AYURVEDIC BODY MASSAGE OIL
Ksheerabala Thailam
Ksheerabala Thailam, the classical Bala oil of Ayurveda, prepared in milk and a sesame oil base.
Ksheerabala Thailam is one of the most loved classical oils of Ayurveda, its name formed from Ksheera, milk, and Bala, the Sanskrit name of the herb Sida cordifolia. Art of Vedas keeps its composition in the original, simple form: Bala in a sesame oil base, cooked in milk by the classical Sneha Paka method, made for Abhyanga, the Ayurvedic full-body self-massage. This page sets out what the oil is, the classical tradition it belongs to, and the heavy-metal and microbiological test results recorded for every batch.
What Ksheerabala Thailam is
Ksheerabala Thailam is a classical Ayurvedic herbal oil, prepared by Art of Vedas as a body massage oil. It is anhydrous, meaning it contains no added water: a sesame oil base carrying the extract of Bala (Sida cordifolia), with nothing else added and no preservative needed. The milk used in the classical preparation is a cooking medium and is not present in the finished oil. It is made in India under Good Manufacturing Practice, following ISO 22716 principles, and is not tested on animals. It carries a period after opening of 12 months and is offered in 200 ml, 450 ml, 1 litre and 5 litre sizes.
The full INCI list is simple: Sesamum Indicum (sesame) seed oil and Sida Cordifolia (Bala) extract. There are no aromatic or fragrance ingredients, so the oil carries no declared fragrance allergens. The complete ordered ingredient list is given further down this page.
Ksheerabala Thailam in classical Ayurveda
Ksheerabala Thailam takes its name from the classical Ayurvedic literature: Ksheera, meaning milk, and Bala, the Sanskrit name of the herb Sida cordifolia. It is one of the best known of the Bala oils, prepared by the classical Sneha Paka method, in which the Bala herb is cooked slowly into a sesame oil base together with milk.
In the tradition the oil is associated with Abhyanga, the daily practice of full-body self-massage with warmed oil that the classical texts count among the practices of Dinacharya, the daily routine. The oil is warmed and worked into the skin with slow, even movement.
Art of Vedas presents the oil within that classical frame, describing the practice rather than any outcome. The oil itself is offered as the classical Ksheerabala Thailam, kept in its original composition and tested with every batch.
Quality and testing
Tested with every batch
Every production batch of Ksheerabala Thailam is tested before it is released for sale. Two things are checked: heavy metals, by a laboratory method called ICP-MS, and microbiological safety, against the international standard ISO 17516:2014. The figures below are representative results; every batch is retested before release.
Heavy metals
Five heavy metals were tested by ICP-MS. Each one was within the permitted limit for products left on the skin. The right-hand column shows the maximum level allowed under German BfR guidance, so you can see the limit each result sits within.
| Metal | Result | Permitted maximum |
|---|---|---|
| Lead (Pb) | Within the permitted limit | max 2 mg/kg |
| Cadmium (Cd) | Within the permitted limit | max 0.1 mg/kg |
| Mercury (Hg) | Within the permitted limit | max 0.1 mg/kg |
| Arsenic (As) | Within the permitted limit | max 0.5 mg/kg |
| Nickel (Ni) | Within the permitted limit | max 5 mg/kg |
ICP-MS stands for inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, a standard laboratory method for detecting metals. The limits shown are the German BfR guidance values for products left on the skin, in milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg).
Microbiological safety
Microbiological safety is tested against ISO 17516:2014. The overall counts of microbes stay within the limits set for products left on the skin, and the specific organisms that must not be present were each absent.
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Total Aerobic Microbial Count | Within the EU limit |
| Total Yeast and Mould Count | Within the EU limit |
| Escherichia coli (E. coli) | Absent (not found) |
| Pseudomonas aeruginosa | Absent (not found) |
| Staphylococcus aureus (Staph) | Absent (not found) |
| Candida albicans | Absent (not found) |
ISO 17516:2014 sets the microbiological limits; the thresholds for products left on the skin apply to this oil.
