For thousands of years, Indian culture accords great importance to trees and nature. Ayurveda records their valuable contribution. In rural areas, they make an integral part of social life. Most of our religious ceremonies and festivals include worship of trees like neem, peepul, banyan, asopalav. Among all herbs, Tulsi occupies the most respected and important position.

The Tulsi plant is found in almost every other home of a Hindu. It is a symbol of culture and religious inclinations of the family. Some families plant Tulsi in a specially built structure. The images of various deities are installed on the four sides of the structure. The soil is fertilized and at the center a Tulsi plant is reared with devotional care. Some choose to grow more of this plant and create a so-called `Tulsi-van` or `Vrindavan`, a miniature forest.

`Tulsi` is a Sanskrit name. `Tulsi means one that does not tolerate. Because of the salubrity of its juice it is also termed `Surasa`. Being easily available it is called `Sulabha`. Abundantly found in rural areas, it is called `Gramya`, the village maiden. It has also earned the name `Shoolaghni`, because of its ability to alleviate pain.

The Latin name given to Tulsi is `Ocimum Sanctum`. One of the English names for Tulsi is `the Mosquito Plant`. Sir George Birdward wrote that the Victoria Gardens and the /Prince Albert Museum were `malarial`. The cultivation of the Tulsi plants freed it from mosquitoes.

The housewife has a daily routine of performing Puja of this plant. She pours holy water from the puja into the soil supporting the plant, joins her hands in obeisance, and prays for prosperity, and happiness of the family. Tulsi is worshipped again in the evening, with a small lamp lighted before it.During monsoon daily worship of Tulsi becomes an indispensable religious ritual. Hindu scriptures look upon Tulsi as the divine representative of the Lord Vishnu on earth.

The Tulsi plant can be used for prevention as well as cure of illnesses. A Tulsi plant at the doorstep is said to keep the atmosphere of the house pure and clean, and keep illness away.

Tulsi is worshipped, and so are its leaves offered in worship to many gods. The leaves are given prime position in religious rituals, as prasad or offerings to Gods, in devotion, in preparing `Panchamrit` and in alms to the poor. In Greece people have great faith in Tulsi. They celebrate `Tulsi day` every year. It is used as a household remedy in Australia. With the many virtues ancient sages chose to accord such importance to Tulsi, and established the tradition of growing Tulsi plants in homes. It is even believed that the messengers of Death (diseases) cannot approach a home where Tulsi is planted! Vedas mention that God does not accept any offering if it does not include Tulsi leaves. Puranas describes Tulsi as the consort of Lord Krishna.

A person who eats five leaves of Tulsi a day is said to be protected from a large number of diseases. Common illnesses like coughs, colds, fevers, toothache, stomachache, headache, sore throat, nasal discomfort, eye diseases, inflammation, itching, loss of appetite, indigestion, vomiting, diarrhoea, dysentery, heart disease, worms, rheumatism, boils, cuts, wounds, skin diseases, acne, irritation, pustules, sunstroke, muscular pains, fainting, and poisoning have known to be cured with the help of Tulsi.

The ancient poets have eulogized Tulsi. It has a sharp taste, and a peculiar odour which has a capacity to kill germs. It is always used when fresh, there is no possibility of it generating toxins in the body. A large number of household remedies are prepared by mixing Tulsi with dry (stone) ginger, pepper, billa fruit pulp, the tender shoots of the neem tree, cardamom, and such other ingredients.

Tulsi grows wild, and can also be cultivated. The plant is three to four feet tall. It grows in all types of soils, but black sticky and moist soil is most suitable. The plants do not need much attention. The plant bears inflorescences about two inches long. The maximum diameter of the trunk may be about the size of a wrist, and the branchs may grow to a thickness of half an inch. The leaves are of an elongated oval shape with serrations.

The practitioners of the Unani system regard Tulsi as hot in the initial stages and dry in the later stages, and believe that it stimulates the activity of the brain, reduces swellings, destroys gas, relieves congestion in the heart, stimulates the appetite, counters dilapidation of the skin and vitiation of the blood.

It is said that the Muslims too have a tradition of placing Tulsi leaves in graves, as they are well aware of the importance of the therapeutic properties of Tulsi.

Tulsi is used in Brazil to treat disorders of the rectum, the urinary system and the penis, as an infallible remedy. In Mauritius the bodies of people suffering from paralysis and rheumatoid disorders are traditionally washed with a hot decoction of Tulsi. Steam is used for the fomentation of diseased organs. Israelis use Tulsi in their religious ritual worship on various occasions such as marriage ceremonies, funeral ceremonies, and religious and social celebrations.