Many ayurvedic practitioners believe that no home should be without brahmi ghee – medicinal clarified butter that’s been infused with an herb called brahmi (centella asiatica). Herbalized ghee is an effective medium for delivering herbs into the blood stream via the nasal passages, and has been applied to the inside of the nose daily by Indian health-seekers for centuries. (It can also be taken orally).

Benefits

Brahmi is one of those amazing herbs that benefits just about everyone. Considered a rasayana herb, meaning that it has rejuvenating properties, brahmi is an excellent tonic for the brain and nervous system. It’s believed to help the prana* in nourishing the brain, and has been used to treat and/or provide support for the following conditions and disorders:

• ADD
• Seasonal Affective Disorder
• Stress
• Lack of clarity
• Lack of focus
• Improved memory & mental recall
• Nervousness
• Anxiety
• Degenerative brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s
• Moodiness
• Depression
• Migraines

Make Your Own

Anyone can make their own brahmi ghee at home. It’s not difficult to do, though it’s definitely a time commitment. Start by purchasing ready-made ghee at your local health food store or Indian market, or make your own from fresh, organic butter. There’s a great recipe for making your own ghee at www.intentblog.com.

Once you have some ghee, you’ll need some powdered brahmi. Bazaar of India is a reputable company with a great website where you can purchase ayurvedic herbs on-line.

Use the following proportions when herbalizing your ghee: 1 part dried herbs, 4 parts oil/ghee, 8 parts water. A little bit of herbalized ghee goes a long way if you’re using it as a nasal application. I recommend you start with just a teaspoon of herbs. You’ll end up with approximately 4 teaspoons of herbalized ghee, which should last you at least a month.

Boil the herbs in the water over a low flame until the volume is reduced by half. Then strain the powdered herbs out of the liquid with a fine strainer.

Next, combine the herbal water with the ghee and boil over a low flame until all the water evaporates. Cool before use, and store in an airtight container. Herbalized ghee does not need to be refrigerated.

To use brahmi ghee, put a drop or two into the palm of your hand, coat your pinky finger (or a Q-tip) with the herbalized ghee and swab the insides of each nostril.

Or, Buy Your Own Brahmi Ghee

Yes, it is a lot of work to make your own. If you’re a slave to convenience, you can buy ready-made brahmi ghee from the Ayurvedic Institute at www.ayurveda.com.

*Prana = Life-force energy. We get prana from the things we take into our bodies, such as food, water, air, and sunshine.