VIDEO: Holy basil tea helps keep the doctor away with natural medicinal properties
EAST COVENTRY >> Organic farmer David Ryle has been drinking holy basil tea for five years, ever since he learned about the herb’s healing benefits through a medicinal garden he worked on in Massachusetts.
Holy basil is one of the main plants Ryle grows on his small farm called Jubilee Hill. Ryle and his wife Wendy use organic, renewable practices to grow a variety of produce. But much of the farm’s profit comes from selling tea made from holy basil herbs.
Ryle said once he started drinking the tea, he began to experience its many health benefits.
“Let your food be your medicine and your medicine be your food,” he said quoting Greek physician Hippocrates.
When Ryle was first introduced to holy basil, he started researching its origin. The herb is native to India and its Indian name is Tulsi. Tulsi is actually considered one of the Hindi deities, Ryle said.
“This is a piece of a puzzle about living life in a healthy way and understanding that a lot of our medicine is just growing around us,” he said.
Ryle said a person’s medicine intake should include what’s in their diet.
“If you eat well, you’ll be healthy,” he said.
Ryle said he always tells customers about three main benefits that can occur from drinking holy basil tea which can be served hot or as an iced beverage. The basil helps the body adapt to any given stress including puberty, menopause or work stress. Holy basil also helps strengthen the immune system and more clinical studies have shown that it has anti-carcinogenic properties, Ryle said.
“That’s been really exciting to share with people,” he said.
He said the natural medicine aspect of holy basil is really amazing. A lot of times there are additional side effects of manufactured drugs that aren’t understood when they’re first released, Ryle said.
“Progress sometimes means going back. For me, that’s a big part of the holy basil plant,” he said.
For more about Jubilee Hill Farm and their Tulsi Holy Basil Tea, visit the website www.jubileehillfarm.org.
