Old Ghee

Old ghee (Purana Ghrita) — ghee that has been stored for one year or more — develops different and enhanced properties. As ghee ages, it becomes more potent therapeutically. One-year-old ghee is good; ghee aged for 10 years is called 'Dasha Varsha Ghrita' and is more potent; ghee aged for 100 years is called 'Kumbha Ghrita' and is supremely efficacious. Old ghee turns pungent and bitter in taste, becomes lighter, develops hot potency, and becomes an excellent medicine for mental disorders. It is specifically used in Unmada (insanity), Apasmara (epilepsy), Mada (intoxication), Murcha (fainting), and Visha (poisoning). It is also useful in diseases of the head (Shiro-roga), eyes (Netra-roga), ears (Karna-roga), and female reproductive system (Yoni-roga). Old ghee is applied externally as well as used internally. The older the ghee, the more powerful its medicinal properties become, though its palatability decreases. Verses 8-12.

• Unmada-hara (useful in insanity/mental disorders)
• Apasmara-hara (useful in epilepsy)
• Mada-hara (useful in intoxication/delirium)
• Murcha-hara (useful in fainting/syncope)
• Visha-ghna (anti-toxic / antidote)
• Jvara-hara (useful in fever)
• Shiro-roga-hara (useful in head diseases)
• Netra-roga-hara (useful in eye diseases)
• Karna-roga-hara (useful in ear diseases)
• Yoni-roga-hara (useful in uterine disorders)

Purana ghrita – Old ghee मदाप मारमू छाय शरः कणा यो नजान ् पुराणं जय त याधीन ् नशोधनरोपणम ् ४० Purana Ghrita (old ghee) is used in the treatment of Mada – intoxication, Apasmara – epilepsy, Murcha – fainting, Shira, karna, akshi yoni roga – diseases of the head, ear, eye and vagina;

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Drava Vigyaniya Drinkables

Old ghee cleanses and heals wounds.

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Drava Vigyaniya Drinkables

In all the above mentioned conditions blood-letting, purgation, nasya, dhuma (medicated smoking therapy) and intake of old ghee is beneficial.

— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 12: Edema Treatment (Shvayathu Chikitsa / श्वयथुचिकित्सा)

One prastha of old ghee should be added to half a prastha of draksha and cooked.

— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 16: Anemia Treatment (Pandu Chikitsa / पाण्डुचिकित्सा)

Fomentation therapy, smoking, snuffing and insufflation of powders in to nostrils and then managed with kapha-alleviating paste and diet along with intake of old ghee and teekshna basti (medicated enema having strong cleansing property).

— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 26: Three Vital Organs Treatment (Trimarmiya Chikitsa / त्रिमर्मीयचिकित्सा)

[256-257] Pippalyadi rasakriya: Rasa-kriya (thin paste) prepared out of pippali – Piper longum, juice of kimsuka – Butea monosperma, snake’s fat, saindhva/ rock salt and old ghee cures all types of eye-diseases.

— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 26: Three Vital Organs Treatment (Trimarmiya Chikitsa / त्रिमर्मीयचिकित्सा)

Old ghee, sesame oil and mustard oil are also beneficial.

— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 28: Vata Disorders Treatment (Vatavyadhi Chikitsa / वातव्याधिचिकित्सा)

Old ghee, green gram, wheat, red rice, tortoise meat, soup from arid-land animals, milk, Brahmi leaves (Bacopa monnieri), and Vacha (Acorus calamus) are wholesome.

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Parishishtam, Chapter 31: Diet for Epilepsy (Apasmara Pathyapathyam)

Old ghee and Brahmi are considered especially beneficial for Apasmara (epilepsy).

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Parishishtam, Chapter 31: Diet for Epilepsy (Apasmara Pathyapathyam)

Consumption of old ghee, old red rice, barley, green gram, pointed gourd, red Shigru (Moringa oleifera), and Kathillaka are wholesome.

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Parishishtam, Chapter 47: Diet for Tumor/Abscess (Arbuda Pathyapathyam)

Wheat, Shali rice, green gram, barley, and old ghee are wholesome.

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Parishishtam, Chapter 75: Diet for Ear Diseases (Karnaroga Pathyapathyam)

Old ghee, green gram, wheat, red rice, tortoise meat, soup from arid-land animals, milk, Brahmi leaves (Bacopa monnieri), and Vacha (Acorus calamus) are wholesome.

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Parishishtam, Chapter 20: Diet for Epilepsy (Apasmara Pathyapathyam)

Purgation should also be done with old ghee combined with purgative drugs, always.

— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 12: Raktabhishyanda Pratishedha Adhyaya (Chapter on Treatment of Blood-type Conjunctivitis)

Purgation should also be done with old ghee combined with purgative drugs, always.

— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 17: Drishtigata Roga Pratishedha Adhyaya (Chapter on Treatment of Diseases of Vision / Drishti Roga)

Old ghee with triphala, shatavari, patola (pointed gourd), amra, amalaka, and barley.

— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 17: Drishtigata Roga Pratishedha Adhyaya (Chapter on Treatment of Diseases of Vision / Drishti Roga)

Old ghee, triphala, shatavari, patola, amra, amalaka, and barley — for the person who diligently uses these, there is no fear even from the most terrible timira.

— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 17: Drishtigata Roga Pratishedha Adhyaya (Chapter on Treatment of Diseases of Vision / Drishti Roga)

Old ghee for drinking is specifically recommended.

— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 26: Chapter 26