This golden yellow oily liquid sitting in a jar on the kitchen shelf is a storehouse of health benefits, for your hair, skin, body and internal organs, especially digestion, apart from the nice heady smell that wafts through the kitchen when you uncork the jar. It is traditionally valued for balancing Vata and Pitta apart from being one of the most commonly used ingredients in Ayurvedic cleansing programs. Do you want to support regular elimination or nourish dry hair and skin? Or do you want to support your bone health and immunity? Clarified butter or Ghee is a healthy fat you cannot afford to ignore if you are serious about your overall well-being and here’s why!
According to one of Ayurveda’s most ancient classical texts, the Charaka Samhita, clarified butter is recommended for good eyesight, physical strength, balancing Pitta and Vata (including support for healthy joints and bones), longevity and nourishment, bright skin, tenderness, luster and Ojas or life force, optimum health of the sense organs, soothing the skin and digestion. For these qualities and more, it is considered as a Sattvik or pure food
Can we make it at home?
High quality clarified butter or Ghee is available in select stores in the market. But of course you can make it at home too! And here’s how you do it. Do note that cow’s A2 milk is the best source for making clarified butter at home. You can experience the difference in the quality of the clarified butter on using A2 milk versus the other types.
- Collect the cream of the milk in a jar for about a week and keep it refrigerated. (For thicker cream, boil the milk and refrigerate it overnight, and then collect the cream next morning)
- You will see over time, the water settles in the bottom while the cream is afloat.
- Pour the content of the jar in a food processor and churn it on high speed for a minute to five minutes.
- You will find that the butter will come apart from the whey.
- Transfer the butter to a non-stick pan
- Heat the pan on medium setting
- You will see the butter beginning to melt and bubbles coming up.
- Lower the heat and let it simmer
- You will see the milk solids burn up slightly
- Now switch off the heat.
- Take a strainer and place it over the jar.
- Pour the contents of the pain over the strainer and Voila! Your clarified ghee is ready!
1. Aids Digestion
Ghee has a high smoking point which makes it ideal for cooking. It is also easily digestible. For this reason, when someone needs a light, gentle meal in India, they are given a diet of plain pulses and rice along with a dollop of clarified butter. Clarified butter aids digestion and supports the body's natural cleansing of ama, which Ayurveda holds can slow down your metabolism and bring about lethargy. It is an important source of healthy fats and a soluble fatty acid. So having ghee in small amounts will do you no harm. It is also a must in your kitchen to deal with winter dryness.
2) Easy to absorb and digestible
Ghee is an excellent agent for absorbing fat soluble vitamins like A, D,E and K.
3) Nourish your skin
Ayurveda holds that dullness of the skin can stem from poor digestion. Ghee is highly recommended in Ayurvedic cleansing diets as it supports the body's natural cleansing processes while supporting one’s digestion.
4) Rich in Omega 3 fatty acids
The presence of Omega 3 essential fatty acids in ghee helps nourish dry skin.
5) Hydrating agent
Ghee provides hydration to your skin, keeping it soft and supple. It is rich in anti-oxidants.
Face pack using clarified butter
You can use clarified butter with raw milk and gram (chickpea) flour and make it into a paste. Apply it to your skin and let it stay on the skin for 15 minutes. Then wash it off for a naturally moisturized, glowing and clear skin.
6) Hydrating agent for hair
If you struggle with dull and dry hair that falls off easy, it is most likely due to lack of moisture. Ghee helps moisturize the scalp and follicles while providing much needed hydration. This problem gets particularly pronounced during winter and so, ghee on your bathroom shelf is a must.
7) Texture
Ghee can help improve the texture of your hair, making it smooth and shiny.
8) Good conditioner
Ghee is also a great agent for deep conditioning. Heat the ghee to melt it slightly. Apply it to your scalp and hair overnight. Wash it off with a shampoo next morning.
9) Ideal for massages
Ayurvedic hair massages use formulations that contain clarified butter since it is a good conditioning agent and stimulates blood circulation, calming the Pitta and Vata imbalance. This supports fuller-looking, healthier-looking hair too.
10) Hair mask using Ghee
- Mix ghee or clarified butter (2 tbsp) with coconut oil (1 tbsp)
- Warm the contents for 15 seconds, so they melt.
- You can add few drops of essential oil
- Apply to your hair
- Massage your hair in a circular motion
- Put on a shower cap and let it sit for half an hour
- Rinse it off with a shampoo
This article was originally published by the Shankara Editorial Team on October 18, 2018 (https://www.shankara.com/) and is reposted here with their permission
Disclaimer
The sole purpose of these articles is to provide information about the tradition of Ayurveda. This information is not intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment, cure or prevention of any disease. If you have any serious acute or chronic health concern, please consult a trained health professional. Check with your doctor before taking herbs, herbal food supplements or using essential oils.