E N : northern and eastern Africa, Hainan Island, and Taiwan, medicine system, in which it is known alternately as “The Queen of Herbs,” “The Incomparable One,” and “The and grows wild throughout India and up to an altitude of 9 5,900 feet (1,800 meters) in the Himalayas.3-5 In China, Mother Medicine of Nature.” It holds a supreme place in it occurs in dry, sandy areas of Hainan and Sichuan, as the ancient Vedic scriptures and is integrated into daily life well as in Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myan- by Hindus through religious worship. Hindu homes typi- mar, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.6 Holy basil cally have a tulsi plant growing in an earthen pot in or is cultivated in Southeast Asia and also grows abundantly around the home. In Ayurveda, it is believed that the best Educate in Australia, West Africa, and some Arab countries.1,3 In India, the dried leaf, dried seed, and dried whole plant are used sepa- rately in the traditional medicine systems of Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani, as well as & Inspire in Indian folk medicine. The materials of commerce are obtained mainly from culti- vated sources throughout India.7 HISTORY AND CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE recognition of our work in the propagation and con- Making Outstanding Extracts The genus name, Ocimum, means “fragrant servation of endangered medicinal plants. lipped,” and the species name, tenuiflorum, Has Never Been Enough. means “slender” or “small flowers.” In India, It’s seen in our higher education scholarship fund, O. tenuiflorum is known by a variety of names, including: tulasi, ajaka, ramatulasi, Excellence in herbal extraction is at the heart of what which provides financial assistance to students of and vriddhatulasi in Sanskrit; tulsi, baranda, we do. But the soul of Herb Pharm’s mission is to lead naturopathic medicine and clinical herbalism. kalatulsi, and vranda in Hindi; tulsi, tulshi, people to embrace herbal healthcare by educating kalatulsi, and kural in Bengali; tulsi, tulasi, And it’s why we offer guided herb walks and educa- and talasi in Gujarati; tulasi, kalatulasi, kari- them on the safe and effective use of herbs, and tulasi, sritulasi, and vishnutulasi in Kannada; tional seminars to share our expertise with herbal inspiring a respect for plants and nature. tulsi in Konkani; tulasi, krishnatulasi, and enthusiasts and the herbally curious. trittavu in Malayam; tulasa and tulasi- That means standing shoulder-to-shoulder with aspiring chajadha in Marathi; tulsi and bantulsi in Educating, inspiring and offering Punjabi; tulasi in Tamil; and tulasi and krish- herbalists who attend our renowned HerbaCulture natulasi in Telegu.2,4,8 In some circles, the outstanding herbal Work-Study Program to experience traditional culti- previous Latin binomial, O. sanctum, is still healthcare products, preferred, as sanctum refers to the histori- vation and preparation of medicinal herbs. for more than 30 cal “holy” status of the plant. Sorting out the species that are referred to as holy basil It means that our organic farm is designated a years that’s been can be confusing. Ocimum tenuiflorum has Botanical Sanctuary by United Plant Savers in our secret formula. at least two varieties: Krishna or Shyama Tulsi (dark green-to-purple-leaved) and Sri or Rama Tulsi (green-leaved).4,9 A third variety, Kapoor (or Kapur) Tulsi (also green-leaved), may or may not be O. tenuiflorum; some sources surmise that it is O. kilimandschari- For more information about Herb Pharm’s educational programs cum, native to East Africa.10,11 A separate visit us at www.herb-pharm.com/education.html species, O. gratissimum (“very grateful basil” or use your smart phone to scan the image to the left. Holy Basil Ocimum tenuiflorum. Photo ©2013 Steven Foster www.herbalgram.org • 2013 • I SSUE 98 • 1 www.herbalgram.org • 2013 • I SSUE 98 • 1 way to take tulsi medicinally is in its raw, fresh, whole form CURRENT AUTHORIZED USES IN dial monograph include “traditionally used in Ayurveda cells and natural killer (NK) cells, showing holy basil’s as a hot-water infusion.9 COSMETICS, FOODS, AND MEDICINES (as an expectorant and/or demulcent) to help relieve cough immunomodulatory effects in humans.21 Tulsi is combined with various other herbs in Ayurvedic In countries where the Ayurvedic system of medicine is (Kasa) and colds,” “traditionally used in Ayurveda (as an Two double-blind pilot studies in 2009 