Ghee for Skin Disease Management and Promoting Gastrointestinal and Cognitive Health

The perception of dairy fats is evolving within the scientific community. Recent studies have unveiled the functional benefits of dairy fats and their fatty acids, spurring scientific interest in ghee – a clarified butter derived from milk. Ghee is a traditional Indian milk product that holds cultural significance and is extensively used in Indian cuisine. It is also a critical component of Ayurveda, India's ancient medicinal system. Ayurveda extensively documents its therapeutic potential, categorizing different types of ghee based on milk source, production methods, maturation, and physical state.

A recent review article examined Ayurvedic texts to identify complementary and divergent aspects between Ayurvedic and modern scientific literature––aiming to uncover research questions and hypotheses for exploring ghee's therapeutic potential. This study entailed curating references to ghee from eleven major Ayurvedic texts spanning over 3000 years. 

Ghee was mentioned 774 times––the most frequent among milk-based products––and grouped into 15 benefit clusters. A review of modern literature from 1990 to 2023 revealed differing health focus areas between Ayurveda and contemporary science. While recent studies emphasized ghee's cardiovascular, wound healing, and skin health benefits, Ayurveda prioritized cognitive health, gastrointestinal well-being, and nourishment—areas of increasing importance as global populations age and chronic diseases become prevalent.

Ghee's use in managing skin diseases is well-documented. PubMed studies indicate that 17% of ghee-related research focuses on skin health – relating positive results for ghee and its botanical infusions in managing skin conditions. Ghee's stability and antioxidant, antibacterial, and antiseptic properties make it effective in skin disease management. In addition, ghee combined with honey in alginate hydrogel aids scarless wound repair, and various ghee-based formulations have shown promising results in treating conditions like vitiligo, eczema, and dry gangrene. Approximately 24% of PubMed papers on ghee discuss its wound-healing properties. Studies highlight ghee's anti-inflammatory effects, promotion of cell proliferation, and improved wound healing. 

In conclusion, the potential of ghee as a functional food and its role in disease prevention and treatment warrant further research. Integrating Ayurveda and biomedicine could optimize ghee's use and develop new health management formulations.

Source:Kataria D, Singh G. Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine. 2024 Jan 1;15(1):100819.