Reenita's Wisdom

Sacred to the Hindus, people often ask me the reason why tulsi or the holy basil is considered holy.  The story goes that the plant was once the devoted wife of a celestial being. Lord Krishna tricked her into committing a sin so she cursed him into becoming a stone.  Impressed with her devotion and sense of righteousness, the Lord blessed her saying that she would be the subject of worship from then on.

Although it grows wild just about all over India, this holy plant can be found in many homes and temple gardens. Ayurvedically speaking, it is the medicinal properties of tulsi that make it sacred.  Ancient Indian forest-dwellers would apply a poultice made from the paste of the leaf to destroy poison from snake and scorpion bites. While this is less of a problem for urban folks today, its anti-fungal and antiviral properties make it the perfect medicine for those annoying days when you are stuck at home with the flu, or when you are nursing the common cold. The tonic properties of tulsi are believed to enhance longevity and help treat a host of illnesses from asthma and stress.

I have put together a recipe for tulsi and mint sauce. Absolutely delectable, it can be eaten with rice, pasta, vegetables…you name it. Feel free to use the dried form, but if you have access to the fresh herb, I would highly recommend it.  The liquorish-sweetness of fresh tulsi leaves will linger on your taste buds just that little bit longer.
 

Cold and flu got you down?  Turn to your Ayurvedic medicine cabinet to help you kick those flu blues.’

According to Ayurvedic medicine, the common cold results largely from an imbalance of the  Kapha and Vata doshas. Vata (air-space element combination) imbalances lower immunity.  This invariably leads to a build up of the Kapha dosha (water-space element combination) to compensate. However, Kapha mechanisms typically overcompensate to make up for the ‘dryness’ associated with imbalanced Vata and lowered immunity. The result is excessive ‘coldness’ that creates mucus. This in turn reduces your ‘Agni’  or gastric fire, leading you to have the ‘chills.’

Ayurvedic remedies involve using warming herbs and spices to help you break down and expel mucus while re-building your gastric fire. So, while the idea of a runny nose might not appeal to you, chances are that if you can transition from  being ‘stuffed up’ to ‘blowing it all out,’ then you are well on your way to recovery.

My favorite herbs to remedy the common cold are tulsi (‘Holy Basil’), the universal immune booster and ginger which helps to ‘loosen and liquefy’ stuck mucus. Both are great for helping balance Vata and Kapha.

Try these simple Ayurvedic home remedies to unclog your ENT system and help you breathe easy.

1. Ginger and Tulsi Tea

Make a brew of tulsi and ginger herb tea and sip it every couple of hours.

As always, I recommend fresh ginger root and tulsi leaves. The former are easy enough to find at most natural food stores, the latter you can find with a bit of looking, or just order seeds and grow your own. Use 1 tablespoon of fresh herbs per 1 cup of water.

Alternatively, check out Organic India’s Tulsi and Ginger tea or Ayoma’s Kapha Tea. Both are made with dried tulsi and ginger.

Consider using honey not just to sweeten your tea but also to help soothe  a sore and abrasive throat.

2. Herbal Inhalation Therapy

Inhalation therapy is an age-old trick for breathing in the potent powers of herbs and releasing mucus.  It works every single time!

Boil 3-4 tablespoons of freshly grated ginger root and chopped tulsi leaves into a pan filled with a quart of water.  Alternatively, add a 3-4 drops of tulsi and ginger essential oils into a quart of boiling water. When the decoction begins to release steam, remove the pan from the stove-top and bend over it to inhale the herbal steam for about 10-15 minutes.  For best results, ‘tent’ your head and the pan with a large bath towel to prevent the herbal steam from escaping.

Resist the temptation to ‘sniff or swallow’ back mucus as it begins to decongest in your nose and throat.  If you find that you are expectorating quit a bit, then take a momentary break from your inhalation therapy to blow it all out.

Image Credit: Creative Commons – Superhua