Importance of Oils in Ayurveda

तैलं स्वयोनिवतत्र मुख्यं तीक्ष्णं व्यवायि च | त्वग्दोष्क्रुदचक्षुष्यं सुक्ष्मोष्णं कफ़क्रुन्न च ||5||

कृशानां बृहनयालं स्थुलानां कर्षणाय च | बध्दविटकं कृमिघ्नं च संस्करात्सर्वरोगजित ||6||

The oil is an effective way to transfer the medicinal qualities of herbs deep into the tissues to bring about healing.

It penetrates minute channels also and after processing properly, it is useful in several diseases.
Oil helps move imbalanced doshas from their manifested sites, back into GI track for elimination.
- Guru Vagbhatta (Author of Ashtanga Hridaya)

Why medicated oils are expensive?

Medicated oils that we import in Australia cost about $50 to $100 per liter!
The traditional oil -Anu Thailam used for Nasya i.e. nasal drops, retails at $1000 per litre sometimes in Australia.
Yes, petrol is now $2 a liter.

A lot is involved in making medicated oils, as mentioned below.
The right quality base oil and herbs are just the primary costs.
The preparation process is lengthy, is performed as prescribed in the ancient texts and it spans over a few days .

On the top, weather-proof packaging, the shipping costs (which are sky-rocketed about 5 -10 times recently), plus customs duty, transport and storage costs- it all adds up.

We have no margin in oils.

Types of oils and their uses

Many types of oils are made for use according to different conditions and body types. Few examples are:

Maha Narayana taila for joint massage for pain relief
Kumkumadi taila for face massage for glow and to blemish free skin.
Jatyadi taila good for bone healing
Murivenna for wound healing
Sahacharadi taila to relieve joint stiffness
Saindhavadi taila capacity to break down the phlegm collection in the chest
Balashwagandhadi taila to strengthen joints- This oil helped me in treating my shoulder issues.
Ksheerabala taila specific to strengthening nerves

Preparation of medicated oils

Preparation is done according to ancient texts and is usually a process of few days.
Desired herbs are added to common base oil like cold-pressed black sesame oil, coconut oil or castor oil.

First herbs to be added are made into a paste and then added to oil.

Several tests are performed on the way to ensure correct process and product:

  • Fragrance of the herbs become apparent on making paste

  • The herb paste can be rolled into the form of wick

  • The herb paste when put on fire does not make sound.

  • Oil starts yielding froth when heat is applied.

  • In the middle of process, the total paste + liquid becomes one dirty looking mix.

  • Nearing to the end, oil gets clearly separated from the paste.

To extract full essence of the herbs, heating on low flame is continued for few days, with intermittent on-off, depending upon the type of oil.

Classification of Oils

1. Mrudu paka – Used for nasal instillation (nasya). The herbal paste at the end of oil preparation will be very soft to touch, has some moisture content left with sticky particles of the herbal paste. .

2. Madhyama paka – Used for internal administration (paana) and as enema. (These treatments not offered at Ayusha). The herbal paste at the end of preparation of oil will be soft but without moisture and can be easily rolled into a wick form.

3. Khara paka – Used for external oil massage (abhyanga) and external treatments. The herbal paste at the end of oil preparation will be slightly burnt and dry and can not be rolled into a wick form and easily breaks.