investigated preparations to treat the following conditions and symp- e.g expectorant) to help relieve respiratory catarrh,” “tradition- holy basil and four other Ayurvedic herbs for their reputed recognized and practiced ( ., India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, 22 toms: abscesses, abdominal pain, teething-related ailments, Malaysia, Nepal, and Sri Lanka), the powdered, dried leaf of ally used in Ayurveda as a cardiotonic (Hrdya),” and “tradi- immune-enhancing effect. The first study included 32 anemia, arthritis, boils, bronchial asthma, bronchitis, tionally used in Ayurveda to aid digestion (Dipani) and volunteers randomized to two treatment groups of 16 each holy basil is used therapeutically, depending on the formu- 17 catarrh (respiratory tract inflammation), constipation, lation, for treating the following conditions: acute rhini- stimulate appetite (stomachic).” who consumed three cups daily (over the course of two coryza (cold), cough, diarrhea due to giardiasis or amebia- tis (inflammation of the mucous membrane of the nose), The powdered dried seed may be labeled and marketed months) of regular tea or Natural Care tea (Hindustan Unile- sis (both caused by microscopic parasites), dysentery, eye asthma or dyspnea (shortness of breath), hiccups, cough, in Canada for the following uses: “traditionally used in ver Research Center, Bangalore, India), which contains holy diseases (topically), headaches, fever (including chronic tastelessness (inability to differentiate tastes, which may be Ayurveda (as a demulcent) to help relieve cough (Kasa),” basil (0.5%); ashwagandha (Withania somnifera, Solanaceae, and malarial fevers), filariasis (a parasitic disease caused by due to improper digestion or lack of desire for food), worm “traditionally used in Ayurveda as a cardiotonic (Hrdya),” 0.5%); licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra, Fabaceae, 0.5%); ginger nematodes), general debility or weakness, goiter, gonorrhea, and “traditionally used in Ayurveda to aid digestion (Zingiber officinale, Zingiberaceae, 1.5%); and cardamom infestation, skin diseases, 18 hernias, intestinal worms, intercostal neuralgia (pain (Dipani).” (Elettaria cardmomum, Zingiberaceae, 1.5%). NK cell activ- jaundice, leucoderma (loss in the tissue between the In the United States, holy basil is not listed as Generally ity was measured after one and two months of tea consump- of skin pigmentation; ribs), and pleurodynia (pain Recognized as Safe (GRAS) in the Code of Federal Regu- tion. While there were no significant changes in either applied topically), loose in the upper chest [pleu- lations (CFR) for use in conventional food products, nor group at the end of the first month, NK cell activity signifi- teeth (as a snuff or mouth ral cavity]). Similarly, the does holy basil appear in the US Food and Drug Admin- cantly increased after two months in the Natural Care tea lotion), loss of appe- dried whole plant (prepared istration’s (FDA) GRAS Notice Inventory database. Holy drinkers but not in the regular tea group. tite, lumbago (low back in juice form) is used to basil plant parts are permitted, however, as dietary supple- The second study was a larger, double-blind, crossover pain), memory enhance- ment components that require FDA notification within study in which 110 subjects (60 male, 40 female [sic]) were treat asthma or dyspnea, 22 ment, piles (inflamed hiccups, cough, worm infes- 30 days of marketing a product (if a “structure-function” assigned randomly to two groups. Each group consumed hemorrhoids), premature tation, and skin diseases, claim is made), and the product must be manufactured three cups of tea (Natural Care or regular [Camellia aging and graying of hair, as well as pleurisy, calculi according to dietary supplement GMPs. In 2012, the sinensis, Theaceae]) per day for two months. NK cell activ- pulmonary tuberculosis, (stones), vomiting, and eye United States Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) published ity was measured before a 15-day washout period when no rheumatism, ringworm diseases.14 proposed dietary supplement quality standards monographs tea was drunk. The groups then switched to the other tea (topically), syphilis, thin- The powdered seed also for “Holy Basil” (dried leaf) and “Powdered Holy Basil” for another two months, after which NK cell activity was ness of semen, strangury is used, depending on the (pulverized dried leaf) containing no less than 0.5% trit- measured again.