In the age of conscious eating and holistic wellness, oils are no longer just cooking mediums they’re functional foods. And if you’re someone who follows or respects Ayurveda, you’ve likely come across two popular terms: woodpressed oil and cold pressed oil. While both sound healthy and natural, they’re not the same and when it comes to Ayurvedic alignment, one clearly stands out.
First, What’s the Difference?
Cold pressed oil is extracted by mechanically pressing seeds or nuts at low temperatures (typically below 49°C or 120°F). This method retains most of the oil’s natural nutrients, antioxidants, and flavor. It’s a modern, industrial technique that avoids heat and chemicals.
Woodpressed oil, on the other hand, is a traditional Indian method where oil is extracted using a wooden churner (lakdi ghani or mara chekku). The wooden pestle rotates slowly (around 4–7 RPM), generating minimal heat and preserving the oil’s nutritional integrity. It’s technically a type of cold pressing but with a cultural and Ayurvedic edge.
What Ayurveda Says About Oils
Ayurveda doesn’t use the term cold pressed because it’s a modern concept. But it does emphasize how oil is extracted, its pranic value (life force), and its compatibility with the doshas (Vata, Pitta, Kapha).
According to Ayurvedic texts, oils should be:
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Extracted without heat or chemicals
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Free from rancidity or oxidation
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Sattvic (pure, life-enhancing) in nature
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Suitable for internal and external use (cooking, massage, nasya, etc.)
This aligns more closely with woodpressed oils, which are made using slow, mindful methods that preserve the oil’s ojas-building qualities.
Why Woodpressed Oil Is More Ayurvedically Aligned
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Low RPM = Low Heat = High Prana Woodpressed oils are extracted at very low speeds, which means they generate almost no frictional heat. This helps retain the oil’s pranic energy, which is essential in Ayurveda for nourishing tissues and supporting digestion.
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Wooden Pestle Preserves Integrity Unlike steel expellers, wood doesn’t react with the oil or seeds. It also absorbs excess heat, preventing nutrient loss and oxidation. This makes the oil more sattvic and suitable for therapeutic use.
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Traditionally Used in Panchakarma Oils like woodpressed sesame, coconut, and mustard are used in Ayurvedic therapies like abhyanga (massage), basti (enema), and nasya (nasal oiling). These oils are preferred because they’re pure, unrefined, and energetically balanced.
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No Chemical Interference Woodpressed oils are typically unrefined, unbleached, and preservative-free, making them ideal for Ayurvedic cooking and rituals. Cold pressed oils, especially mass-produced ones, may still undergo filtration or mild refining.
What Modern Science Says
Scientific studies support many Ayurvedic claims. Both cold pressed and woodpressed oils retain:
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Vitamin E
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Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids
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Polyphenols and antioxidants
However, woodpressed oils often retain more flavor, aroma, and micronutrients due to the slower extraction process and absence of metal contact. They’re also less likely to be oxidized or rancid, especially when stored in glass bottles.
Which Oils Are Best in Woodpressed Form?
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Sesame Oil: Ideal for abhyanga, oil pulling, and Vata balance
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Mustard Oil: Great for winter cooking, massage, and Kapha detox
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Coconut Oil: Cooling, nourishing, and perfect for Pitta pacification
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Groundnut Oil: Balanced and suitable for daily cooking
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Black Sesame Oil: Used in nasya and joint therapies
These oils, when woodpressed, are closer to their Ayurvedic roots and retain the qualities described in classical texts.
Conclusion
If you’re choosing oil purely for nutritional value, both cold pressed and woodpressed oils are better than refined oils. But if you’re choosing oil for Ayurvedic use, therapeutic rituals, or sattvic cooking, woodpressed oil is the better choice.
It’s not just about temperature it’s about intention, tradition, and energy. Woodpressed oils carry the essence of how food was meant to be prepared: slowly, mindfully, and with respect for nature.
