Holy Basil

Holy basil, called tulsi or tulasi in India, is a perennial of the mint family, native to tropical and subtropical Asia, Australia and the western Pacific. Wikipedia describes green or purple leaves and purplish flowers in whorls, and says it is grown for religious and traditional medicinal use and for its essential oil. It is central to Vaishnava worship, the worship of Vishnu. Kynes calls it one of the most sacred herbs in India. It is grown in temple gardens, its dried roots are made into beads for statues, and in Hindu tradition a sprig is placed on the chest of a dying person and on the funeral pyre. Kynes lists it under the heading Basil, shared with sweet basil, so only the lore that names holy basil is used here. The AHPA handbook notes that it may change how the body regulates blood sugar.