Botanical Name: Ocimum americanum Linn.
Family: Labiatae; Lamiaceae
Introduction:
It is used as adulterant of Tulsi.
Names in different Indian languages
| English | Hoary Basil |
|---|---|
| Hindi | Vantulsi |
| Kannada | Nayitulasi |
| Malayalam | Katturamatulsi, kattutulsi, kattu tritav, naikanni |
| Sanskrit | Vana-Tulasi, vanabarbarika |
| Tamil | Ganjamkorai, Nai-Tulasi. |
| Telugu | Kuppatulsi,kukkatulsi |
| Unani | |
| Folk |
Synonyms
KaaliTulasi, aranya tulasi,
Ocimum canum Sims.
Classification according to Charaka, Susrutha & Vagbhata
| Charaka | |
|---|---|
| Susrutha | |
| Vagbhata |
Varieties & adulterants – (CV – controversy, AD – adulterants)
Morphology
Branched, aromatic under shrub 30-50 cm high, sometimes woody, hairy.
Leaves—simple, opposite, lanceolate , 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:
beta-sitosterol, betulinic acid and ursolic acid and flavonoids, pectolinarigenin,methylether , nevadensin, Bornyl acetate, cadinene, camphene, camphor, carvacrol, beta-caryophellene, eugenol
Properties:
RASA- Katu, Tikta
GUNA-laghu
VIRYA-ushna
VIPAKA-katu
Karma – vãtahara Dipana, Krimighna Putigandhahara, kandughna, vranahara
stimulant, carminative, diaphoretic, bechic, febrifuge, hypoglycaemic, cardiotonic
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, Visaroga, Parvasüla, Krimi, Visama Jvara, arsas, grahani
bronchitis, catarrh, externally in skin diseases, malaria, cough, allergy , dysentery , migraine, vomiting
Part used:
Leaves, seed
Dosage:
10-15 ml jucice
Therapeutic Uses:
- Leaf juice + honey useful in cough and diarrhea
Descriptions on Ayurveda books / Nighandu:
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