Lakshadi Thailam
Lakshadi Thailam is a classical Ayurvedic taila, a medicated oil. Referenced in Ashtanga Hridayam (Uttarasthana - Balopacharaneeya / Paediatric chapter). One of the most important classical formulations for paediatric care (Bala Chikitsa) in Ayurveda, specifically mentioned for infant massage and child development. The Ayurvedic Formulary of India (Part I, entry 8:49) lists 5 ingredients: Taila 768 g, Aranala 4.608 l, Laksa 2, Haridra 32 g and Manjistha So: = ;.
| Also known as | Lakshadi Thailam, LakshadiThailam |
|---|---|
| Pharmacopoeia status | Referenced in Ashtanga Hridayam (Uttarasthana). Listed in Ayurvedic Formulary of India. One of the most widely recommended Ayurvedic paediatric oils in South Indian tradition. Manufactured by licensed pharmacies under AYUSH GMP standards. |
Composition
As given in the Ayurvedic Formulary of India, Part I, entry 8:49 (LAKSADI TAILA), which cites Bhaisajyaratnavali, Jvaradhikara; 346.. Names, parts and quantities are transcribed as printed and checked row by row against the book. Manufacturers' versions of a classical formulation can differ from the formulary.
| # | Ingredient | Part | Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Taila (tila) * | oil | 768 g. |
| 2 | Aranala * | 4.608 l. | |
| 3 | Laksa * | gall | 2. |
| 4 | Haridra * | 32 g. | |
| 5 | Manjistha * | root | So: = ; |
* The scanned text was damaged at this row and the name was read from the entry's own Sanskrit verse.
Names and identification
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Lakshadi Thailam |
Where is it described in the classical texts?
Ashtanga Hridayam (Uttarasthana - Balopacharaneeya / Paediatric chapter). One of the most important classical formulations for paediatric care (Bala Chikitsa) in Ayurveda, specifically mentioned for infant massage and child development.
How does it work?
- Lac resin (Laksha) showed osteogenic potential in an in vitro study; whether this applies to topical use in infants is not established
- Withanolides from Ashwagandha provide adaptogenic and tissue-nourishing effects, supporting neuromuscular development through enhanced protein synthesis
- Curcumin from Turmeric and antibacterial compounds from Nirgundi and Nutgrass are proposed to contribute to the oil’s traditional use for infant skin care
- Dill (Shatapushpa) and Cedar (Devadaru) volatile oils are traditionally regarded as warming; the oil is traditionally used in massage for childhood cold and cough
Which traditional uses are supported by research?
These summaries come from the source notes, which do not name the studies behind them.
- Infant bone and skeletal strengthening: traditionally used for infant bone and skeletal strengthening. An in vitro study reported osteogenic potential of Lac resin. Ashwagandha is traditionally described as adaptogenic.
- Infant skin protection and nourishment: traditionally used for infant skin protection and nourishment. In antimicrobial studies, Nirgundi, Nutgrass, and Licorice were reported to show activity against common infant skin pathogens.
- Childhood respiratory protection (cold, cough): traditionally used in massage for childhood respiratory protection. Dill and Cedar contribute volatile oil components.
What do recent studies show?
No study for this section could be traced to a published paper. Classical formulations are researched largely in journals that PubMed does not index, so an absence here reflects the reach of the index rather than the state of the evidence.
Recent safety updates
- Traditionally used for infant massage; however, some modern sources advise caution with very young infants (under 1 month). Always consult an Ayurvedic paediatrician before use on newborns. Patch test on a small area of infant skin first. Avoid contact with eyes and mouth.
- No adverse effects reported in traditional literature. Ensure product is manufactured by licensed pharmacy with proper GMP standards and heavy metal testing. Some commercial products may vary in quality - choose trusted traditional manufacturers. Do not use on infants with active skin infections or eczema without practitioner guidance.
What is it made of?
The Ayurvedic Formulary of India recipe, every ingredient with its part and quantity, is in the composition table near the top of this page.
Dosage forms and preparation
Dosage Forms: Thailam (medicated sesame oil), External application
Standard Dosage: External massage for infants and children
Optimal Timing: External: before bath or at bedtime
Storage: Airtight amber glass/HDPE container, room temperature, protected from light
Marker Compounds: Lacciferric acid, Withanolides
Vehicle (Anupana): External: massage
Synergistic Combinations
- Key herbs: Laksha, Ashwagandha, Haridra; oil base acts as lipid carrier for enhanced tissue penetration
What manufacturers publish about this preparation
Disclosure first. This site is published by Age Ayurveda, which sells Ayurvedic products, though not this preparation. Every cell states what that company's own product page carried when it was read, not our judgement of it. There is no score, no rank and no winner here, and the table is in alphabetical order for that reason.
The formulary entry above fixes the ingredients and the quantity of each. Whether you can check a particular product against it depends on what its manufacturer publishes. Of the 3 companies surveyed that sell a product under this name, this is what their pages carried when they were read on 8 October 2026.
| Company | What its product page publishes |
|---|---|
| Maharishi Ayurveda | Neither an ingredient list nor quantities |
| Sitaram Ayurveda | An ingredient list, without quantities |
| The Arya Vaidya Pharmacy, Coimbatore | Neither an ingredient list nor quantities |
This measures what each company publishes, not the quality of anything it makes. A company that publishes nothing here may make an excellent preparation, and the label in the box is a separate, regulated surface that is not what was read. What disclosure changes is whether a reader, a pharmacist or an answer engine can check a product against the formulary entry it claims.
Method, the full counts across every company surveyed, and what this measurement got wrong the first time: which manufacturers publish what is in the bottle. The URL of every page read is recorded in brand-disclosure.json. If a row here is wrong, including where the correction favours a company other than ours, tell us and we will fix it and say that we did. How the same companies' stated doses compare with the formulary dose, preparation by preparation: Ayurvedic company doses against the Ayurvedic Formulary of India.
Reviewed by Dr. Awadesh Pratap Singh, BAMS, on 11 October 2026. What that review covered.
Consult a qualified vaidya before acting on anything here. Ayurvedic practice is prescribed to a person, not to a condition: the same dravya is given, withheld or substituted depending on your constitution, your agni, the season and what else you are already taking. A page cannot know any of that. Self-prescribing from a reference is how the wrong preparation, the wrong dose or the wrong anupana gets used.
Educational reference only. Nothing on this page is medical advice, a diagnosis, or a recommendation to take anything. Traditional uses and research findings are reported as published, not as claims about what any product does. If you take prescribed medication, raise any interaction with the prescriber rather than acting on a page. See our editorial standards.