Finally ticked one more item from my to do list. I never ever thought that I would make Kajal at home. This method was not the traditional one, but still I made it so even you can 😉
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While everyone consider Kajal as a part of make up, let me tell you that it’s more than what you think. As per Ayurveda, it serves two purposes. One is to give a coolness to the eyes and thus reducing your excess pitta from body(ropaNa). Second to cleanse your eyes by producing tears and removing the impurities(Śodhana).

How I made the kajal?

I took a small steel diya(mud one is preferred) and filled with pure cold pressed castor oil and added the cotton wicks. I used two small dabbas as stand on both sides and kept one copper plate(mud preferred) on top of it. Lighted the wicks and waited until it completely collected the soot.

Once it cooled down, I scrapped and collected the powdery kajal in a small clean container and added one or two small drops of pure desi cow’s ghee and mixed well. Instead you can add castor oil too. I have heard about burning almonds also for collecting the soot.

There are many many versions of making kajal at home. Some people dip a clean cotton cloth in karisalankanni/kaiyonni)bhringraj(Eclipta Alba), soak it a while and dry it under the sun. This is repeated for 21 day’s and later wicks are prepared out of this cloth and use the same method I mentioned above to make kajal.

My neighbor told me that her grand parents used to make kajal with juice of vettila/paan leaves(betel leaves) and same procedure as above. This is applied to pregnant ladies and after delivery. After applying this, the eyes will be teary and will have a little burning sensation which will be reduced after a while.

Now a little about kajal from Ayurveda –

Descriptive knowledge of Netraroga is mentioned in Uttar-tantra of Sushruta Samhita. It deals with entire study of structure and clinical aspect of the eye. Netra-anjana is one among the Kriyakalpa chikitsas mentioned in the book. Netra-anjana is applying the medicated collyrium with the help of shalaka(applicator) at specific time.
Application of medicine to the internal surface of lid margin from Kaninika Sandhi(inner canthus) to Apanga Sandhi(outer canthus) with Anjana Shalaka is called as Anjana.
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The drugs mentioned for making anjana are Yashtimadhu, Hirada, Haritaki, Devdaru, Goat’s milk,kkBrahati, Shigru, Erand, Saidhav, Suvarnagairik, Pippali,
Shunthi, Snehanjana, Rasanjana, Cow’s milk, fat, Silver vessel, mastu, Kantakari, Sita, Tamrabhasma, Sphatika,
Shankhanabhi, Sugarcane, Til, Breast milk, Black serpent, Rain water, Draksha, Prapaundrika, Darvi,

Pushpanjan, Marich, Matulinga juice, Sariyaka, Kalanusari, Sariva, Human hair, Ghee, Iron Vessel, Bibhitak, Manashila, Kushta, Vacha, Tuttha, Makshika, Lodhra, Strotonjana, Beewax, Honey, Meat juice, Kusha,

Chameli, Meshashringa, Sauviranjan, Palash. The drugs will be chosen according to the person’s prakriti(vata,pitta and kapha).

One should not apply anjana in following conditions –

• Crying
• Tiredness
• Udavarta
• After intake of alcohol
• Anger
• Fever
• Suppression of natural urges
• Diseases related to head
• Ocular conditions like redness of eyes, pain, blindness, excessive lacrimation, pain, swelling.
• On abhyanga days

Anjana can be divided into following types

• According to quality
• According to formulation
• According to action

According to qualities, anjana can be divided into three types

1. Lekhana anjanas – They are mentioned for Kapha predominant conditions. The lekhana anjanas are made of dravyas having kashaya, amla, lavana and katu in rasa.
2. Ropana anjanas for pitta related diseases. It is made of dravyas having thiktha rasa.
3. Prasadana anjanas for vata related diseases. Prasadana anjanas are made of madhura seta dravyas.

According to formulation, anjana can be prepared in various forms like powder, solid and semi-solid(called as choornanjana, pindanjana and rasakriya respectively)

According to action, anjana is classified as theekshna and mridu.

Do you make kajal at home? How do you prepare?
#kajalathome #nochemicalmakeup #anjana #anjanam #ayurveda #makeathome #castoroil #sustainableliving