What Do You Know About Scent Leaf?

                                       

Scent leaves are common leaves we see around us, Very useful though most times we ignore it.
Scent leaf is also known as holy basil or Tulsi which is an Ayurvedic herb with lots of medicinal properties for a lot of common ailments.
Scent leaf is an important symbol in the Hindu religious tradition and is worshiped in the morning and evening by Hindus at large.


Various forms of using Scent leaves are ;

Chewing scent leaves;The leaves are quit effective for the ulcer and infections in the mouth. A few leaves chewed will cure these conditions.Scent leaves are regarded as an 'adaptogen' or anti-stress agent. Recent studies have shown that the leaves afford significant protection against stress. Even healthy persons can chew 12 leaves of it twice a day, to prevent stress. It purifies blood and helps prevent several common elements. It is an important constituent of many Ayurvedic cough syrups and expectorants. It helps to mobilize mucus in bronchitis and asthma. Chewing scent leaves relieves cold and flu 

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Squeezing and making juice out of it; Scent leaves is an effective remedy for sore eyes and night-blindness, which is generally caused by deficiency of vitamin A. Two drops of black scent leaves juice are put into the eyes daily at bedtime., and it works like magic. Applied locally on the skin is beneficial in the treatment of ringworm and other skin diseases. It has also been tried successfully by some naturopaths in the treatment of leucoderma. It  is a prophylactic or preventive and curative for insect stings or bites. A teaspoonful of the juice of the leaves is taken and is repeated after a few hours. Fresh juice must also be applied to the affected parts. A paste of fresh roots is also effective in case of bites of insects and leeches. Common pediatric problems like cough cold, fever, diarrhea and vomiting respond favorably to the juice of basil leaves. If pustules of chicken pox delay their appearance, sent leaves taken with saffron will hasten them. It has strengthening effect on the kidney. In case of renal stone the juice of scent leaves and honey, if taken regularly for 6 months it will expel them via the urinary tract. The juice of scent leaves can also be used to bring down fever. Extract of scent leaves in fresh water should be given every 2 to 3 hours. In between one can keep giving sips of cold water. In children, it is every effective in bringing down the temperature.

Pounding ;It makes a good medicine for headache. A decoction of the leaves can be given for this disorder. Pounded leaves mixed with sandalwood paste can be applied on the forehead for getting relief from heat, headache, and for providing coolness in general. 

Drying in the sun and grinding it into a powdered form;  It's useful in pyorrhea and other teeth disorders, can be used for brushing teeth. It can also be mixed with mustered oil to make a paste and used as toothpaste. This is very good for maintaining dental health, counteracting bad breath and for massaging the gums.

 Boiling;Water boiled with scent leaves can be taken as drink in case of sore throat. This water can also be used as a gargle. scent leaves are specific for many fevers. During the rainy season, when malaria and dengue fever are widely prevalent, tender leaves, boiled with tea, act as preventive against theses diseases. In case of acute fevers, a decoction of the leaves boiled with powdered cardamom in half a liter of water and mixed with sugar and milk brings down the temperature. Scent leaves tea does not contain caffiene and thus can be an apt replacement for tea and coffee. It helps in bringing down stress levels and also diminishes the effects of stress. just boil for around 10-12 minutes. You can also add sugar, honey, lemon or milk for adding taste to the tea.

Lighting it outside the compound; It can serve as insecticide most especially against mosquitoes that's why a tribe in Nigeria calls it Nchuanwu (something that drives away mosquito).

Cooking; Preparing scent leaves as pepper-soup especially for a woman that just put to bed, helps cleanse up her system, restores her tummy to the normal size and increases the flow of breast milk. using it for cooking normal food like stew, goat-head, sauce e.t.c, helps in keeping the system in check .