How Mustard Oil in Ayurveda Nurtures Mental Wellness

Yashika Maheshwari
5 days ago
3 min read

On World Mental Health Day, conversations often focus on therapy, awareness, and support systems. But Ayurveda teaches us that balance in the mind is deeply tied to balance in the body—and food plays a central role. One humble yet powerful ingredient that Ayurveda champions is mustard oil. With its warming nature, sharp aroma, and ability to activate digestion, mustard oil doesn’t just make food delicious—it helps stabilise mood, energy, and mental clarity.

Mustard Oil in Ayurveda

Ayurveda has long considered mustard oil (Sarson ka tel) a therapeutic oil, valued for both cooking and external use. Its properties go beyond flavour—they support balance of body, mind, and spirit.

1. Balances Vata & Kapha

Mustard oil is described as ushna (warming) and tikshna (penetrating). According to Ayurveda, this makes it effective in calming vata dosha (responsible for anxiety, restlessness, dryness) and kapha dosha (linked to lethargy, heaviness, and sluggish digestion). By balancing these, mustard oil supports mental steadiness and emotional clarity.

2. Ignites Agni (Digestive Fire)

A healthy agni is central to Ayurvedic health—it governs not just digestion but also clarity of mind. Mustard oil stimulates agni, thus improving appetite, improving assimilation of nutrients, and reducing ama (toxins), which Ayurveda links to mental dullness and mood imbalance.

3. Improves Circulation & Energy Flow

Mustard oil has a natural stimulating quality. Ayurveda prescribes it for massage (abhyanga) to improve circulation, remove stagnation, and enhance prana (life force). Better blood and oxygen flow to the brain supports sharper concentration and calmer mood.

4. Acts as a Rasayana (Rejuvenator)

In Ayurveda, rasayanas are substances that rejuvenate body and mind. Mustard oil, rich in omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E, is believed to nourish tissues, protect against oxidative stress, and promote vitality—key to long-term mental well-being.

Dishes Ayurveda Loves with Mustard Oil

1. Kadhi (North Indian Yogurt & Gram Flour Curry)

Ayurvedic Value: Yogurt (in moderation) calms pitta, while gram flour is grounding. Mustard oil tadka with curry leaves, mustard seeds, and hing stimulates digestion and improves gut–mind balance (Ayurveda says gut health = mental clarity).
Mental Health Angle: Comfort food, light yet nourishing; great for easing anxiety with its soupy texture.

2. Aloo Bharta (Mashed Potatoes in Mustard Oil)

Ayurvedic Value: Potatoes balance vata when paired with pungent oils and spices. Raw drizzle of mustard oil adds heat, aiding sluggish digestion.
Mental Health Angle: Ultra-simple, homely dish — instantly brings back maa ke haath ka khana memories, offering emotional comfort and grounding.

3. Bengali Shorshe Machh (Fish in Mustard Sauce)

Ayurvedic Value: Fish is sattvic protein; mustard oil and mustard seed paste balance kapha, sharpen appetite, and support circulation.
Mental Health Angle: Omega-3 from fish + mustard oil combo = brain and mood booster.

4. Bathua-Sarson Saag (Winter Green Medley)

Ayurvedic Value: Seasonal greens like bathua, spinach, and sarson are packed with prana (life energy). Cooking them in mustard oil keeps their warming properties intact.
Mental Health Angle: Eating with the seasons is grounding — it prevents mood swings and seasonal blues.

5. Achaar (Mustard Oil–Based Pickles)

Ayurvedic Value: Fermented foods in mustard oil improve gut flora, digestion, and energy balance. Ayurveda links fermented foods (in moderation) with improved prana and reduced lethargy.
Mental Health Angle: Pickles add zing to meals, stimulate appetite, and even evoke nostalgia — small joys that lift mood.

Closing Thought

This World Mental Health Day, let’s remember that wellness is holistic. Just as therapy and meditation matter, so do daily food rituals that ground us. Cooking in mustard oil is more than a culinary choice—it’s an act of self-care rooted in Ayurveda.

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