AYURVEDIC BODY MASSAGE OIL
Lakshadi Thailam
Lakshadi Thailam, a classical body oil of Ayurveda, built on Laksha (lac) with classical herbs in a sesame base, for body massage.
Lakshadi Thailam is a classical Ayurvedic body massage oil named for Laksha, the natural resin of the lac insect, the herb at the heart of the formula. Art of Vedas prepares it in the classical form: Laksha with a group of classical herbs in a sesame oil base, cooked by the classical Sneha Paka method, made for Abhyanga, the Ayurvedic full-body self-massage. This page sets out what the oil is, the classical tradition it belongs to, and the heavy-metal and microbiological test results recorded for every batch.
What Lakshadi Thailam is
Lakshadi Thailam is a classical Ayurvedic herbal oil, prepared by Art of Vedas as a body massage oil. It is anhydrous, meaning it contains no added water: a sesame oil base carrying Laksha (the natural lac resin) together with a group of classical herbs, so no preservative is needed. It is made in India under Good Manufacturing Practice, following ISO 22716 principles, and is not tested on animals. It carries a period after opening of 12 months and is offered in a 5 litre size.
The oil is built on Laksha, the resin of the lac insect, so it is non-vegan. It is not a fragranced oil; its aromatic herbs are minor, and its fragrance-allergen position is confirmed for each batch and set out with the ingredients. The complete ordered ingredient list is given further down this page.
Lakshadi Thailam in classical Ayurveda
Lakshadi Thailam takes its name from Laksha, the Sanskrit word for the natural resin of the lac insect, the chief ingredient of the formula, joined with a group of classical herbs and a sesame oil base. It belongs to the classical oils recorded in the Ayurvedic literature.
It is prepared by the classical Sneha Paka method, in which the herbs and Laksha are cooked slowly into a sesame oil base. In the tradition the oil is used for Abhyanga, the practice of slow, even full-body massage: the warmed oil is worked into the skin, left for a time, and followed by a warm bath.
Art of Vedas presents its preparation of Lakshadi Thailam within that classical frame, describing the practice rather than any outcome, and tests it with every batch.
Quality and testing
Tested with every batch
Every production batch of Lakshadi Thailam is tested before it is released for sale. Two things are checked: heavy metals, by a laboratory method called ICP-MS, and microbiological safety, against the international standard ISO 17516:2014. The figures below are representative results; every batch is retested before release.
Heavy metals
Five heavy metals were tested by ICP-MS. Each one was within the permitted limit for products left on the skin. The right-hand column shows the maximum level allowed under German BfR guidance, so you can see the limit each result sits within.
| Metal | Result | Permitted maximum |
|---|---|---|
| Lead (Pb) | Within the permitted limit | max 2 mg/kg |
| Cadmium (Cd) | Within the permitted limit | max 0.1 mg/kg |
| Mercury (Hg) | Within the permitted limit | max 0.1 mg/kg |
| Arsenic (As) | Within the permitted limit | max 0.5 mg/kg |
| Nickel (Ni) | Within the permitted limit | max 5 mg/kg |
ICP-MS stands for inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, a standard laboratory method for detecting metals. The limits shown are the German BfR guidance values for products left on the skin, in milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg).
Microbiological safety
Microbiological safety is tested against ISO 17516:2014. The overall counts of microbes stay within the limits set for products left on the skin, and the specific organisms that must not be present were each absent.
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Total Aerobic Microbial Count | Within the EU limit |
| Total Yeast and Mould Count | Within the EU limit |
| Escherichia coli (E. coli) | Absent (not found) |
| Pseudomonas aeruginosa | Absent (not found) |
| Staphylococcus aureus (Staph) | Absent (not found) |
| Candida albicans | Absent (not found) |
ISO 17516:2014 sets the microbiological limits; the thresholds for products left on the skin apply to this oil.
Further assurances
- An anhydrous, water-free oil, so it needs no added preservatives.
- Made in India under Good Manufacturing Practice, following ISO 22716 principles; not tested on animals.
- Tested for heavy metals by ICP-MS and for microbiological safety to ISO 17516:2014, with every batch.
