Ghee
Sanskrit: Ghrita
Clarified butter, made by simmering butter until the water evaporates and the milk solids separate out, leaving a fragrant golden fat. In Indian homes it is everyday cooking; in Ayurveda it is also a carrier for herbs and the base of medicated preparations called ghrita. It is important to keep those uses apart: culinary ghee, external ghee and medicated ghee are not the same thing.
Also known as
Clarified Butter · Ghrita
- hindi:
- Ghee
- tamil:
- Nei
- bengali:
- Ghee
Key components
- Clarified butterfat from cow or buffalo milk
- Traditional cultured (bilona) ghee in some preparations
Traditional overview
- Everyday cooking fat, valued for its high smoke point and aroma
- Used classically as a carrier so that fat-soluble herb constituents can be absorbed
- A base for medicated ghees (ghrita), which are prepared and prescribed by practitioners
- Applied externally in traditional practices such as nasal drops and gentle massage under guidance
Common traditional forms
- culinary cooking fat
- with warm food or milk
- external application
- base for classical medicated ghees
Wellness tags
- nutrition
- food carrier
- rejuvenation tradition
Body focus
- digestive system
- whole body
Concerns
- food nourishment
- traditional carrier
What to know before use
Culinary ghee is food and belongs within your normal fat intake; medicated ghee is a prescription-style preparation and should not be self-selected. People advised to limit saturated fat, and anyone with a dairy allergy, should be careful. Large self-directed amounts taken for health reasons are not a traditional practice.
Important cautions
Ordinary culinary ghee is a normal food fat and belongs in a balanced diet in modest amounts. Medicated ghrita preparations are entirely different: they carry active herbs and belong under qualified practitioner guidance.
Who should avoid it
- People advised to limit saturated fat
- People with dairy allergy
- People with high cholesterol, in large amounts
- Anyone taking medicated ghrita without practitioner guidance
Medicine interactions
- Fatty foods can change how some medicines are absorbed, so follow your doctor timing advice
PregnancyCulinary amounts are ordinary food. Medicated ghrita only under practitioner guidance.
ChildrenCulinary ghee is a common food for children. Medicated ghrita only under practitioner guidance.
Quality and buying guidance
Real ghee is pure butterfat: check that the label does not list vegetable fat or vanaspati, and prefer a licensed dairy or a maker who states the milk source. Good ghee smells nutty and grainy when set, and should not taste sour or of rancid oil. Store it dry, with a clean spoon, away from heat and light.
What does the evidence say?
This is primarily an established food with a long record of ordinary dietary use; nutritional information is better documented than medicinal claims.
Related ingredients
Traditional wellness information only — not medical advice. Start small, and check with a qualified practitioner if you are pregnant, nursing, treating a child, or managing a medical condition.