Eranda Thailam: The Castor Base Oils of Classical Ayurveda

The base is not a detail

A Thailam, the medicated oil of classical Ayurveda, is made by cooking herbs into a base oil over long, low heat until the water has gone. Most of the ones a European buyer meets are built on sesame, and our guide to sesame as a base oil explains why it became the default.

Eranda is the classical name for the castor plant, Ricinus communis, and the tradition treats it as a base in its own right rather than a substitute for sesame. Classical Ayurveda describes Eranda as warming in its Virya, or potency, and the oils built on it are traditionally used in Ayurveda to support Vata, the Dosha, or functional principle, of movement, dryness and irregular rhythm. Our notes on castor oil in Ayurveda and on Eranda Moola cover the plant itself.

How it behaves in the hand

The first thing anyone notices is the weight. An Eranda base is markedly thicker than sesame. It pours slowly, it sits on the skin rather than running off it, and it takes longer to work in. None of that is a fault, and none of it means the bottle has been stored badly.

Three practical consequences follow:

• Warm it first. Stand the closed bottle in warm water for a minute or two. Warmth loosens the oil and makes the massage itself far more comfortable.
• Use less than you think. A small quantity covers a surprising area, because very little is lost to running or dripping.
• Leave more time. A heavier oil is slower to absorb, so twenty to thirty minutes before bathing suits it better than five.

Where it sits in the year

Ritucharya, the classical seasonal routine, places warming preparations in the cooler and drier part of the year, when Vata is most easily unsettled. An Eranda Thailam belongs there. In a European climate that means roughly October through March, and it is the reason many households keep one alongside a lighter sesame oil rather than instead of one.

A common arrangement is an Eranda oil for the lower body and the soles of the feet, and a lighter sesame based Thailam for the whole body. The two sit together comfortably in one routine.

The four we hold

Each is named in the classical manner, after the herbs the preparation draws on, with Eranda naming the base.

• Gandharvahasthadi Eranda Thailam. Gandharvahasta, which translates as the hand of the Gandharva, is itself one of the old Sanskrit names for the Eranda plant, so this oil carries the name of the base it is cooked in.
• Sinduvarairanda Thailam. The name joins Sindhuvara, the classical name for Vitex negundo, with Eranda.
• Nimbamruthadi Eranda Thailam. Named for Nimba, the classical name for neem, and Amrita, one of the classical names for Guduchi, both counted among the bitter herbs.
• Hingsuthrigunam Eranda Thailam. Built on Hingu, the classical name for asafoetida, with Triguna meaning threefold.

All four are supplied by Art of Vedas in 200 ml for external use, and all four are prepared by the classical Sneha Paka method of long, low cooking.

How to use one

The method is ordinary Abhyanga, the unhurried warm oil self massage, and our Abhyanga guide covers it properly. In short: warm the bottle, take a modest quantity, work it in with long strokes along the limbs and circles around the joints, leave it for twenty to thirty minutes, then bathe in warm water. Morning before bathing is the classical timing within Dinacharya, the daily routine, though the evening suits many people better in practice.

Care, and who should ask first

These are external oils. Keep them away from the eyes and off broken skin, and do a small patch test first if your skin is easily provoked. Speak to your doctor or a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner before use if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, if you take prescribed medication, or if the oil is intended for a child.

Frequently asked questions

Is an Eranda Thailam the same as the castor oil sold in a pharmacy?

No. Pharmacy castor oil is a plain single oil. An Eranda Thailam uses a castor base as the carrier for a classical herbal preparation cooked into it over many hours, which is a different article made for a different purpose.

Why is my Eranda oil so thick?

Because that is what a castor base is. It is denser than sesame at every temperature, and it thickens further in a cold room. Standing the closed bottle in warm water for a minute restores it, and nothing is wrong.

Will it wash out of clothes and bedding?

A heavy oil marks fabric more readily than a light one, so use an old towel and give it the time it needs to absorb before dressing. That is the practical argument for the twenty to thirty minute wait rather than a quick rub.

Can I use an Eranda Thailam on the face?

These are body oils and we do not suggest them for facial use. Ayurveda keeps a separate group of lighter preparations for the face, which is where to look instead.

Which of the four should I choose?

If you are new to castor based oils and have no particular preparation in mind, Gandharvahasthadi is the natural starting point, since it is named for the base itself. If a practitioner has named one for you, use that one.

How long does a 200 ml bottle last?

Longer than the same volume of a sesame oil, because you use less each time. Used two or three times a week on the lower body, a bottle commonly runs through a season.