Tulsi - the divine mother incarnate

Ocimum sanctum

On this Mother’s Day, I honor the Divine Mother, I honor my beloved plant ally, Tulsi.

Jai Ma

How I feel you in every single thing, every breath and breeze

you are the very air I breathe, the earth I rest upon
you are the water in my blood, the fire behind my beating heart 

It is you I come from, you who gave me life, it is you I call out for....oh ma, ma, ma

Your love is the fabric of my universe

I feel your eyes looking into mine, you see all of me, every part and parcel

I am known in your arms, so completely loved and accepted

There is nothing I have to hide from you, I couldn’t if I tried, there is nothing I could do that would make you stop loving me

Here is to you Divine Mother, here is to your immense and radical love, your infinite capacity to create and destroy

I find myself on your lap today and every day

I am on my knees for you, filling my lungs with your expansive life energy, singing songs of praise, glistening in the sun for youI plant seeds of tulsi and corn

I dream of miracles, I remember that everything is possible, that it is all right here for me, I breathe it in deep

I bow to you, surrendering my life to you in humble gratitude

For you, I danceI find myself in ecstasy, for you I let myself feel everything

For you, I let it all go

Tulsi - Holy Basil - Ocimum sanctum

The word ‘tulsi’ is a Sanskrit word that means “the incomparable one”.

Tulsi has been worshiped for thousands of years in India and was known in the ancient Vedic Puranas as the most sacred plant in the world, the threshold between heaven and earth. Many consider her the Divine Mother incarnated into a plant.

A traditional prayer tells that god resides in her branches, the Ganges flows through her roots, all deities in her stem, and the Hindu scriptures in her leaves.

It was also said that she was found growing all over the hillside when the disciples found Jesus’ tomb empty and again one hundred years later on the earth where his cross had been buried. Because of this tulsi has been used in orthodox Christianity in some of the most sacred rituals, used in creating the holy water.

Beyond her cultural sanctity, modern research is showing what a supreme healer she really is. The medicinal properties of tulsi have been studied in hundreds of scientific studies. These studies reveal that tulsi has a unique combination of actions that include:

Antimicrobial (including antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antiprotozoal, antimalarial, anthelmintic), mosquito repellent, anti-diarrheal, anti-oxidant, anti-cataract, anti-inflammatory, chemopreventive, radioprotective, hepato-protective, neuro-protective, cardio-protective, anti-diabetic, anti-hypercholesterolemia, anti-hypertensive, anti-carcinogenic, analgesic, anti-pyretic, anti-allergic, immunomodulatory, central nervous system depressant, memory enhancement, anti-asthmatic, anti-tussive, diaphoretic, anti-thyroid, anti-fertility, anti-ulcer, anti-emetic, anti-spasmodic, anti-arthritic, adaptogenic, anti-stress, anti-cataract, anti-leukodermal and anti-coagulant activities.

As an adaptogen, tulsi is a balm of resilience for a modern world rife with psychological stress and physiological stress from environmental toxins.

This “Queen of herbs” has been shown to greatly reduce symptoms of stress and anxiety as well as to improve overall mood and cognitive function. It has also been shown to be a powerful antidepressant with effects comparable to diazepam and antidepressant drugs.

Tulsi protects against toxic chemical-induced injury by increasing the body's levels of anti-oxidant molecules and enzymes. It has been shown to prevent certain cancers by reducing DNA damage and reducing the growth of tumors.

Tulsi not only protects against the damage caused by toxins but also supports the liver to eliminate them from the body by enhancing detoxification enzymes.

In addition to helping the body to adapt to stress, tulsi has been shown to have an anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal activity that can be helpful in preventing or healing from infection. It has also been shown to be immunomodulating and anti-inflammatory.

Several studies have shown tulsi’s effect on lowering cholesterol and blood pressure and her ability to significantly reduce diabetic symptoms.