GOGHRITA (COW'S GHEE) IN AYURVEDA - Chemical Composition, Qualities, Properties, Uses

Goghrita (Cows Ghee) in Ayurveda

One of the most ancient systems of medicine- Ayurveda, developed thousands of years ago. But it continues to stun the scientific faculties all over the world by its highly evolved concepts. Depending on the nature of the diseased and that of the disease, variety of drug dosage forms, modes of administrations, diet and lifestyle modifications are available in Ayurveda. Ghrita or Ghee is one such dosage form which has been used widely in Ayurveda. It places Ghrita at the top of the oily food list, as it has best property called as Samsakar-Anuvartana (which means able to enhance properties of other drugs retaining their own properties).This dosage form is particularly used in the treatment of Psychological disorders (Manas Vikara) and also in disorders which affect nervous system in particular.

Different Uses of Ghrita

Puran Ghrita (Aged ghrita)	According to Bhavprakasha, the Ghrita  Which is kept preserved  for 10 years is called as puran ghrita, which has pungent odour and reddish-brown colour. It helps to cure mada, Apsmara (epilepsy), Murcha(fainting), Shosha(tuberculosis), Unmad, Jwara(fever), Yonishool(colicky pain in female genital tract), karna-shirshoola, Garavisha. It is also for external application in pleurisy and painful affections of joints.
Kumbhsarpi	When Ghrita is preserved for 100 years. It has Rakshoghn property
Mahasarpi	When Ghrita is preserved for more than 100 years. It has more potential. As it is kept for longer time, its potency increases.
Ghritamanda	The upper transparent part of the ghrita, which is madhura in rasa,sara (laxative), helps to decrease Yoni-karna-akshi-shir shoola. And helpful in Nasya, Tarpana procedures.(Su.Su.45/106)
Hayamgavinaka	The Ghrita that taken out from the cream produced at time of milking the cow called as Hayamgavinaka. It has Deepaniya,Rochana, and Chakshushya(good for eyes) properties.(Bh.P.Ghritvaga)

Use of Ghee in Ayurveda

As we take a review of the chikitsa of Manas Vikara in Ayurveda, we notice that most of the important Medhya aushadhi (Psychotropic Drugs) have been used in the form of Ghrita or ghee .The best examples being Unmada, Apasmara and certain syndromes involving CNS like balagraha like Skanda, Skandapasmara etc. The main clinical features of these diseases being altered sensorium, behavioral changes, seizure manifestations and partial or total loss of higher functions of brain. The extensive use of ghee in such conditions in Ayurveda compels us to think why this dosage form in particular was selected.

1.     Ghrita by itself or mixed with honey is much esteemed as an application over wound, inflammatory swelling and blistered surface with either betel or plantain leaves for promotion of quick healing.

2.     It is locally anointed in irritability of skin, used as an injection in wasting disease.

3.     Internally, it is given with honey, sugar with mineral ash (Bhasma) or Matras in tympanitis, painful dyspepsia,and retained secretions.

4.     Ghrita , sugar candy or honey mixed is a medicine for all ordinary complaints of children.

5.     To those children who incessantly cry and do not suck mother’s milk give Nacl with ghrita and sugar candy.(Pdt.J.L.Duveji)

6.     Ghrita dropped into the nose (Nasya) in coryza   and applied to the face to improve complexion and impaired beauty.

7.     According to Darpana, in strong fever an emulsion of sandalwood and of aged ghrita, is used for applying to the body of patients, followed in about half an hour by tepid bath then made to lie on the bedding made up of leaves of Nelumbium speciosum.

8.     Aged Ghrita sometimes available as quite dry, hard, and nearly inodorous. They look like some sort of earth than an animal substance.

9.     It is washed with water and rubbed with cold water till it to reduced to soapy frothy fluid called as “Liniment” .It is regarded as cooling and emollient, is much used as a liniment in nervous disease such as insanity, epilepsy, neuralgia, paralysis, asthma, stiff joint, Daha (burning of body, hands and feet) etc. (chakra).It has also great reputation to reduce the temperature in fever. This is doubtless due to free perspiration induced by the application.

10.                        For pain in breast aged ghrita mixed with powder of dry ginger proves highly beneficial. (Indian material medica vol-2,p.g no-185-86,by k.m.nadkrni, reprint-2006,chaukhamba prakashan.)

Qualities of Ghrita

As the ghrita is chiefly prepared from milk of cow and buffalo, Ayurveda has indicated the use of cow’s ghee i.e go-ghrita, whenever the reference of ghee arises in the treatment. A brief glance at the qualities of go-ghrita shows that it has been described as Buddhivardhaka-augmenting intelligence, Smritivardhaka-enhancing memory, Deepana-improves appetite and is useful in the treatment of Unmada, Apasmara, Murccha and Mada. Again it’s worth noticing that all these are the diseases affecting the nervous system in particular. It increases fatty tissues and improves voice, beauty and complexion.

Chemical Composition of Ghee (Cow’s Ghee)

Ghrita is abundant in saturated fatty acids. It contains approximately 8% saturated fatty acids which make it easily digestible. The digestibility co-efficient or the rate of adsorption is 96% which is better than any other animal or vegetable fat. It is nearly equal to human body fat. It contains triglycerides, diglycerides, monoglycerides, phospholipids, contains beta- carotene 600 IU and Vitamin E which are known anti oxidants. It is good source of vit.D and vit.A.

·        Protein/flesh former: 1%

·        Fats& starch: 85/100%

·        Calories per Ib: 4706

·        Time required for digestion: 3 ½ hrs.

·        Minerals matters/salts: Absent

·        Watery& refuse matter :Absent

Rationale behind use of Ghrita in Ayurved

The distribution of drug in blood is chiefly influenced by its lipid solubility, ionization, differences in the regional blood flow etc. A water soluble drug is usually distributed in the extracellular spaces and it may not readily diffuse in to CSF and other body cavities, while the lipid soluble drugs are rapidly distributed throughout the intra and extra cellular spaces. The drugs that are rapidly absorbed from the gut because of their lipid solubility are known to readily diffuse into the CSF and the brain. That is drugs given in the form of a Ghee which is a fat are rapidly absorbed and distributed in the target areas of the body like the nervous system in this case.
          

The main reason behind this is the molecular structure of the blood brain barrier. This membrane separating the CNS tissue and the circulating blood is lipophilic in nature. Thus it selectively allows the passage of lipids and lipid soluble drugs across it. Therefore any drug given in the form of ghrita will not only be digested and absorbed fast, but will also be able to reach some of the most distant and difficult to reach areas of body like the CNS. This explains the better efficacy of various Psychotropic drugs given in the form of ghrita in CNS diseases. And also tallies with the qualities of ghrita which were discussed earlier like Buddhi and Smritivardhaka. Also its antioxidant properties prevent the oxidative damage of brain and other tissues of the nervous system, thus providing protection from various degenerative diseases. Ghrita is therefore one of the most effective drug dosage forms used in Ayurvedic medicine.