Ghee - nectar of the Gods. Self-healing with clarified butter.

In Ayurveda - India's 5,000-year-old holistic health system - ghee, also called clarified butter, is considered one of the most nutritious and healing foods. Ghee is not just food. It is considered medicine - it is used in Hindu rituals and in Ayurvedic body and beauty treatments.

Ghee is made by slowly melting unsalted butter until the milk solids separate and evaporate. What's left is a pure, golden fat packed with oil-soluble vitamins, butyrate and antioxidants - free of lactose and casein. See recipe below.

Beauty from the inside out

In Ayurveda, they say that true beauty starts in the gut. When the stomach is healthy, it shows in the skin. Ghee's fatty acids - especially omega-3 and omega-9 - nourish cell membranes in depth and give the skin a natural softness and glow. Vitamins A and E support collagen production and protect against free radicals. Ghee can be used as a face oil, lip care or to soothe dry and irritated skin - and has been used as such for millennia.

In Ayurvedic understanding, ghee balances Vata, the dosha responsible for dryness and aging.

Ghee on the skin

Ghee is really good for dry, sensitive, "mature" skin and for cold injuries.

It adds external fat, which protects and stabilizes the surface.

Ghee on the skin does not add water, so it is a good idea to moisturize the skin with a cream first.

Overall, ghee is good for the skin because it:

Forms a protective film, retains moisture in the skin

Reduces water loss

Strengthens the skin's lipid barrier and gently soothes inflammation

Softens and protects against oxidative stress.

Self-indulgence with ghee abhyhanga (self-massage)

Take a warm bath and then apply warm liquid ghee to your entire body and face. Leave it on your skin for as long as possible - at least 20-30 minutes - and possibly take a warm foot bath in between.

You may want to wear a thin dressing gown or some light clothing that you can oil if you start to get cold. After about 30 minutes, the skin will usually have absorbed a lot of the ghee. If you apply it in the evening, you can sleep with it on - or take a light bath with a mild soap and wash off the remaining ghee. The skin feels moisturized - you have been grounded and vitalized!

This treatment is especially good for women in menopause and beyond as this treatment nourishes the Ojas level. Read about Ojas here

Ghee contains:

Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Butyric acid (butyrate)

Vitamin E is an antioxidant that:

Protects cell membranes from oxidative stress

Can soothe irritation

Butyrate has shown anti-inflammatory properties in research (especially in the intestine, but fatty acids can also have a local soothing effect on the skin).

Calm in the stomach

Ghee is rich in butyric acid, a short-chain fatty acid that fuels the cells of the intestines and helps maintain a healthy intestinal lining. In Ayurveda, ghee is said to ignite Agni - the digestive fire - without irritating. It lubricates and soothes the gastrointestinal tract, supports regular bowel movements and can reduce inflammation. A classic Ayurvedic morning ritual is a small teaspoon of ghee on an empty stomach.

Internal lubrication with ghee/Ghee on an empty stomach

Take 1-2 teaspoons of clarified butter (ghee) on an empty stomach in the morning.

Has an uplifting, nourishing and lubricating effect on the digestive system.

Nourishes and builds ojas

Quality: Choose clear, organic ghee without additives - if necessary, make it yourself.

If you have intestinal problems, start with 1/2 teaspoon and see how your body receives it.

Read more about Snehana - internal oiling with ghee here

Detox - Ghee on an empty stomach

Lubricates the digestive tract and stimulates Agni (digestive fire). Loosens / detoxifies - deposits / ama throughout the digestive tract.

Ghee with herbs .

Additionally, ghee acts as a carrier for herbs and nutrients, increasing absorption and strengthening the body's healing and regeneration processes.

Ghee can be infused with Ayurvedic herbs like Triphala, Ashwagandha or Brahmi that have various beneficial properties.

Example: ½ teaspoon of Triphala ghee before bed for better digestion and detox.

With warm milk: 1 teaspoon of ghee dissolved in a cup of warm milk supports sleep, nourishes and strengthens tissues (rasas).

Ghee and the intestines

Ghee has natural anti-inflammatory components and antioxidant substances that can support the healing of intestinal tissue. It has a lubricating effect on the mucous membranes of the digestive tract and stimulates Agni (digestive fire).

Binds waste products (ama) and helps to loosen them from the tissues

Ghee lubricates the intestinal mucosa from the inside and can reduce irritation. Has anti-inflammatory effects. Ayurvedic tradition recommends ghee as a support for Vata and Pitta-related intestinal problems (e.g. chronic diarrhea or irritation).

Important precautions

Amount: Start with small doses, e.g. ½ teaspoon to 1 teaspoon per day, and see how your gut reacts. Food Combination: Take ghee with easily digestible food; avoid on an empty stomach if you are very sensitive. Avoid in case of severe diarrhea or acute inflammation (acid reflux - diarrhea) If you have an acute flare-up with a lot of diarrhea, fat in general can temporarily worsen symptoms.

The immune system

Some studies show that ghee can affect immune cells, for example by increasing anti-inflammatory mediators (IL-10) and reducing pro-inflammatory mediators.

This means that ghee helps the body “balance” the immune response, which is important in chronic inflammation.

Connective tissue

Ghee does not physically act as an “oil path” through connective tissue, but through systemic absorption it can nourish and lubricate the tissue from within, supporting function and mobilization of waste products.

Metabolic waste: The effect is indirect: Ghee helps the body optimize digestion, blood and lymph circulation, which facilitates the removal of waste products from tissues.

Recipe for Ghee (clarified butter)

Ingredients

500 g unsalted, organic butter

How to do it

Melt the butter. Place the butter in a heavy-bottomed saucepan and melt over low to medium heat.

Avoid stirring too much. Remove the foam. A white foam will form on the surface (milk particles). You can either:

Skim it off carefully, or let it sink to the bottom, or let it clear up

After about 20-30 minutes, the liquid will become clear and golden and have a slightly nutty scent.

At the bottom lies a whitish, slightly brown residue (milk proteins).

Strain the ghee.

When the liquid is completely clear and golden:

Remove the pan from the heat.

Carefully pour the clear liquid through a sieve with a clean cloth or coffee filter into a clean, dry glass. Storage: Let the ghee cool and close the jar.

It can last for several months at room temperature if stored dry and clean.

Read more about the inverse use of ghee -Snehana - here

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