Ghrita
Medicated ghee: clarified butter in which herbs have been slowly cooked, so their active compounds are carried deep into the tissues.
Ghrita is the Sanskrit word for ghee, clarified butter — and, by extension, any medicinal preparation based on ghee in which herbs have been cooked following a codified process. The ghee acts as a carrier: the tradition regards it as the best vehicle for fat-soluble compounds, able to transport them deep into the tissues (dhatus).
The preparation always follows the same principle: a herbal decoction and a paste of fresh herbs are cooked slowly in ghee until all the water has evaporated. What remains is the fat, loaded with the extracted compounds. Classic ghritas include brahmi ghrita (herbs for the mind) and triphala ghrita, traditionally used for the eyes. Plain, non-medicated ghee already holds a place of honour in the pharmacopoeia — see why in our article on ghee, the gold of cooking fats, and how to prepare it with our homemade ghee recipe.
In practice, a ghrita is taken in small amounts — often half a teaspoon on an empty stomach or at bedtime, as an indicative dose — sometimes melted into warm milk. Commercial medicated ghritas remain concentrated products: check the composition, as some herbs may be unsuitable for your situation (pregnancy, ongoing treatments). When in doubt, refer to our safety and precautions guide and ask a healthcare professional for advice.