Tulsi has also been used for thousands of years as a prime herb in Ayurvedic for its diverse healing properties. Marked
by its strong aroma and astringent taste, it is regarded as a kind of "elixir of life" and believed to promote longevity. Its
extracts are used in ayurvedic remedies for common colds, headaches, stomach disorders, inflammation, heart disease, various forms of poisoning, and malaria. Traditionally, it is taken in many forms: as an herbal tea, dried powder or fresh leaf.