Ghee, the golden elixir of Ayurveda is an oil with a long and interesting history. From cooking practices to religious rituals to medicinal use, ghee has been an Indian staple for millennia.
Ghee is that beautiful golden yellow substance left over after the impurities of butter have been melted away. Also known as clarified butter.
Ayurveda considers pure ghee to be sāttvik-"mode of goodness". Ghee holds pure sattvic energy which is thought to be abundant in prana, the universal life force.
Today usage of ghee is seen among all the yogis and wholefood consumers as a good substitute for butter. Also, it is widely used in Ayurveda therapies, both internally and externally.
Ayurveda concept of ghee:
Ghee's unctuous-increases the juices of the body (rasa), providing ease of movement and transport of nutrients and wastes.
Being a fatty base, ghee increases kapha within the body and therefore increases the most refined by-product of kapha—ojas (the essence of immunity and life). Because ghee does fuel the digestive fire, it facilitates the conversion of raw kapha into ojas.
Likewise, ghee can facilitate the movement of toxins (ama) out of the body through the digestive tract.