THE HERB CORNER
extremely helpful for supporting a meditation practice, as it helps calm the mind and body, promoting mental clarity and physical balance. You might notice improved stress manage- ment skills and better sleep at night. Many people find that their stress bellies are reduced by the addition of holy basil to their diet. Tulsi and Rose Tea: A light and refreshing tea, with the calming and focusing effects of Tulsi, and the sweet cooling effects of Rose. This tea is a personal favorite! Tulsi, or holy basil, is known as The Incomparable One in its native India, and is often taken as tea to center the mind for meditation. Encour- aging deep concentration, this is a lovely herb to drink while working or studying to stay clear and energized without caffeine. Roses are among my all-time favor- ite herbs. I love to grow them, wear them (usually as Rosewater), smell them, and drink them as tea. Roses are cooling, calming, and cheering. Espe- cially for women, smelling roses can reduce irritability and mood swings, and bring encouragement in times of tension. One teaspoon each of Tulsi leaves and Red Rose Petals makes 2-3 cups of tea. Pour boiling water over the herbs and swirl. Let stand for about 5 minutes, strain and drink! This tea is lovely on its own or with a little raw honey added. In addition to Tulsi’s better known abilities to help with stress and mental focus, it is also incredibly helpful for easing headaches. In particular, it works better than anything else I have found for the particular headaches that come from crying or emotional overwhelm. A larger dose of tulsi can be taken right away, at least a gram of the powder (2-3 capsules) with lots of water. If tension headaches are a common problem, skullcap can be
added in equal parts. These two also make a soothing tea that can be taken either when upset or as a preventa- tive. In these challenging times there is no shame in feeling more upset more often than usual. Tulsi can help with recovery time from these emo- tional upsets, and help us get the rest and relief we need to grow stronger. Vishnu Das says in his book Ayurvedic Herbology East and West “For head- aches caused by stress, holy basil can be applied to the forehead as a paste made with equal parts sandalwood powder and a little aloe vera juice or water.” In what form is holy basil available to buy? Bulk herb, readily available. Krishna basil is the one preferred of the three available. Fresh herb: we will have holy basil for sale in plants once covid leaves us. Tincture: herb pharm, herbalist and alchemist prepare the tincture of holy basil capsules. I like Oregon’s Wild Harvest brand here. Supercritical extract: both gaia herbs and new chapter herbs have holy basil in this form. The benefits of holy basil are for everyone to enjoy. Be sure to choose the right supplement for your own needs by doing the required research or working closely with a trained herbalist. Since 1975, Tom has co-owned the Smile Herb Shop in College Park, Maryland, and is a Registered Herbalist (American Herb- alists Guild) who, along with the Smile staff, including wife Susan, teaches classes throughout the year about all aspects of growing herbs and healing with herbs. Visit Smile’s website, www.smileherb. com, for a list and description of classes, information on individual herbs, and to read their blog on a variety of herbal topics. Volunteer opportunities are also available to assist with Smile’s garden upkeep. See the ad for Smile Herb Shop on page 10. Unfoldment into Mediumship Circle – Thursday evenings, 7pm and Saturday Mornings, 10:30am. 2 hours. $20/person. All levels welcome! For more info: Robyn Wolf,www.robynwolf.com, psychicmedi- umrobyn@gmail.com World Peace Meditation Hour – Group Meditation. Every 3rd Sunday of the month, more than half a million people in over 100 countries actively share thoughts of peace & calm with our troubled world. Whether or not you know how to medi- tate, you are invited to join us for an hour of music, silence and guided meditation. Every thought makes a difference. 6:30- 7:30pm. Held at the Meditation Museum, 9525 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, MD and Meditation Museum II, 1984 Chain Bridge Rd., McLean, VA. Free Event. www.medi- tationmuseum.org. Ongoing, continued from page 79
Holy Basil: The Highest of the High Plants ...continued from page 9
holy basil can help overall cardiovas- cular health in the following ways:
Ingredients – 1 handful fresh holy basil leaves – 1 cup water – Cotton ball or other absorbent material Boil the handful of holy basil leaves in the cup of water for 10 minutes. Strain out leaves and allow the liquid to cool. Use a cotton ball to absorb the extract you have made and pat it onto problem areas of skin (avoid your eyes!). Leave on for 10 minutes then The high content of antioxidants in holy basil protect the body from the harmful free radicals that not only damage skin cells, but also contribute to cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and os- teoporosis. Incorporate holy basil into your everyday moisturizing care, and sprinkle some in your steamy morn- ing tea to receive its benefits. Heart Health: Holy basil is known as an adapto- genic herb. An adaptogen is a plant or substance that helps the body deal with stress. Adaptogens support the whole body/mind react more suitably to stress. For people struggling with heart health, an adaptogen such as rinse with cool water. Anti-Aging Properties:
– Improve circulation – Reduce free radicals – Lung support – Blood sugar modulation – Reduce inflammation
Holy basil originated in the tropical parts of the Asian continent. Doctors used it to help their patients that suf- fered with fevers, colds, bronchitis, digestive complaints, chronic stress, and mental fogginess. Why is holy basil an effective treatment for so many illnesses and diseases? Tulsi is rich in some of the most powerful essential oils and antioxidants in the world. These properties can counter the effects of fungal growth, bacteria, and inflam- mation. Some scientists now speculate that holy basil can effectively reduce symptoms in many cancer patients. Holy basil is readily available in tea, capsules, and powder form. It is a very easy plant to grow (as easy to grow as Italian basil). In India, it is traditional to keep a tulsi plant in the kitchen. If you add holy basil to your herbal regimen, you may notice any num- ber of helpful effects. Holy basil is
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