All foods contain natural oils to varying degrees. True to the sanskrit term ‘sneha’  which means oleation and love, oils provide nourishment and strength to the body tissues. Ayurveda has dealt with vegetable oils under the heading of aharopyogi varga and the taila varga. Let us briefly discuss the therapeutic qualities of the few edible oils mentioned in ayurveda and also of some of those which were invented later.

All foods contain natural oils to varying degrees. True to the sanskrit term ‘sneha’  which means oleation and love, oils provide nourishment and strength to the body tissues. Ayurveda has dealt with vegetable oils under the heading of aharopyogi varga and the taila varga. Let us briefly discuss the therapeutic qualities of the few edible oils mentioned in ayurveda and also of some of those which were invented later.

Sesame oil

Commonly known as tila taila, it is the most commendable of all oils. It is sweet with accompanying astringent taste, hot in potency and is endowed with properties to penetrate subtle channels of the body. Used in abundance in the panchkarma therapy, sesame oil is the best medicine to alleviate vata. It promotes general strength and skin health and is recommended to be applied in all types of cuts and wounds, insect bites, as enemata and massage oil in diseases of the nervous system like paralysis, stiffness of the limbs and muscle weakness. Many famous classic ayurvedic oils such as Mahanarayani taila, Bhringraj Taila, Jatyadi Taila and Brahmi Amla Taila are prepared in the sesame oil base.

Mustard oil

Known as sarson oil in common parlance, mustard oil is used in almost every home in India, particularly in northern provinces. It is pungent in taste and is hot in potency. As an edible oil, it acts as the killer of intestinal worms. It is best recommended for massage in conditions involving general dryness of the skin during the winters. Applied locally after mixing with a little of mushak-karpur, it serves as a magic remedy for urticaria and non specific itching of the skin folds.

Coconut oil

Extensively used in south Indian cuisines, coconut oil has been described as an oil which is cool in effect. It is also known as a hair nourishing agent, skin tonic, body and mind energizer and endowed with many other qualities similar to that of a cod liver oil. Coconut oil is sued and applied as a household remedy for skin allergies, eczema, burns and scalds.

Castor oil

Also known as eranda taila, it has been traditionally used as a purgative. All ayurvedic texts have eulogized it as a panacea for acute and chronic cases of rheumatoid arthritis and there are many classic decoctions and guggul preparation where castor oil is an additive.  As a household remedy castor oil can be safely  taken in a dose of ten to twenty ml at bed time with milk or used simply by adding it into the wheat flour while making the chapatti.

Almond oil

Not utilized as cooking oil, almond oil is more favoured by the exponents of Unani system of medicine for health formulas and massage therapies. It is hot and heavy in effect and is a general health tonic. Almond oil is regarded as an aphrodisiac and eye and brain refresher and is used since ages for massage of body and scalp and also for instilling in the ear and the nose. It is laxative in effect and patients suffering from stubborn constipation get symptomatic relief if they daily  take it with warm milk at bed time.

Olive oil

Though not mentioned in ayurveda, olive oil is a cooking medium in the countries of the West Asia and Europe. It has nowadays gained immense popularity throughout the world and its massage is specially recommended in emaciated and week children. Olive oil is also a favourite of the beauticians as its regular application is believed to allay premature wrinkling and loosening of the skin. Being very hot in effect, it should be avoided by persons of pitta prakriti.

Other oils

For cooking purpose many oils like ones extracted from seeds of groundnut, sunflower and cottonseed are used in India. They are nutritious, heavy and hot in effect. The rice bran oil, which was previously used in far eastern countries, seems to gradually entering into Indian kitchens. It is reported to be light, easily digestible and closer to the safe parameters set by modern scientists. But one should never use oils which are chemically treated and added with colouring agents.

Used in abundance in the panchkarma therapy, sesame oil is the best medicine to alleviate vata.

Castor oil acts as a panacea for acute and chronic cases of rheumatoid arthritis and there are many classic decoctions and guggul preparation where castor oil is an additive.