The
first indoor Brick Works farmers market of the season was a bustling one on
Saturday. Midst frenzied sales, a woman with bright radiant eyes approached our
stand and said: “Oh, you sell Tulsi (holy basil) Tea..” I told her, that, yes, we actually grew holy
basil this year for the first time. It grew profusely, bushing out into a mat
of light green topped with purple flowers. We harvested it at peak flower,
dried it and bottled some into tulsi tea. The customer was very glad to hear
that it was grown without pesticides and is, indeed, certified organic, grown
locally on our farm. She was even more pleased to inhale the complex fruity aroma and sense the vital energy in it. “You know what holy basil is?”, she asked knowingly. I knew it principally as an all-round health tonic, widely used in India. Her eyes lit
up as she described how holy basil helps us to adapt to toxins, impurities,
even background radiation that are around us in our environment. She happily
purchased a jar.
When
I got home, I looked up holy basil. Holy
Basil functions as an adaptogen, enhancing the body' s
natural response to physical and emotional stress. Adaptogenic herbs help the
body function optimally during times of stress.
“An adaptogen is a
botanical that greatly improves your body' s
ability to adapt to stress, whether it' s
a hectic schedule, heat or cold, noise, high altitudes or any number of other
stressors. This elite class of herbs impart strength, energy, stamina,
endurance, and improve mental clarity.” – Chris Kilham, Oprah & Friends
In
many parts of the non-Western world, adaptogens are used extensively in
high-risk, fast-reflex occupations, from athletes to miners to deep sea divers.
With the scientific data to back these natural wonders already available and
more research under way, it is only a matter of time before adaptogens begin
making their mark in North America . Other
adaptogens include ashwagandha, eleuthero, maca, panax ginseng, rhodiola rosea,
schisandra.
My
encounter with this radiant customer made some recent feelings of anger,
sadness, resentment and helplessness engendered by outside world events ebb
away, replaced by all those qualities Chris Kilham noted - strength, energy, stamina, endurance, and improve mental clarity.
The energy of holy basil alone
effected this. Home again, tired but relaxed after another market day, I made
myself a cup of tulsi tea and doubled down on its uplifting effect.
