Why cow ghee is given so much importance? : Dr.Shivani Pandey

Why cow and its products are considered of so much importance in Ayurveda?

Kamadhenu is worshipped as a Devi (Divine mother) in Hindu mythology, which is generally mentioned as a cow in Sanskrit. In various Indian arts, it is often shown that a cow body is being resided by many Hindu gods which depicts the importance of cows and its products in our Hindu culture. Starting from use of cow dung cake, cow ghee, etc., in sacred havanas to the charnamrita prasad.

Panchagavya term is coined from ‘Pancha’ means five and ‘Gavya’ means ‘cow-derived products’ and these are Dugdha (cow milk), Dadhi (curd), Ghrita (clarified butter), Mutra (cow urine) and Mala (cow dung).

Why cow ghee is given so much importance?

Cow ghee can be prepared by two methods; firstly, by heating milk or cream of milk and secondly by heating the churned cream prepared from curd. The second method of preparing ghee is an age-old tradition of preparing ghee which retains its nutritional value due to the use of low heat while preparing it.

Cow ghee is loaded with lipophilic substances like linoleic acid, Vitamin A, Vitamin E, etc. In various Ayurvedic texts, it is mentioned that Cow ghee can treat wounds, jeerna jwara (chronic fever conditions) and nourishes the seven dhatus (body tissues) of our body.

Why Shata dhauta Ghrita is comparatively more beneficial for skin than plain cow ghee?

Shata dhauta Ghrita means washing ghrita for hundred times with water. There are some important features which gets add on after washing the cow ghee. These are:

1.  Texture: The process of washing cow ghee removes the characteristic smell of cow ghee. It converts it from granular texture to smoother texture with more homogeneity in it. The greasiness of cow ghee gets removed by washing it repeatedly which helps in improvement of compliancy.
2.  pH of Shata dhauta Ghrita: The pH value of Shata dhauta Ghrita is neutral while, plain cow ghee is acidic in nature. This makes it beneficial for the use in case of burn wounds, open wounds, chicken pox, or sensitive skin; as it prevents any kind of skin irritation which could be possible in case of plain cow ghee.
3.  Particle size: Due to repetitive washing process, the particle size of cow ghee gets reduced which might help in the easier absorption of Shata dhauta Ghrita through the skin. thus, it converts the cow ghee from macro form to micro form.
4.  Water-in-Oil/Fat emulsion: This whole procedure converts it into a kind of emulsion that is water-in-oil/fat emulsion which helps in easier absorption through the skin.
5.  Cooling effect: The procedure of repetitive washing with water i.e., hundred times washing increases the cooling action or effect of cow ghee to hundred times. This converts it into a medicine which can be very effective in any condition of skin burns. As cow ghee has a very good property of adding the properties of the samskaras (processes) performed over it.  
6.  Other laboratory parameters: Some of the other laboratory parameters like Acid value, Iodine value, etc., gets reduced which prevents Shatadhauta Ghrita from turning rancid when, compared to normal Cow ghee. This increases the shelf-life of the Shata dhauta Ghrita and its products.
7.  Skin hydration: As the addition of water or washing with water increases the moisture content of Shata dhauta Ghrita. Thus, Shata dhauta Ghrita is more capable of hydrating the skin than ordinary cow ghee.
8.  Due to the repetitive washing the Triglycerides of cow ghee gets converted into Glycerol and fatty acids. These unnecessary fatty acids get washed during the repetitive washing with water. The copper content in the Shata dhauta Ghrita acts as a catalyst in this fat splitting i.e., conversion of triglycerides to Glycerol and fatty acids. Thus, decrease in the acid value occurs as the fatty acids get removed while washing which increases its shelf- life than ordinary cow ghee.
9.  Consistency and color: Shata dhauta Ghrita is thicker as well as viscous in consistency and turns into white and fluffy cream like material while, cow ghee is golden yellow in color.
10.  Odor: There is a remarkable change in odor as Cow ghee has a characteristic smell compared to Shata dhauta Ghrita which is odorless. Thus, any change in odor or addition of smelling agent can be very effective in this. As we have used rose water for adding the cooling effect as well as addition of a characteristic pleasant smell of rose.
11.  Copper content: Copper is included in one of the nine minerals which are essential for the body. A normal healthy 70 kg person’s skin requires approximately 15% of total copper requirement.

Due to the use of copper metal as a vessel during the preparation of Shata dhauta Ghrita addition of copper metal ions occurs in it which is very beneficial for a healthy glowing skin.

The copper metal ions are helpful in stimulation of proliferation of dermal fibroblasts.  It can be very helpful in the increase in collagen and elastin fiber production. It can protect the skin from free radical which are highly responsible for inflammation and skin ageing conditions. It promotes wound healing and acts as a potent biocide i.e., it can kill bacteria, fungi, viruses, etc. hence, prevents any skin related infections. It also improves the skin elasticity and thus, prevents fine lines and wrinkles. 

ADHYAY Shata dhauta Ghrita skin repair emollientis an effective cream as it is prepared by the same method as discussed. This cream is prepared by A2 variety of cow ghee and more ingredients are added to it for adding skin benefits like Organic Aloe Vera gel, Vitamin E, Marigold extract, Rose water, etc.

 References:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamadhenu#:~:text=Kamadhenu%20is%20regarded%20as%20a,%5D%20sustenance%20of%20human%20life%22.
2. Borkow G. Using Copper to Improve the Well-Being of the Skin. Curr Chem Biol. 2014 Aug;8(2):89-102. doi: 10.2174/2212796809666150227223857. PMID: 26361585; PMCID: PMC4556990.
3. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/364316390_Shatdhauta_Ghrita_A_Promising_agent_in_the_development_of_herbal_creams
4. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/235738448_Shata_-_Dhauta_-_Ghrita_-_A_Case_Study