Further assurances
- An anhydrous, water-free oil, so it needs no added preservatives.
- A simple classical formula, with no fragrance and no fragrance allergens.
- Made in India under Good Manufacturing Practice, following ISO 22716 principles; not tested on animals.
Full ingredients
The complete INCI list, given in order. The base is sesame oil, carrying the extract of Bala:
Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil, Sida Cordifolia (Bala) Root Extract
Ksheerabala Thailam contains no aromatic or fragrance ingredients, so no fragrance allergens are present or declared. The milk used in the traditional preparation is a cooking medium and is not present in the finished oil; the oil is, however, non-vegan because dairy is used in its making.
Product details
- Net content: 200 ml, 450 ml, 1 litre and 5 litre.
- Period after opening: 12 months.
- Made in India.
Precautions
- For external use only. Do not use internally.
- Avoid contact with the eyes. If contact occurs, rinse with water.
- Keep out of reach of children.
- If irritation occurs, discontinue use.
- Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.
Ksheerabala Thailam: questions on quality, testing and use
- What is Ksheerabala Thailam?
- Ksheerabala Thailam is a classical Ayurvedic herbal oil whose name comes from Ksheera (milk) and Bala (the herb Sida cordifolia). Art of Vedas prepares it as an anhydrous body massage oil, a sesame oil base carrying Bala, cooked in milk by the classical Sneha Paka method, in 200 ml, 450 ml, 1 litre and 5 litre sizes. It contains no added water and no preservative, and is made for Abhyanga, the Ayurvedic full-body self-massage.
- Is Ksheerabala Thailam tested for heavy metals?
- Yes. Every batch is tested for five heavy metals by ICP-MS (inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry). Lead, Cadmium, Mercury, Arsenic and Nickel were each within the permitted limit for products left on the skin, benchmarked against German BfR guidance: Lead max 2, Cadmium max 0.1, Mercury max 0.1, Arsenic max 0.5 and Nickel max 5 mg/kg.
- Is Ksheerabala Thailam tested for microbiological safety?
- Yes. Microbiological safety is tested to ISO 17516:2014. Total Aerobic Microbial Count and Total Yeast and Mould Count stay within the limits for products left on the skin, and Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans are each absent. The product is also made under ISO 22716 Good Manufacturing Practice principles.
- What are the ingredients in Ksheerabala Thailam?
- Just two: Sesamum Indicum (sesame) seed oil as the base, carrying the extract of Bala (Sida cordifolia). There are no aromatic or fragrance ingredients, so no fragrance allergens are declared.
- Is Ksheerabala Thailam vegan?
- No. Ksheerabala is non-vegan because milk is used as a traditional cooking medium in its preparation. The milk is a processing medium and is not present in the finished oil, but as dairy is used in the making, the product is not vegan.
- How is Ksheerabala Thailam used in Abhyanga?
- In Abhyanga, the Ayurvedic full-body self-massage, a small amount of the oil is warmed and worked into the skin with slow, even strokes until absorbed. In the traditional ritual the oil is left to rest on the skin for a time before bathing. It is for external use only; avoid contact with the eyes.
- Does Ksheerabala Thailam contain a preservative?
- No. The oil is anhydrous, meaning it contains no added water, so no preservative is needed or added. The formulation is simply sesame oil and Bala, nothing more.
- Is Ksheerabala Thailam tested on animals?
- No. Ksheerabala Thailam is not tested on animals.
ART OF VEDAS
Bring Ksheerabala Thailam into your ritual
The classical Bala oil of Ayurveda, kept in its original composition and tested with every batch. See the sizes, the full details and availability.
Shop Ksheerabala ThailamResponsible Person and distribution
Responsible Person (EU): Svedica B.V., Herengracht 449A, 1017BR Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
EU Distributor: Authentic Ayurveda d.o.o., Slavka Krautzeka 51, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia.
Ksheerabala Thailam by Art of Vedas: the classical Bala oil of Ayurveda, kept in its original composition and tested for heavy metals and microbiological safety with every batch.
