Golly Ghee: Help Your Stiff Joints
By Sara Butler
In the winter it’s not unusual for you to experience aches and pains from the cold. In the past, your solution may have been to slap on some arnica cream or take a warm bath. A professional massage is great too, but there’s one more item you should add to your list this winter – ghee. That’s right – ghee is moving out of your kitchen cupboard and into your medicine cabinet.
What is Ghee?
Ghee is a clarified butter popular in India and used for a variety of things. It’s mostly used in cooking but is also used in India as fuel for lamps in temples. Cows are sacred in India, and the ghee made from their milk is thought to have medicinal properties. That may sound a bit far-fetched, but if you try rubbing some ghee on your aching and stiff joints then you may just become a ghee believer yourself.
Ghee has been used for centuries in India as a treatment for inflammation applied topically to the skin. It’s also been used as a way to protect the skin and hair from dryness. Yes, its uses go beyond the kitchen!
Treat Yo’ Self
Taking time out for yourself is really important to your overall mental and physical health. In this sense, ghee can be a great way to treat yourself to a little self-care. Taking the time to apply the ghee to your arms and legs is a small thing you can do to help you feel better and relax. The added bonus is the reduction of aches and pains you may be experiencing in your joints.
Do It Yourself Ghee
You don’t have to go out and buy some expensive ghee in the store; it’s actually easy to make yourself. All you need to do is:
- Buy one to two pounds of butter
- Melt the butter on low in a saucepan
- Wait for white curds to separate and sink
- If a drop of water is put in and boils immediately, it’s done
- Run the butter through a strainer and get rid of the curds
- Store in a clean jar, free from water
- No refrigeration needed
There you have it, your own supply of ghee to use as you wish. You can explore ways to use it in your cooking or apply it to your joints after exercise and see what you think. Is it the miracle cure for joint aches and pains that Indians seem to believe it is or will you just have the softest skin on the block?
