ghee number 2

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Medicated

ghee, clarified butter in which herbs have been extracted (ghrita),

is a famous preparation method for treating pitta conditions. For example,

the well-known Brahmi Ghrita contains the popular herb gotu kola,

and is used for a broad variety of brain conditions in a dose of 1 Tbs.

per day.

Shatavari ghrita is made by decocting

1 part shatavari root in 4 parts ghee and 8 parts water and 8 parts milk

(or just 16 parts water), over a low heat, until all the water is evaporated

and only the medicated ghee remains. After it cools, vitamin E can be added

to preserve it, if desired.

Ghee is also used externally. Ayurvedic beauty consultant Pratima

Raichur suggests it as a massage base to benefit sensitive (pitta) skin.

Ayurveda is known for recommending ghee, sometimes mixed with honey,

as an application for wounds, inflammation, and blisters. A special preparation,

hundred-times-washed-ghee, is applied topically for wound healing,

and to calm pitta.

Ayurveda suggests that natural milk products are superior to margarine.

A 1991 study by the Medical Research Council showed that eating butter

created half the heart disease risk, compared to polyunsaturated margarine,

which contains risky trans fats. Ghee in actual diets also produced

less heart disease than trans fat containing diets. When all

is said and done, though, ghee is fat, and only a certain amount of total

fat is necessary in the diet. If you would like to switch to ghee, make

sure you reduce your total fat intake proportionately.

To make ghee, place 1-2 pounds of butter in a saucepan on the stovetop.

Melt at low heat until white curds separate and sink to the bottom. When

a drop of water flicked into the pan boils immediately, the ghee is done.

Decant the butter oil from the pan, discarding the curds at the bottom.

Store in a clean jar in the cupboard. If kept clean and water free, ghee

needs no refrigeration.

Ghee and butter have essentially

the same healing properties, but ghee is more digestible. Where ghee is

warm and light, butter is said to be cold and heavy. Butter is tonic and

building. It treats anorexia, enlargement of the spleen, hemorrhoids and

facial paralysis. It increases vision, memory, gastric fire and semen.

It is good for muscles, mental disorders, swelling and lethargy. Butter

increases kapha (water), and reduces vata (air) and pitta (fire).