Ghrita (medicated ghee)

A medicated clarified butter prepared by Sneha-paka. The most prestigious Ayurvedic dosage form per Charaka Sutra 13.13–14:

“Of all the unctuous substances, ghee is the best, owing to its peculiar adaptability in pharmaceutic preparations. Ghee is curative of Pitta and Vata, is beneficial to the nutrient body-fluid, semen and vital essence; it is refrigerant and emollient, and clarifies the voice and complexion.”

The base is Goghrita (cow ghee). Use 1-year-old “purana ghrita” (matured ghee) for the most prestige cosmetic preparations — it has a deeper, cleaner aroma and longer shelf life.

Ghrita preparations are typically:

• Cooler than Tailas (Pitta-pacifying)
• More expensive (ghee is a more expensive base than sesame oil)
• Used internally as well as externally (whereas Tailas are mostly external)

A Ghrita keeps for 1+ year at room temp, 3+ years if kept cool and dark. Long maturation is often a feature, not a bug — many classical ghritas explicitly require 1-month or longer maturation before use.