Tulsi
Sanskrit: Surasa
Ocimum tenuiflorum
A fragrant household herb kept in courtyards across India and traditionally taken as a daily tea during seasonal change.
Also known as
Holy basil · Sacred basil · Surasa
- hindi:
- Tulsi
- tamil:
- Thulasi
- telugu:
- Tulasi
- bengali:
- Tulsi
Parts used
- Leaves
- Whole herb
Traditional overview
- Leaves chewed or steeped as tea
- Used with honey and ginger in seasonal home care
- Part of daily household rituals
Common traditional forms
- fresh leaves
- tea
- decoction
- dried powder
Wellness tags
- respiratory wellness
- seasonal wellness
- digestion
- daily wellness
Body focus
- lungs
- throat
- stomach
Concerns
- seasonal cough
- congestion
- low energy
What to know before use
A familiar household leaf used as a fresh infusion or chewed — ordinary culinary-level use suits most adults. Larger supplement doses and concentrated extracts are a different category: they may thin the blood and lower blood sugar, so discuss them with a clinician if you take anticoagulants or diabetes medicines, or have surgery planned. Medicinal amounts are avoided in pregnancy and while trying to conceive. It is not a treatment for fever or infection.
Important cautions
Commonly used as a household herb in small everyday amounts.
Who should avoid it
- People advised to avoid it before surgery
Medicine interactions
- Discuss with your doctor if you take blood-thinning or blood-sugar medicines
PregnancyConcentrated extracts are traditionally avoided in pregnancy; check with your doctor.
ChildrenMild tea is traditionally given to children; check with a paediatrician first.
Quality and buying guidance
Fresh leaves from a plant grown in clean soil, away from roadside dust and unsprayed, are ideal. Dried leaf and tea should be aromatic and green-grey; brown, hay-smelling material has lost its oils. For packaged products look for Ocimum tenuiflorum (sanctum), a manufacturer, batch and expiry. Store dried leaf airtight and away from light.
What does the evidence say?
This entry rests on traditional and household use recorded over generations, not on clinical trials. Treat it as cultural and educational information.
Traditional wellness information only — not medical advice. Start small, and check with a qualified practitioner if you are pregnant, nursing, treating a child, or managing a medical condition.