Ayurvedic Home Remedies: Some Medicinal Uses of Oil


Athi Oil


Athi oil is obtained by processing leaves, bark and fruits of Athi tree (Ficus retusa). The oil is used in treating cuts, burns, sores etc. It is an excellent home remedy for cat bite. This oil is still used in Tamil villages for treating the above-mentioned conditions. To prepare this oil you need the bark of athi tree, athi leaves, sesame oil and athi fruit.


The athi bark is powdered thoroughly. Tender athi leaves are ground to a fine paste. Same with tender athi fruits. The three are mixed thoroughly. This mixture is then added to sesame oil and then stored in a cool, dark place. After a week, you can start using the oil. Apply a thin coat of oil on the body. Skin diseases like eczema, scabies, skin allergies etc can be cured with regular application. This oil is very effective in treating acne and pimples. It is found to cure even persistent and tough acne, septic and pus filled pimples, acne scars etc. Athi oil is well known for its action on chronic sores and ulcers.


Cardamom Oil


Cardamom oil is known to provide a healthy sheen when applied on skin. It can be prepared the following way. The ingredients are cardamom 5 gm, camphor 5 gm, vetti ver 5 gm and sesame oil 200 ml. Make a fine powder by griding cardamom, camphor and vettiver in a mixie. Now heat sesame oil in a mud vessel and once it nears the boiling point and starts to give off vapors, drop the powder into the oil and let it cool. Store the oil in a bottle in a cool dry place. After childbirth, women can apply this oil on stomach, thighs and breasts to strengthen the sagging muscles in those areas. Stretch marks will start to disappear on regular application.


Olive Oil


Olive oil has excellent medicinal properties and is rich in antioxidants. It is ideal for those suffering from blood pressure, ulcers, indigestion, cancer etc. Though olive oil was not used in India, its easy availability these days has resulted in Indians starting to use olive oil both internally and externally. Olive oil is an excellent remedy for skin, especially during the winter and cold season. One way to get the maximum out of olive oil is to mix it with equal quantity of sesame oil and using that mixture to make a paste with green gram powder. This combination of green gram, olive oil and sesame oil can be applied on skin once or twice a week and can be washed off after 30 minutes to one hour. This is found to soften the skin and retain moisture.


Some newborns have black scaly patches on scalp. One can apply olive oil in these affected spots and gently comb the hair. A gentle olive oil head massage once a week followed by a warm water bath will help cure this condition.




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