Herbal Oils & Balms

How to read an oil before you buy it

Thailam means medicated oil, and the making is slow: herbs are decocted and cooked into the base repeatedly until only the oil remains. That is why a small bottle costs what it does. Kairali has made these in Kerala since 1908, and the method has not much changed.

One point matters more than the rest. Ksheerabala 101 and Gandha Thailam are classically taken internally, in small measured doses. Anu Thailam is a nasal preparation. Jatyadi is a dressing. The route is stated on every product page — read it rather than infer it from the form, and ask a physician wherever the direction is unfamiliar.

Three things that separate one oil from another

1. The base — Coconut keras are the Kerala tradition and set solid in a cold room. Sesame thailams stay pourable and travel better.
2. The route — Applied, nasal, or internal. The single most important line on the label, and not predictable from the name.
3. The size — 200ml suits a household. The five-litre drums are made for clinics and therapy rooms.

See also Joint & Muscle, Hair & Scalp. Kairali has made Ayurvedic formulations in Kerala since 1908.

Always read the label and directions on the pack you receive, and speak with your physician before starting anything new — particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, managing a health condition or taking prescription medicine.