Holy Basil - Mind and Body Medicine

Reaching for a cup of warm Holy Basil tea on a cold day? This gentle and generous plant has therapeutic benefit for both physical and emotional stresses. Revered in India, Holy Basil or Tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum), is also known as ‘The Queen of Herbs’, ‘Mother Medicine of Nature’ and ‘The Incomparable One. It is a soothing, yet energizing, tonic for the body, mind, and spirit.

Tulsi is traditionally used to treat coughs, colds and flu, and as a carminative, ongoing studies are confirming the properties of this beautiful plant. Research is showing a long list of properties including (get this!): antimicrobial, anti-diarrheal, anti-oxidant, anti-cataract, anti-inflammatory, chemoprotective, hepato-protective, neuro-protective, cardio-protective, anti-diabetic, anti-hypercholesterolemic, anti-hypertensive, anti-carcinogenic, analgesic, antipyretic, anti-allergic, immunomodulatory, central nervous system depressant, memory enhancement, anti-asthmatic, anti-tussive, diaphoretic, anti-thyroid, antifertility, anti-ulcer, anti-emetic, anti-spasmodic, anti-arthritic, adaptogenic, anti-stress, anti-leucodermal and anti-coagulant activities. (Cohen MM. Tulsi - Ocimum sanctum: A herb for all reasons. J Ayurveda Integr Med. 2014;5(4):251–259. doi:10.4103/0975-9476.146554)

As a mild adaptogen Tulsi normalizes the nervous system, the hormonal system and the immune system. It benefits fatigue and foggy thinking and eases stagnant depression and anxiety. It can be used both internally and externally for antimicrobial activities against viruses, bacteria, fungus, protozoa and helminths. In the Digestive system Tulsi is effective for gas, nausea and bloating, helping to heal gastric ulcers and normalize pancreatic function, its immunomodulatory, anti-allergic effect can also be very helpful at the gut level. Because this is such a gentle herb it can be used daily as a simple tonic to rebuild vitality.

For those with blood sugar imbalances such as insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome or diabetes Holy Basil can help re-regulate blood sugar and improve blood lipids. It has a protective effect on the liver, kidney and pancreatic islet cells while also stimulating the cytochrome P450 system for detoxification. Similar to non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, Tulsi also inhibits the cyclooxygenase and lipooxygenase pathways to exert its anti-inflammatory effects.

Easy to grow, Krishna Tulsi plants (with the purple tones) will survive indoors under an LED lamp throughout our long winter. With such vitality and enthusiasm for growth, this plant has much to share and does so generously. So - sip a cup of holy basil tea to appreciate the gentle nature of this beautiful herb. - Dagmar Holland

Volunteers Needed Now on AHA Committees & Board

From: Elizabeth Chabassol, AHA Secretary

Volunteers are the heart blood of the Alberta Herbalist Association. Everything from the Board

of Directors to committees to our events is organized and run by volunteers. The time

commitment for volunteers varies depending on the position. Volunteering to become a

member of the Board of Directors requires nomination and election at the Annual General

Meeting, however, participation within a standing committee or helping with an event does

not.

**Nominate Yourself or another AHA Member for AHA Board Position Using this Form for 2022 Elections.**

Any member of the AHA can volunteer to work with a committee or event. In some cases,

the chair of an event may place a limit on volunteers due to the number of positions/jobs

involved. Below is a brief overview of our committees and board positions that are filled by

volunteers.

Committees

The AHA currently has 4 standing committees:

- Membership Committee

 - Marketing Committee

 - Events Committee

 - Policy & Bylaw Committee

The Membership Committee is responsible for processing membership applications,

vetting professional applications to ensure compliance with educational standards,

sending out professional certificates, and dealing with questions related to membership.

This committee works closely with and is usually chaired by the Registrar.

The Marketing Committee is responsible for promotion of the association, especially

with respect to membership, advertising of events, professional member profiles (as

permitted by the member), promotion of business members and production of the

quarterly newsletter.

The Events Committee is responsible for the creation and organization of all AHA

events. Past events include: the Alberta Herb Gathering, Photo Contest, Herb Mixer,

Herb Walks, AHA Picnic. This committee works very closely with the Marketing

Committee.

The Policy & Bylaw Committee is responsible for creating board policy and

reviewing/updating the Bylaws of the AHA. This committee attempts to ensure that

policies and bylaws are followed and should a bylaw be ambiguous or conflict with

another seeks a solution. This can take the form of a new policy, changing a policy, or

presenting bylaw changes to the membership at the AGM.

The AHA also has 2 seasonal committees:



- Alberta Herb Gathering Committee

 - Nominations Committee

Alberta Herb Gathering Committee is responsible for the organization of the annual

Alberta Herb Gathering. The formation of this committee is usually around

January/February and remains active until the event in July at which time it is dissolved

until the next year.

Nominations Committee is a seasonal committee responsible for collecting board

nominations from the membership and preparing the voting process for the election

held during the AGM. It is active in the months prior to the AGM usually from August

until October.

The Board of Directors

The Board of Directors is the engine of the AHA. The board deals with all the of the day-to-day tasks necessary for the Society to function and remain in good standing with Alberta Corporate Registries. This includes, but is not limited to, answering questions, dealing with finances, ensuring the preparation of yearly Tax Returns, Financial Statements and Annual Returns, and monitoring the activities of committees.

The board consists of 9 positions: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Registrar, and 4 Members-at Large. Each is an elected position and has a two-year term. The President can not serve more than 2 consecutive terms in 6-year period. Activities and duties of the Board are designated in the Bylaws.

Herb Gathering Discounts for AHA Members

We are thrilled to return with the Alberta Herb Gathering in 2023, at Camp Jubilee in Cochrane on the foothills of the Canadian Rockies. To celebrate our herbalists gathering together again, we've implemented 2 discount codes, just for AHA members!

Student & Professional Members! Save an Extra $25.00 off your full price ticket order to the Alberta Herb Gathering 2023! Use Discount Code: MemberBoost23 when purchasing your AHG 2023 tickets. This discount is available for Student & Professional Members only and does not apply to Early-Bird and Super-Early-Bird pricing.

Become a Vendor for 50% off! Use Discount Code: MemberVendor23 when purchasing your AHG 2023 ticket. This ticket entitles Student, Professional and Business members to 50% off a vending space, to showcase services or wares. It is available with the purchase of a weekend-pass or day-pass to the Alberta Herb Gathering.

To use these Discount Codes: Buy your admission tickets (and Vendor ticket if applicable) HERE - be sure to enter the discount code during check-out to receive the discount.

**You must be a current AHA member to receive these discounts. Visit AlbertaHerbalists.com to sign up or renew your membership.