Tila Taila Murchana: Special Processing Of Sesame Oil (Murchita Taila)

Sesame oil is the main base oil used in most of Ayurvedic herbal oils. The general method of preparation of Ayurvedic oil is – mixing the sesame oil with herb paste and herb decoction and cooking all of them together to prepare herbal oil.  On some occasions, milk, buttermilk, herbal juice extracts etc are also added to it, while cooking. 

The formula is already told in traditional Ayurvedic text books and we juts follow them.

Concept of Taila Murchana

The text book Bhaishajya Ratnavali explains, first the oil should be subjected to Murchana process. This Murchana oil is used as base oil along with herb paste, decoction etc to prepare the final oil.
The book explains that doing Murchana process over the oil helps to improve colour, aroma and overall qualities of the oil.
Read related: Why Sesame Oil Is Better For Hair Than Coconut Oil

Sanskrit verse

Ingredients

Ingredients of Taila Murchana:
Tilataila – sesame oil (gingelly oil) – 1 part – 400 ml
Manjishta – Rubia cordifolia – 1/16 Part – 25 g
Haridra – Turmreric – 1/64 parts – 6.25 g
Lodhra – Symplocos racemosa –  1/64 Part – 6.25 g
Jaladhara – Musta – Nagaramotha – Cyperus rotundus – 1/64 Part – 6.25 g
Nalika – Hibiscus cannabinus / Nelumbo nucifera – 1/64 parts – 6.25 g
Amalaki (Indian gooseberry fruit – Emblica officinalis Gaertn) – 1/64 parts – 6.25 g
Haritaki – Chebulic myrobalan – 1/64 parts – 6.25 g
Vibhitaki – Belliric myrobalan – 1/64 parts – 6.25 g
Suchipushpa – Kevada – Pandanus odorifer – 1/64 parts – 6.25 g
Vata Ankura – Ficus benghalensis – 1/64 parts – 6.25 g
Hribera – Pavonia odorata – 1/64 arts – 6.25 g
Water – 4 parts – 1,600 ml
Read related: Sesame Oil, Coconut Oil, Castor Oil, Mustard Oil – Comparison

Procedure

Sesame oil is taken in a clean wide mouthed iron vessel. Heated till frothing subsides. It is taken out of fire. Allowed to self cool.
Take fine powder of herbal ingredients mentioned above, add a little water. Grind them. Prepare paste.
Add this paste to the oil.
Add water.
Start heating this mix till only the oil part remains. Filter. The final product obtained – is called Murchita taila (The oil which has undergone Murchana process).

At the end stage of heating, the regular signs of herbal oil preparation (Taila Paka Lakshana) should be observed. These signs are –
good aroma, good colour
profuse frothing
Lack of sound when the oil or the paste is put on fire.

Purpose

To get rid of bad odor of gingelly oil.
To give good aroma and colour to the oil.
The final product will have reddish yellow colour.
This oil is used as base on for all herbal oil preparation.
Read related: Sesame and Sesame Oil Benefits – Total Ayurveda details

In practice:
This procedure is mentioned only in Bhaishajya Ratnavali and not in ancient Samhitas.
This method is not in wide practice.