In Ayurveda, ghee is widely considered the best carrier or anupana when delivering healing to the deep tissues of the body. It has been a staple in the Indian family kitchen for generations; for use in cooking, as well as a wide variety of medicinal applications. For these reasons, medicinal ghee is a powerful method for delivering the active ingredients of herbs into the body.
On its own, ghee is sweet, cooling and rejuvenative. It increases agni (the digestive fire), aids the digestion, is nourishing, softens and oleates all of the tissues and organs in the body – from the inside out.
Ghee’s ability to penetrate all of the deeper tissues of the body makes it an excellent choice for strong, deep absorption. For administering herbal formulations, delivery methods such as capsules and churnas (powdered mixtures) work well, but they still have to make it through the digestive tract to make it to the target area of the body. Medicinal ghee, on the other hand, enters the body rapidly as much of it is absorbed through the mucous membranes, and it enters the bloodstream in a much quicker and stronger form.
By cooking herbs in water and ghee, the resulting medicated ghees contain all of the water- and oil- soluble characteristics of the herbs extracted into the ghee.
Some Varieties of Medicinal Ghee
- Tikta Ghee: (The word tikta means bitter, so tikta ghee is made with a mixture of bitter herbs). This recipe is cleansing, bitter, cooling – this ghee is often used before and during the panchakarma detoxifying processes.
- Brahmi Ghee: A nurturing, balancing brain tonic. Good before meditation and revitalization. Brahmi usually identified as Bacopa monnieri (or monniera).
- Shatavari Ghee: This herb (Asparagus racemosus) unsurpassed for the female reproductive system.
- Ashwagandha Ghee: Known for being a great rejuvenative, Withania somnifera builds strength and possesses nervine qualities.
- Rose Ghee: this sweet and lovely herb opens, nurtures and nourishes the heart chakra.
Rich Fisher is an herbalist who blends custom formulas and hand-cooks more than twenty different medicated ghees to address specific needs. Call him at 530-273 -1103 or email: herbsofayurveda@yahoo.com.