Importance Of Goghrita In Lifestyle and Mental Disorders!

Importance of Goghrita in Lifestyle and Mental disorders

Ghrita is used since ancient times including the vedic kala. Ghrita is described in Ayurveda as Sapta dhatu vardhak, Ojo vardhak and is suggested to take in day to day life. 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. It is also useful in the diseases affecting the nervous system in particular. The anti-oxidants in Go ghrita make it a miraculous Rasayana and thus useful as a wonderful anti-ageing therapy. Mind and body are intimately associated with each other. The function of body organs depends on mental makeup of an individual and vice versa. Ayurveda has indicated the use of cow‘s go ghrita i.e., go-ghrita in all types of lifestyle and psychological disorders. Beyond maintaining a healthy mind, go ghrita is also prescribed for anxiety, depression, dementia, insanity, epilepsy and other disorders of consciousness. Go ghrita older than one year is especially good for healing the mind. Go ghrita takes nutrients from your food and delivers them through fat permeable membranes like in the brain. Go ghrita taken regularly in small doses is invaluable as it not only increases the digestive capacity but also it has nourishing property. Hence, go-ghrita takes the deserved credit, with several beneficial effects on human body and mind and thus holds an important position in Ayurvedic chikitsa.

A. Importance of go ghrita

It is good for eyes as it increases vision, production of semen, increase agni, has madhur vipaka, cold, pacifies the tridoshas, increase retention power/capacity (memory), increases beauty, ojas and teja. etc . In (Jatakarma) after clamping of umbilical cord jatakarma sanskar is done in the new born, in the presence of hymns, new born is given honey and ghrita as linctus . After consumption food, using ghrita destroys the diseases like sirashula (headache), parshvashula (backache), ansashula, kasa (cough), swasha (dyspnoea).

B. Five reasons for consuming ghrita

1. Safer and Healthier: Go ghrita is composed of saturated fat; it is also readily metabolized by the body and is a far safer choice.

2. Aids in Digestion: It can stimulate secretion of stomach acids, hence fastening the digestive process.

3. Reduces Cholesterol Level: It can help in reducing cholesterol level in intestine as well as serum because go ghrita enhance the secretion of biliary lipids.

4. Rich in Antioxidants: It helps the body readily absorb the vitamins and minerals present in food, offering complete nutrition and also strengthening the immune system.

5. Fight against Cancer: Go ghrita can enhance the availability of enzymes which are responsible for detoxification of cancer-causing substance.

C. Guna – Karma

Ghrita pacifies the vikaras manifested due to vata and pitta, beneficial for rasa, shukra and ojas, pacifies burning sensation, makes the body soft, and increases the beauty of voice and complexion.6 It is auspicious, cold in potency and sweet both in taste as well as vipaka when administered

D. Properties and composition of ghrita

Ghrita provides energy to body as it is more useful than the carbohydrates and proteins; one gram of ghrita gives 9.3 calories. The chemical composition of ghrita is mentioned below: 8 Tri -glycerides -97.098% Di- glycerides-0.25 - 1.4% Monoglycerides – 0.16 - 0.038 % Ketoacid glycerides-0.015-0.018 % Glycerylesters -0.011-0.05% Free fatty acids -0.1-0.44% Phospholipids -0.2 -1.0% Sterols – 0.22-0.41% Vitamin-A --2500 I.U (per 100 gm) Vitamin –D8.5x 10.7gm (per 100 gm) Vitamin-E --24x10.3gm ( per 100 gm) Vitamin-K—1x10.4gm ( per 100 gm) Butric acid – 4.5 -6.0 % Caporic acid -1.0-1.36% Caprylic acid -0.9-1% Capric acid-1.5-1.8% Lauric acid-6-7% Myristic acid -21-23% Palmitic acid – 19-19.5% Stearic acid -11-11.5% Arachidic acid -0.5-0.8% Oleic acid - 27-27.5%

E. Role of go ghrita in certain lifestyle disorders

1. Allergic Rhinitis (sinusitis) Potions of clarified butter various sorts of emetics and fomentations (sveda) may be prescribed in nasal catarrh (pratishyaya), except in fresh and acute cases.

2. Headache /migraine To be prescribed in cases of the suryavarta type of shiraroga. The diet should principally consist of boiled rice and milk with clarified butter and the essence or extract of the meat of jangala animals.

F. Role of go ghrita in certain mental disorders

1. Apasmara Sarpi chikitsa described in treatment of Unmada should be done in Apsmara rogi. Especially purana ghrita is used internally and externally.

2. Unmada  Vataja variety: In vatika type of Unmada, the physician should first of all ascertain the exact nature of vayu and in the beginning administer sneha.  Agantuja variety: The patient suffering from exogenous type of Unmada should be given sarpi pana and mantras etc should be recited for better healing.

G. Effect of go ghrita on soma (body)

Body massage with go ghrita is good for enhancing immune system. It could be use as a facial moisturizer and also internally in heat burns for better relief and in various skin treatment.

H. Effect of go ghrita on mind

Go ghrita has a striking efficacy in crossing BBB (Blood Brain Barrier) which is very much needed for treating mental anomalies.

I. Advantages of ghrita

A spastic and lean man when made to undergo snehana (through go ghrita) shows a drastic change making him mentally balanced and stout. Ghrita is best suited for improving intelligence, curing insanity, increasing sexual power, good eyesight, and good voice, those suffering from injury to chest, emaciation, visarpa, tuberculosis and fever. It is best among fatty materials. It is a good coolant thus it possesses one thousand good qualities and does a thousand actions when used with proper processing.

J. Demerits or contraindications of go ghrita

Living life according to desha (habitat), kala (time) and along with morality is good life. And the science which shows light in this path is Ayurved. This being nectar to life if not followed strictly will turn in to poison. Similarly go ghrita is also contraindicated for some individuals at certain times. Those being over obese and having kapha, medas in excess and those who do not do exercise should not take go ghrita in excess or regularly. Those people suffering from oozing from mouth and anus, who have take alcoholic drink, whose doshas are accumulated in the body and those having tonsillitis should not consume go ghrita in excess. After having taken go ghrita one should not drink hot water immediately