Ghee in navel benefits: the old nabhi remedy, honestly explained

The real ghee in navel benefits are small but pleasant: two or three drops of warm ghee soften the dry skin in and around the belly button and make a calming bedtime ritual. There is no scientific evidence that ghee in the navel reaches the lips, eyes or stomach, or treats any illness.

On winter nights in our village, many elders still have one fixed habit before sleeping. They warm a spoon of ghee near the chulha, dip a little finger in it and put a drop into the navel of every child in the house, one by one, as the children lie in a line on the charpai. "Lips won't crack now," they say, and pull the razai up. Most Indian families have a version of this. Ask on any WhatsApp group about ghee in navel benefits and you will get a long list: soft lips, glowing skin, better digestion, sharper eyes, even help with periods and fertility.

We like this ritual, and it is still part of winter nights in our village. We also make and sell ghee, so we think you deserve a straight answer about what it can and cannot do. Here it is, without mocking anyone's dadi and without overselling a jar.

Where the nabhi tradition comes from

Putting oil or ghee in the navel, sometimes called nabhi chikitsa or navel oiling, is a household and folk practice across India. It is usually linked to Ayurveda, where oil massage of the body (abhyanga) is an old and respected routine. The navel idea grew from the belief that the nabhi is the centre of the body, the place where life first entered through the cord, and so the best door for nourishment.

Online you will also find the "pechoti gland", said to sit behind the navel and carry oil to the eyes, lips and organs. It is worth knowing that anatomy books do not describe any such gland. The navel is simply the healed scar where the umbilical cord was attached. It is skin, like the skin on your arm, folded inwards.

Ghee in navel benefits: what people claim, and what science says

Here are the common claims, one by one:

• Soft lips: Dry, cracked lips come from cold, dry air, licking the lips and not drinking enough water. There is no route from the navel to the lips. What does work is putting a tiny bit of ghee directly on the lips at night, which acts like a simple balm.
• Glowing skin: Ghee is a fat, and fats soften dry skin where they are applied. The skin around your navel may feel softer. Your face will not.
• Better digestion and less bloating: Health fact-checkers in India have looked at this one and found no medical evidence for it. A gentle tummy massage can feel relaxing, but that is the massage, not the ghee in the navel.
• Eyesight, periods, fertility, joint pain: No good evidence at all. If you have trouble with any of these, please see a doctor rather than rely on a navel remedy.

So the honest summary is short. Ghee in the navel moisturises the skin it touches. Very little, if anything, travels further in any useful amount, and nothing shows it treats disease.

Then why do people say they feel better?

We do not think they are imagining it. A few real things are happening:

• The belly button collects sweat, dead skin and fluff, and its skin can get dry and itchy in winter. A drop of ghee eases that.
• The ritual itself is calming. Lying down, slowing down, a warm finger on your stomach and the smell of ghee is a pleasant way to end the day. A relaxed body sleeps better, and a person who sleeps better feels better.

None of this is a miracle. It is a small, kind thing you do for yourself, and that is enough reason to keep doing it if you enjoy it.

How to put ghee in the navel safely

1. Clean the navel first with a soft, damp cotton cloth or swab and pat it dry. Never put ghee over dirt or sweat.
2. Warm a little ghee until it is just liquid. Test it on your wrist. It should feel lukewarm, never hot.
3. Lie on your back. With a clean fingertip, cotton swab or dropper, put two or three drops into the navel.
4. Rub gently in small circles around the navel for a minute, and wipe off any extra.
5. Wear an old vest or put a cloth under you, because ghee can stain sheets.
6. In the morning, wipe the area clean while bathing.

Night is the usual time, simply because you are lying still and nothing rubs it off. Two or three drops are plenty. More only makes a mess.

When not to put anything in the navel

Skip it and see a doctor if there is:

• Redness, swelling, pain, a bad smell or any discharge from the navel
• A new or healing navel piercing
• Recent stomach surgery, including laparoscopy, where the cut is near the navel
• A bulge at the navel that grows when you cough, which can be a hernia

And please do not put ghee, oil or anything else on a newborn baby's umbilical cord stump. Doctors advise keeping the cord clean and dry until it falls off on its own. Older babies and children are different, but check with your paediatrician first. We write more about little ones in ghee for babies.

Which ghee is best for the navel?

Use pure desi cow ghee that smells fresh and sweet. Ghee mixed with vanaspati or old, rancid ghee can irritate skin, and you do not want either in a warm fold of skin all night. If you are unsure about your ghee, our guide on how to check purity of ghee covers simple home checks. A good ghee for cooking is a good ghee for this too. You need very little, so one jar in the kitchen covers both.

Desi Cow Bilona Ghee500 ml · 1 litre · 2 litre · 5 litre · free delivery across India

from ₹1,099See the jar

Ghee for skin and lips: what actually works

If soft lips and skin are what you are really after, put the ghee where you want the result. A thin layer of ghee on the lips at bedtime, or on cracked heels with socks on, works far better than a drop in the navel. We go through these uses, and the cases where ghee is not a good idea, in our post on ghee for skin. For what ghee can and cannot do when you eat it, see desi ghee benefits.

The ghee in navel benefits are modest, but keep the nabhi ritual if you love it. It is harmless for most people who follow the cautions above, and it smells of home. If a child in your house likes it, the few quiet minutes at bedtime are worth something too. Just let it be a comfort, not a cure.

This is general information from a ghee-making family, not medical advice.