Why Tulasi should not be chewed?

ತುಳಸಿ

There are various legends associated with the Tulasi plant, and therefore, I will just touch upon the most widespread one briefly before moving on to the scientific part:

Vrunda/Vrinda was an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu, and was married to an Asura Jalandhar. To protect her Suhaag (Husband), she always prayed that no harm ever come to her husband, even though he was a tyrant. But when Jalandhar was finally killed in a battle with Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu took pity on her. On the request of the other Gods, he took Jalandhar's form and stayed with Vrinda. When she came to know this, Vrinda became enraged and cursed Lord Vishnu to turn into a stone (Saligram). She also fell dead, and a plant (Tulasi) emerged from her. Since then, the "Tulasi Vivah" has been carried on in Hindu homes, where a "Saligram" is married to a "Tulasi" plant. The below photo shows Lord Saligram (black stone), the Tulasi plant and a rare right-faced conch (Shankh).

Another belief is that the Tulasi plant is a manifestation of Lord Krishna's lover Radha. As Lord Krishna never marries Radha, the Tulasi plant is never brought inside the house, but is always kept in the courtyard.

Tulsi has various medicinal properties, and is probably the most important and frequently used herb in India. Tulsi is :

• Antibiotic and Antifungal
• Effective against Nausea
• Fights Common Cold, Flu and Fever
• Tulsi Juice highly effective against Cough
• Efficient Antioxidant
• Boosts Immunity

As Tulsi is considered the wife of Lord Vishnu, it is taboo in Indian homes to chew the leaves of this plant, though it can be digested as a whole or its juice can be taken.

The actual reason behind not chewing the Tulsi leaves is due to its mercuric content. German researchers have discovered that the leaves of the holy Tulsi plant contains traces of mercury. If the leaves are chewed, the mercury may damage the teeth. But when taken as a whole, the mercury is found beneficial for the digestive system.

This mercury content is now being used in anti-cancer drugs.

Thus, by weaving a legend around the Tulsi plant, the ancient Vedic Indians accomplished 2 things: firstly, the Tulsi plant would be worshipped in all homes, and thus its medicinal properties would be effectively utilised. Secondly, by calling it Lord vishnu's wife, it could not be chewed, thus preventing damage to our teeth

Naveen ~ Chinthakaaya

Turmeric

……. Turmeric …….

Turmeric is a valuable herb extensively used in Ayurveda. Turmeric is used extensively in India, Nepal, Middle East, Moroccan, African and Southeast Asian cookery, considered a cleansing herb for the whole body; it gives energy and grants prosperity. The finger like stalk is scalded, dried and used for medicinal preparations. In addition, turmeric is great for the skin. So before investing in an expensive beauty product, take a look in your kitchen.

Health Benefits of Turmeric

• It is an excellent natural antibiotic.
• It strengthens digestion, prevents the formation of gas and helps to improve large intestinal flora.
• It purifies the blood, aids digestion of protein and promotes proper metabolism in the body.
• Turmeric is used in treatment for fever and mild stomach upset.
• It is also used in infection, arthritis, dysentery, jaundice and other liver problems.
• It is used to treat chest congestion, menstrual discomforts and many more ailments.
• It helps to relieve carpel tunnel syndrome, joint inflammation and prevent cancer.
• It is also extensively used in treating cough problem. Add a pinch or two of turmeric to warm milk to soothe respiratory ailments such as cough or asthma.

Some Important Home Remedies

• It helps your skin tone and color. Simply apply a little turmeric mixed with cucumber juice or lemon to the affected area. Leave for 15 minutes and wash off. Do this every day, and gradually you will notice your skin color returning to normal.
  
  
• Take a ½ inch piece of turmeric and boil it with half a glass of milk. Once the milk has turned yellow, remove from fire, let it cool slightly, and sip this. This will cure numerous ailments. Women especially should drink this every night, as it strengthens bones and reduces the risk of developing osteoporosis.
  
  
• Turmeric is a wonderful body scrub. It leaves your skin soft, smooth and glowing.
  
  
• It is an excellent anti-oxidant, which essentially means that it stabilizes unstable oxygen molecules. These are known as free radicals, and are what cause damage to cells, leading to aging and various other diseases such as cancer.

Naveen ~ Chinthakaaya