It also possesses formidable disinfectant properties and is used largely as a safety measure as well as a flavoring essence during wild mushroom cooking. People make tasty curries just by mixing it with a pinch of salt and piece of green chilli. A plant with profound socio-pschyomedico and religious significance is the sacred basil which is called Tulsi in Nepali and Ocimum sanctum scientifically. It is a small herb about half a meter in height. The leaves are simple and ovate, and the flowers are purplish-pink in color.
Seeds are minute black grains.
Hindus venerate it as one of the herbal forms of Lord Vishnu. Interestingly, it is also regarded as holy in the Christian community as it is supposed to be the plant growing on the grave of Jesus Christ. The leaf is used as a drug for coughs and earaches. The seed is used as a soothing agent. The decotion of the root is given to cure malarial fever.