Ghrita (Ghee), Taila (Oil), Vasa (Muscle fat), Majja (Bone marrow) are Chatursneha (four types of unctuous substances).1 Among them Taila(oil) is recommended for Vatavyadhi (Diseases caused by aggravated Vāta Doṣha) and Vata Kaphaja Vyadhi (Diseases caused by combined aggravation of Vāta and Kapha Doṣhas).2 In Sharangadhara Samhita it is quoted that whenever oil is not specific sesame oil is to be used.3 In the present article we have considered mainly Moorchita Tila Taila (processed sesame oil) as it is having wide applications. Moorchana (preliminary purification of Sneha) is the 1st step towards any Snehapaka (Processing of unctuous substances with medicinal drugs) process with main aim to remove Durgandha (foul or undesirable odour), Amadosha (Metabolic impurities) and color changes of Sneha (Unctuous substance) and it also increases potency and imparts good color. Manjishta (Rubia cordifolia)), Haritaki (Terminalia Chebula), Bibhitaki (Terminalia Billerica), Amalaki (Emblica officinalis), Hrivera (Pavoni odorata), Haridra (Curcuma longa), Musta (Cyperus rotundus), Lodhra (Symplocos racemosa), Suchipushpa (Ixora coccinea), Vatankura (Ficus benghalensis), Nalika (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) are used for Moorchana (preliminary purification of Sneha) of Tila Taila (sesame oil) along with the water as Dravadravya (Liquid medium used for processing). This Moorchana (preliminary purification of Sneha) procedure is explained in Bhaisajya Ratnavali.4
Dr. Suma S. Sadar Joshi1, Dr. Bhagyashri Ankali*2, Dr. Padmavati Kulkarni3, Dr. Harish Kulkarni4, Dr. Shweta Naik5 (Mon,) studied this question.