Ghee as medhya

[Guest guest]

> i am aware of the medhya property of desi ghee (made from curd, not

> sweet cream), and certainly that of aged desi ghee, but i don't think

> its medhya properties has anything to do with DHA (docosahexaenoic acid)

>

> the actual DHA content in butterfat is about zero, but it does

> contain small amounts of omega 3 (ALA) and omega 6 (LA) fatty acids

> in a balanced ratio

>

> however, when consumed with a diet otherwise rich in omega 6 fatty

> acids (from most nuts, cereals and seed oils), it is does not help to

> balance omega 3 fatty acid ratios or promote DHA production

>

 

Both Caraka and Vaghbata have given prominence to the medhya

properties of ghee by mentioning them first in long lists of

properties. Thus Caraka says:

 

" Cow ghee promotes memory, intelligence, agni (digestion), semen, ojas

(vital essence, immunity), kapha and fat tissue; alleviates vata,

pitta, poison, insanity, pthisis, inauspiciousness and fever. It is

the best of all fats, is cooling, sweet in taste, sweet in

post-digestive effect, has a thousand uses, and, if used properly

according to prescribed methods, exerts a thousand types of actions.

Old cow ghee alleviates intoxication, epilepsy, fainting, phthisis,

insanity, poison, fever and pain in the female genital tract, ear and

head. " Sutrasthana:27/231-233

 

As you say, ghee does not contain DHA, and has less than 5% of

omega-3s and 6s. Ghee is 15% short/medium chain saturated, 50% long

chain saturated, and 30% monounsaturated. Ghee also contains true

vitamin A or retinol, vitamin D, vitamin K and vitamin E as well as

other naturally occurring cofactors needed for optimum utilisation.

 

I have not found any theories or research on how ghee acts as a

medhya. Gerston (1998) found that humans have poor ability to produce

DHA from the base omega-3, ALA. The conversion rate in a high

saturated-fat diet is about 4%, and this is reduced by 40-50% in a

high omega-6 PUFA diet. It seems to most reliable way to ensure the

body gets DHA is to consume preformed DHA in the diet. Also, Lawson

(1988) found that EPAs and DHAs from fish were absorbed better in a

high-fat diet.

 

The role of DHA has been found significant in ADHD, bipolar disorder,

depression, and shizophrenia.

 

I am hypothesising that ghee plays a part in DHA production, possibly

assisted by vitamins A and D.

 

I would gladly welcome any other ideas or research results on this.

 

Cheers,

Gerald Lopez

Auckland, New Zealand.