Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa S, B.A.M.S

Ghee is an important and integral component of our day to day food. It is one of the elite members of our kitchen family. It is also a favorite food inclusion for people of all age groups. It too has aged through human evolution.

Ghee – an age-old and traditionally popular food and medicine  

Ghrta or Sarpi vis-à-vis ghee also has a therapeutic and preventive perspective and has been richly used as a medicine or base and vehicle for many medicines in the traditional practice of Ayurveda medicine. It is also used for snehana procedures – oleation and for external therapies like tarpana.

Ayurveda has also included Ghrta as Nitya Rasayana (Charaka Chikitsa Sthana Chapter 1) i.e. it is a Rasayana which can be used every day. There are only two Nitya Rasayanas mentioned in the Achara Rasayana practices i.e. Ghrta and Kshira – milk. Unless specified, milk of cow and ghee extracted from cow milk should be preferred. So, ghee is also an Achara – daily practice.

Ghrta – a part of religious practices and rituals

Ghrta is also used in traditional and religious practices for worship and rituals like homa, Havana etc. It is also an auspicious thing. In many instances Ayurveda has advocated seeing and touching ghee as auspicious.

Ghrta – a potent ‘pitta antagonist 

Coming to the most important part, Ghrta is a praised ingredient to combat high pitta conditions and is considered as ‘pitta antagonist’. It can readily be used to calm down abnormally increased pitta.

Medicated Ghrta is used as Shodhana Sneha i.e. for preparing the patient for Shodhana (cleansing therapies) in the form of snehapana – oleation / lubrication, in severely aggravated pitta and diseases caused by it.

Ghrta is also used as Shamana Sneha – palliative oleation in mild to moderate increase of pitta wherein cleansing / expelling of pitta is not required.

Ghrta is used as Brmhana – stoutening, bulk promoting or energy promoting medicine when used with food.

As said earlier, it is also a Rasayana which can be consumed every day.

Pitta for vata and kapha disorders?

But the question is, ‘can ghrta be used for combating other doshas i.e. vata and kapha also? Can it be used to treat the diseases caused by vata and kapha?

Below mentioned is a reference of clarification extracted from Sushruta Samhita. This golden rule shall be remembered by Ayurveda physicians while planning or using ghrta in their clinical practice therapeutically.

Therapeutic indications for use of Ghrta – ghee in different dosha disorders

केवलं पैत्तिके सर्पिातिके लवणान्वितम् ।।
देयं बहुकफे चापि व्योषक्षारसमायुतम् ।।१९।।

Reference – Sushruta Chikitsa Sthana, Chapter 31, Verse 19 (Su.Chi.31/19)

Below mentioned are the principles and methods of using ghee in disorders / diseases caused by different doshas – 

Kevalam Paittike

In diseases of Pitta origin i.e. those caused by severe aggravation of ‘only pitta’ – ‘only ghee’ should be administered. This means to say that ghee administered in these conditions should be unmixed with herbal decoctions or powders of medicinal herbs. This also means that, ‘just ghee’ is enough to combat pitta aggravation and diseases caused by the same.

Though medicated ghee can be used for preparing the patient for vamana or virechana after going through their indications, plain ghee itself will be enough and ideal.

Sarpih Vatike Lavananvitam

In diseases of Vata origin i.e. those caused by severe aggravation of ‘only vata’ – ghee should be administered for consumption after mixing lavana – salt (rock salt) with it. Ghee calms vata and salt fortifies the action since it is also a vata calming taste. Ghee will be better absorbed and utilized when used along with salt, especially in high vata conditions. In traditional Indian homes the infants and kids are fed with rice mixed with a good quantity of ghee and a pinch or two of salt. This combo nourishes the body of the growing kids well and keeps them lubricated and active. It is also good for keeping the mind at balance.

Taila – Oil is said to be the best for Vata. But if ghee has to be used in vata disorders, it is always better to use it along with salt.

Bahu Kaphe Vyosha Kshara Samayutam

Ghee is not directly indicated in high kapha conditions or kapha disorders. In diseases of Kapha origin – i.e. those caused by predominantly aggravated kapha, ghee should be administered with Vyosha – Trikatu (Long pepper, Black pepper and Ginger) and Kshara – Yavakshara – alkali obtained from the whole plant of barley, especially in conditions wherein kapha is severely aggravated.

Madhu – honey is said to be the best one to combat kapha. If ghee has to be used in Kapha conditions or Kapha disorders, it shall not be used independently. It shall be used mixed with Trikatu and Kshara as said above.

Note – In all the above conditions, we are speaking about use of ‘ghee only’ as in pitta disorders or ‘only ghee’ mixed with specified ingredients in vata and kapha disorders. When medicated ghrtas are used for snehapana, these additions might not be required or may be optional as per the judgment of the physician. The medicated ghrtas may be used as indicated in the Shastra. If nothing is specified the rules / principles mentioned here may be used by default.