Full ingredients
The complete INCI list, given in order. The oil is built on Laksha (lac resin) and a sesame base, carrying a group of classical herbs:
Laccifer Lacca Extract, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil, Withania Somnifera Root Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Cedrus Deodara Wood Extract, Prunus Mahaleb Extract, Cyperus Rotundus Root Extract, Santalum Album Wood Extract, Chonemorpha Fragrans Extract, Alpinia Galanga Root Extract, Anethum Graveolens Seed Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract.
Lakshadi Thailam is a non-vegan oil: it is built on Laksha, the natural resin of the lac insect, and dairy is used only as a cooking medium in the classical preparation (cooked off, not present in the finished oil). The oil carries only minor naturally aromatic herbs; any fragrance allergens present above the labelling threshold are confirmed by calculation for each batch and shown in the ordered ingredient list.
Product details
- Net content: 5 litre.
- Period after opening: 12 months.
- Made in India.
Precautions
- For external use only. Do not use internally.
- Avoid contact with the eyes. If contact occurs, rinse with water.
- Keep out of reach of children.
- If irritation occurs, discontinue use.
- Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.
Lakshadi Thailam: questions on quality, testing and use
- What is Lakshadi Thailam?
- Lakshadi Thailam is a classical Ayurvedic herbal oil named for Laksha, the natural resin of the lac insect, the chief ingredient of the formula. Art of Vedas prepares it as an anhydrous body massage oil: Laksha with a group of classical herbs in a sesame oil base, cooked by the classical Sneha Paka method, offered in a 5 litre size. It contains no added water and no preservative, and is made for Abhyanga, the Ayurvedic full-body self-massage.
- Is Lakshadi Thailam tested for heavy metals?
- Yes. Every batch is tested for five heavy metals by ICP-MS (inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry). Lead, Cadmium, Mercury, Arsenic and Nickel were each within the permitted limit for products left on the skin, benchmarked against German BfR guidance: Lead max 2, Cadmium max 0.1, Mercury max 0.1, Arsenic max 0.5 and Nickel max 5 mg/kg.
- Is Lakshadi Thailam tested for microbiological safety?
- Yes. Microbiological safety is tested to ISO 17516:2014. Total Aerobic Microbial Count and Total Yeast and Mould Count stay within the limits for products left on the skin, and Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans are each absent. The product is also made under ISO 22716 Good Manufacturing Practice principles.
- What are the ingredients in Lakshadi Thailam?
- The oil is built on Laksha (the natural lac resin) and a sesame oil base, carrying a group of classical herbs including Withania somnifera, Curcuma longa, Cedrus deodara, sandalwood (Santalum album) and liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra). The complete ordered INCI list is given on this page. Any fragrance allergens above the labelling threshold are declared in that list.
- Is Lakshadi Thailam vegan?
- No. Lakshadi Thailam is non-vegan: it is built on Laksha, the resin of the lac insect, and dairy is used as a cooking medium in the classical preparation. The dairy is a processing medium and is not present in the finished oil, but as lac resin and dairy are used in the making, the product is not vegan.
- How is Lakshadi Thailam used in Abhyanga?
- In Abhyanga, the Ayurvedic full-body self-massage, a small amount of the oil is warmed and worked into the skin with slow, even strokes until absorbed. In the traditional ritual the oil is left to rest on the skin for a time before bathing. It is for external use only; avoid contact with the eyes.
- Does Lakshadi Thailam contain a preservative?
- No. The oil is anhydrous, meaning it contains no added water, so no preservative is needed or added.
- Is Lakshadi Thailam tested on animals?
- No. Lakshadi Thailam is not tested on animals.
ART OF VEDAS
Bring Lakshadi Thailam into your ritual
The classical Laksha oil of Ayurveda, prepared in a sesame base and tested with every batch. See the sizes, the full details and availability.
Responsible Person and distribution
Responsible Person (EU): Svedica B.V., Herengracht 449A, 1017BR Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
EU Distributor: Authentic Ayurveda d.o.o., Slavka Krautzeka 51, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia.
Lakshadi Thailam by Art of Vedas: the classical Laksha oil of Ayurveda, prepared in a sesame base and tested for heavy metals and microbiological safety with every batch.
