The Characteristics of Important Liquids and their Adjuvants (Anupand)
Ghee (Clarified Butter)
When butter is cooked, its watery portion separates out and the residual condensed matter prepared from it is known as ghee or clarified butter. Ghee is the best among all oily substances due to its unique quality of increasing the potency of herbal preparations. Other oily substances do not show this property. Ghee made from cow's milk is considered to be the best among all varieties of ghee.
Properties
Ghee is heavy, oily and has sweet vipaka. It is sita virya (cool in potency). It flushes out dosas from srotas, clearing and lubricating them, and carminates Vata.
Advantages
Ghee enhances intelligence, memory and sharpens the brain. It increases strength, life-span, semen, vision, fertility, glow, tenderness and sound quality. It is nourishing, lends stability to the body and boosts digestive power. It fortifies the heart and provides nourishment even during old age. It is a good rejuvenator.
Indications
Its medicinal and nourishing properties make it useful for people suffering from mental disturbances and emotional imbalances, fever, burning, inflammation, insanity, tuberculosis, emaciation, wounds, weapon injuries and burns.
Ghee is used in diverse ways: as a part of the diet, with medicinal preparations, for massage, enemas (anuvasana basti) and in nasya treatments (nasal inhalation). It can be used for inhalation during bleeding. Massage with old ghee is recommended in pain of the ribs, upward circulation of Vdta (udavarta), emaciation, debility, cough, abortion, diminished vision and chronic fever. Regular intake of milk and ghee is the best nourishing and rejuvenating combination.
Oil
Oil comes next to ghee among the most beneficial oily substances. Traditionally the word 'oil' was used only for sesame oil, but now it is widely used and refers to all types of oils.
Properties
Oil normally is sweet, astringent and usna vlrya (hot in potency).
Oil has a peculiar tendency: while it helps a feeble person gain weight, it also helps an obese person reduce fat. Being liquid, it easily penetrates the srotas. The srotas of a lean person are contracted or shrivelled. Therefore, oil due to its scarifying and stimulating properties enters these srotas and opens them, the srotas get dilated making it possible for food to provide wholesome nourishment to the body and thus curing emaciation. On the other hand, being subtle, it penetrates the srotas of an obese person and reduces the fat deposited in and around them. In view of modern medical science, the unsaturated fatty acids present in oil does not harm in any way in cases of obesity, diabetes or heart-problems.
Oil shows another unique quality: it can solidify fecal matter as well as relieve constipation (grdhT) because it performs both actions, binds the stool and eliminates the loose stool.
Old oil becomes more beneficial and these properties increases as it becomes older, whereas the nourishing properties of ghee reduce after one year.
Advantages
It spreads all over the body before being digested, but does not aggravate Kapha.
It provokes Pitta and physical strength and nourishes the skin. Oil lends strength, stability and nourishment to the muscles.
It sharpens intelligence, boosts digestion, binds the stool or fecal matter, reduces frequent urination and clears the vaginal passage for the easy flow of semen.
The Characteristics of Important Liquids and their Adjuvants (Anupana)
Oil is considered the most potent of all Vato-calming substances. Body massage using a variety of oils calms Vata aggravation, relieves fatigue and wards off signs of old age. It clears the vision, brightens and softens the skin lending it a glow, keeps away wrinkles, strengthens the body and bring good sleep.
When processed with herbs, it acquires their medicinal properties. Hence, oil proves to be a very effective medicinal and curative substance.
Oiling the hair relieves headache and counters balding, premature graying and hair loss. Oils extracted from different substances possess the properties of that substance. Oils of sesame, mustard, coconut, groundnut, and linseed are commonly used. They are described here in brief.
Sesame oil
Sesame oil is the best among all oils. It is used both externally for massage and internally as part of a good diet. It can also be used as a cooking medium.
Properties
It is penetrating and spreads easily throughout the body. It is heavy, hot in potency, cool to touch and nourishing.
It binds loose fecal matter and acts as a scarifying agent.
Sesame oil does not increase Kapha despite being oily. It calms Vata and also usually calms Pitta when used for massage.
Advantages
It lends strength, stability and brings lightness in the body, boosts digestion, sharpens intelligence and purifies the uterus.
Indications
It heals wounds, urinary disorders, frequent urination, prameha (urinary abnormalities), headache and ear problems. When taken internally, it is not much beneficial for the skin, hair, heart and eyes, but external use (for massaging) of sesame oil is beneficial for each of these. Sesame oil is also used in sprains, injuries, burns and fractures. It is used for nasal inhalation, fomentation, massage and as an ear drop.
Mustard oil
It is widely used in cooking in Northern India. It has low saturated fat as compared to other cooking oils.
Properties
Pungent, light and hot in potency and touch, and penetrating. It alleviates Kapha and Vata and destroys semen, vitiates Pitta and blood, boosts digestion and is stimulating and a scarifying agent.
Advantages
It helps to detoxify the body, makes the immune system strong, stimulates digestion, circulation and the excretory system, and keeps the body warm in winter when used for a body massage.
Indications
The use of mustard oil helps to prevent coronary heart disease, cure rashes, other skin problems, head and ear disorders and destroy worms. It is very beneficial for people suffering from spleen enlargement.
Groundnut oil
It is also known as peanut oil or arachis oil. It is a mild-tasting and a very popular cooking medium these days.
Properties
This oil is hot, heavy and oily. It alleviates Kapha and Vata, aggravates Pitta and burning. In massage it causes dryness in the skin rather than oiliness.