Ghrita
Ghrita is an animal-derived substance used in the Ayurvedic materia medica. It is clarified butter, carrying butyric acid at 3-4%, oleic acid at about 25% alongside palmitic and stearic acids, and conjugated linoleic acid.
| Substance type | Animal-derived substance, not a plant |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Ghrita, Ghritam, Ghee, Ghrtam, Go-Ghrita, Cow Ghee |
The evidence at a glance
2papers on this site for this drug, published 2024 to 2025, every one with a DOI.
- 2Other clinical studies and reviews
A count is not a conclusion and a tier is a study design, not a verdict. Each paper is listed with what it measured on the page below. See the research index for how papers are tiered.
Names and identification
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Ghrita |
Key Phytochemical Constituents
- Short-chain fatty acids: butyric acid (3-4%), caproic acid
- Medium-chain fatty acids: caprylic, capric acid
- Long-chain fatty acids: oleic acid (25%), palmitic, stearic, myristic
- Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA)
- Fat-soluble vitamins: A, D, E, K2
- Cholesterol (0.3%)
- Sphingolipids and phospholipids
- Carotenoids (beta-carotene)
- Phenolic antioxidants (from Murchhana process)
- Trace minerals (selenium, zinc)
How does it work?
- Bioavailability enhancement: Lipophilic medium enhances absorption of fat-soluble drugs and herbs
- Anti-inflammatory via butyrate: Butyric acid inhibits NF-kB pathway, reduces inflammatory cytokines, strengthens intestinal barrier integrity, and supports healthy gut microbiome
- Neuroprotective: Butyrate increases brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), promotes neurogenesis, and reduces neuroinflammation; fat-soluble vitamin content supports myelin health
- Digestive fire (Agni) enhancement: Short and medium-chain fatty acids are rapidly absorbed and metabolized, stimulating hepatic bile secretion and pancreatic enzyme activity
Which traditional uses are supported by research?
These summaries come from the source notes, which do not name the studies behind them.
- Medhya Rasayana (cognitive enhancement): medicated ghees such as Saraswata Ghrita and Brahmi Ghrita are traditionally used to support cognition.
- Agni Deepana without Pitta aggravation: traditionally used to stimulate digestion. Its cooling virya is traditionally held to keep this from aggravating Pitta.
- Snehana (oleation therapy in Panchakarma): used in classical practice as the primary medium for internal oleation.
What do recent studies show?
- Kataria D, Singh G 2024. Health benefits of ghee: Review of Ayurveda and modern science perspectives. Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine. PMID 38181707 · doi:10.1016/j.jaim.2023.100819
Systematic review of studies from 1994-2024 with 19,948 participants found ghee intake had neutral to positive effects on lipid profiles; butyrate content provides anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective benefits. - Xu Q, Liu X, Wang Z and others 2025. Recent advancements and comprehensive analyses of butyric acid in cardiovascular diseases. Frontiers in cardiovascular medicine. PMID 40791947 · doi:10.3389/fcvm.2025.1608658
Butyric acid (abundant in ghee) diminishes atherosclerotic lesions, enhances plaque stability by inhibiting NF-kB activation, decreases inflammatory markers (IL-1beta, IL-6, TNF-alpha), and increases BDNF for neuroprotection.
Only studies that could be traced to a published paper are listed here. An absence here means we could not identify the source, not that no work exists.
Recent safety updates
- Moderate consumption (1-2 tablespoons/day) shows neutral cardiovascular effects; excessive intake increases LDL cholesterol and cardiovascular risk
- Patients with hyperlipidemia, obesity, or existing cardiovascular disease should limit ghee intake; Ayurvedic contraindications for Kapha disorders align with modern guidance
- Ghee has high smoke point (250 degrees C)
- Quality depends on source (grass-fed cow ghee preferred); commercial ghee may contain added vegetable oils or be from grain-fed cattle with altered fatty acid profile
What is it made of?
Nutritional Profile
- Fat: 99.5g/100g
- Saturated fatty acids: 62%
- Monounsaturated fatty acids: 29%
- Butyric acid: 3-4%
- Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA): 0.3-0.5%
- Vitamin A: 3069 IU/100g
- Vitamin E: 2.8mg/100g
- Vitamin K2: Present
Dosage forms and preparation
Dosage Forms: Plain ghee, Medicated ghee (Siddha Ghrita), Panchagavya component
Standard Dosage: 5–10 mL orally; variable in Snehapana (oleation therapy, up to 200 mL)
Optimal Timing: Before meals for Snehana; with meals for nutritive purposes
Storage: Room temperature in airtight container; avoid moisture ingress
Marker Compounds: Butyric acid, Conjugated linoleic acid, Fat-soluble vitamins A/D/E/K, Short-chain fatty acids
Vehicle (Anupana): Premier lipophilic vehicle (Sneha) in Ayurveda; used for >100 medicated ghee preparations
Stability Notes
Anhydrous preparation; stable if moisture kept below 0.5%. Rancidity indicates degradation.
Published research
Literature indexed in PubMed that concerns this subject, grouped by study type. A paper appearing here is a record of what has been published, not evidence that the subject works, and laboratory or animal results do not transfer to people. Study titles link to PubMed so you can read the source rather than take our word.
Other clinical studies and reviews2
- 2025. Recent advancements and comprehensive analyses of butyric acid in cardiovascular diseasesFrontiers in cardiovascular medicine. PMID 40791947 · doi:10.3389/fcvm.2025.1608658
- 2024. Health benefits of ghee: Review of Ayurveda and modern science perspectivesJournal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine. PMID 38181707 · doi:10.1016/j.jaim.2023.100819
Reviewed by Dr. Awadesh Pratap Singh, BAMS, on 11 October 2026. What that review covered.
Available from Age Ayurveda
This encyclopedia is published by Age Ayurveda. The products below are ours, and are listed here because they contain or use what this page describes.
Chyawanprash AvalehaA classical avaleha, traditionally used to support daily vitality and immune function.Ask about this on WhatsApp
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.