Ayurveda is a traditional and
the most influential form of medicine native to India originating from its
Vedic traditions. It is popularly practiced in many parts of South Asia. It
involves treating people with medicinal plants and herbs with bizarre qualities
to cure their ailments. Ayurvastra is a fabric that is dyed as prescribed in
the Ayurvedic texts, using various natural herbs like neem, tulsi, sida, turmeric,
and sandalwood. These fabrics are permeated with therapeutic herbs, and
aromatic oils. They posses medicinal properties, and are good for skin
problems, headache, asthma, and many other ailments.
Ayur means life and Vastra
means dress. Fabrics made adopting this process ensure healthy and longer life.
Organic cotton yarn, silk, and jute fibres are used in the making of this cloth
by dying them with herbal dyes prepared from medicinal herbs under a specific
temperature and environment. Regular yarns used for making cloth are infused
with extracts of medicinal plants and herbs. After cleaning, the raw yarn is
insulated with a natural gum, and is immersed in medicinal dyes made from
indigo, pomegranate, turmeric or other plants. When this fabric is worn in the
body, it increases immunity, and the body reaches a level of mental and
physical equilibrium.
Roots, seeds, flowers, leaves
and barks of trees of many rare herbs and plants are used to make the dyes. Wild
basil is used in BP clothes, while extracts of tea leaves or khus is used in
sun-screen clothes. Mimosa pudica (touch-me-not) is used for treating diabetes,
and cumin seeds, champa flower, and hibiscus are combined in herbal dyes. Curry
leaves, and apocynceae are used for arthritis and herbs such as neem,
sandalwood, and turmeric are used for skin disorders. Only fire wood is used
for the dyeing purposes. Different firewood is used for different herbs, with a
combination of spring water, natural or ground water. Temperature of the dyes,
blend of herbs, number of times the cloth is soaked in dyes, and the duration
of dyeing differ according to the treatment purpose.
The color of the fabrics is
obtained only by the medicinal dyeing and no other artificial or chemical
colorants are used. This limits the color choice of the buyer, but still its health
benefits outshine the color preferences. Nature has gifted different
varieties of herbs in many beautiful shades which can be seen in the dyed
fabric. The time span the color remains on the fabric indicates the presence of
medicinal properties on the fabric.
Skin is the largest organ of the
human body. As the skin prevents outside substances from entering into the
body, the same way, during some circumstances, it also allows environmental
toxins and chemicals to penetrate the body. By using this fabric, the body
loses its toxins and its metabolism is improved. Wearing this fabric during
sleep, meditation, or while at rest enables the user to get maximum benefits.
