Ghee has a special and an almost indispensable place in the Indian household and kitchen. Every Indian household uses ghee in the preparation of their food, as well as separately as a remedy for various ailments and specific illnesses. By itself, ghee is a very healthy, effective, and beneficial Rasayana that nourishes our body with nutrients, longevity, and strength.
But did you know that the power and benefits of ghee can be enhanced and multiplied by enriching it with herbs like Ashwagandha?
All About Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha, deriving from the Sanskrit words ‘ashwa’ meaning horse and ‘gandha’ meaning odour, is commonly known as the Indian Ginseng, widely acclaimed for its strengthening and nourishing qualities. It has been acclaimed as a herbal and health supplement that has been used in the ancient Indian medicinal science of Ayurveda for centuries. The herb is extolled for its many rejuvenating, therapeutic, and medicinal properties used in the treatment of weakness, insomnia, arthritis, depression, anxiety, neurological issues, tumors, gastrointestinal issues, infertility, and many more.
Ashwagandha occupies a special place among the traditional Rasayana herbs of Ayurveda. All plants possess a unique quality, the presence of phytochemicals – a bioactive chemical substance present within them that helps them fend off insects/ parasites and healthy growth. These phytochemicals are also very useful for human bodies for the protective health benefits they offer. What makes Ashwagandha plant unique and ideal is its abundant presence of phytochemicals that offer a host of protective and regenerative benefits to the human body.
The Enhanced Benefits of Ashwagandha Enriched Ghee
The potent health benefits of both ghee and ashwagandha are quite well established individually. Ghee has been described as a great adjuvant or vehicle in Ayurveda for it can not only carry but enhance the benefits of ingredients it is processed with, by increasing its therapeutic efficacy and potency. Thus, it is widely used in Ayurvedic treatments for many illnesses along with medicinal herbs like Shatavari, Ashwagandha, Brahmi, and others. Even regular ghee has innumerable benefits for good health, prevention, and cure of illnesses, but specially concocted ghee such as Ashwagandha herbal ghee has even greater benefits to offer.
According to Ayurveda, ashwagandha has also been traditionally called a ‘Rasayana’ that provides nourishment to all the tissues and cells of the body and helps remove toxins. It is also known as ‘Ayushkara’ – having the ability to promote longevity and increase lifespan. The herbal concoction of Ashwagandha ghee, formulated by a special recipe in a two-stage process prescribed by Ayurveda, is a medicinal formulation that comprises the potent qualities of cultured desi ghee and ashwagandha plant, that is used for general wellness as well as in the treatment of various illnesses.
Anti-inflammatory
Studies show that the herb possesses anti-inflammatory properties that reduce inflammation and pain in the body and regulate the inflammatory response of the body when fighting against viruses. Ashwagandha is also known to possess immunomodulatory properties, which means that as a herbal drug it can modify the response of the immune system by increasing or decreasing the production of serum antibodies. It also possesses Withaferin A which shows anti-tumor and anti-carcinogenic properties.
Cardioprotective / Good Heart Health
Ghee made from indigenous cow breeds that is of A2 quality is full of saturated fats and short-chain fatty acids induce the production of High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) – the good type of cholesterol. Infused with the extracts of Ashwagandha, desi ghee offers a variety of enhanced benefits for good heart health and can even be consumed by people suffering from high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes.
When consumed in the right quantity, Ashwagandha ghee is extremely beneficial for high BP and cholesterol as it maintains the balance between good cholesterol and bad cholesterol in the body and avoids building up plaque in the arteries, avoiding potential heart diseases. For its cardioprotective qualities, therefore, it is widely used in the treatment of various heart diseases. It also has a high antioxidant content that helps with the absorption of vitamins and minerals and boosts immunity.
Anti-depressant and adaptogenic
Ashwagandha is also widely acclaimed to have antidepressant qualities and is a classified adaptogen, meaning it helps the body resist and cope up with physical, mental, and biological stressors. Ayurveda makes use of Ashwagandha ghee to treat people suffering from anxiety disorders and depression. It also greatly benefits those who suffer from stress and anxiety in day-to-day life.
Aphrodisiacs and fertility
In Ashtanga Ayurveda’s Vrishya Chikitsa, which deals with aphrodisiacs, virility, and infertility issues, ashwagandha has been traditionally used to help with increasing vitality and treating sexual health issues. Ashwagandha ghee contains Withaferin A (naturally found in the ashwagandha plant) which increases Vajikara to promote good sexual and reproductive health in both men as well as women. Modern studies have shown that it helps maintain healthy testosterone levels and helps with male infertility, including stress-related infertility which is quite common among men. The ghee also provides nourishment to improve fertility and libido in women and assist labour and child-bearing.
Takeaway
While we do use regular ghee in our daily diets, using herbal Ashwagandha ghee can get us a host of additional health benefits that go a long way in preserving our health and fighting illnesses. By now, there are plenty of reasons to bring Ashwagandha ghee into your home and improve the health and quality of your life. You could begin with a spoonful of ghee in the morning with warm water that works great as a health tonic, and consult a doctor or vaidya for any specific treatments.