Ayurvastra

Mukul Arora 2806319

Ayur + vastra
Ayurvastra:
is a branch of Ayurveda.

Clothing made from organic cotton fabric that has been treated with special herbs and oils that promote health and cure special diseases depending upon the blends of embedded herbs and oils.
Garment that ensures better health and long life.

Principle of "Ayurvastra"
Regular contact with a cloth made from the yarns infused with organic herbs and medicinal plant extracts will relieve metabolic disorders and threads a new line of healthy living.

Seven unique layers comprise the skin and each layer has a distinct function.

Seven layers defined by Ayurveda are:

Avabhasini, Lohita, Shweta, Tamra, Vedini, Rohini and Mamsadhara.

Tamra - supports the immune system and performs the function of acting as a barrier. Skin infections reflect an imbalance in this layer. Ayurvastra clothing can improve the skins ability to act as a barrier to external and environmental toxins, as a result the wearers health might get improved.

Ayurvastra for treatment

Can be used for the treatment of diseases like :

diabetes, skin infections, hypertension, asthma, arthritis and also for boosting immunity

Effectiveness of Ayurvastra
It was found through various trials that such an environment can help those suffering from skin diseases, Eczema, blood pressure etc. All these trials showed a marked improvement.

Initiated by Government Ayurveda College

Ayurveda Pharmacology Department conducted a month-long trial by using bedding, rugs and towels made from Ayurvastra and they found that it helped the patients who suffered from diseases like eczema, psoriasis, arthritis and rheumatism.

Initiated by the Ministry of Health, the Department of Coir Development and Government of Kerala.

All clothes, bed linens and mattresses of the patients were dyed in Ayurvastra herbs and the walls, floors and ceilings in the patients room were lined with Ayurvastra coir mats.

The improvements in the health of patients suffering from rheumatism and arthritis indicate that the treatments might have healthy benefits that extend beyond the periphery of skin problems.

Process

There are two processes for making Ayurvastra : 1. Firstly, the yarn is medicated before weaving 2. Secondly, the fabric is dyed after weaving.

Stage I: Raw material selection

Ayurvastra, begins with 100% organic cotton that has been hand loomed no machine processing, no chemical additives to prepare the cotton fibres for spinning and weaving, no chemical finishes.

Stage II: Bleaching

The process begins with the washing of yarn or fabric in natural mineral-rich water and sea salts to remove its natural gums and oils. The selected fabrics or yarn are generally bleached using cow urine.

Stage III: Mordanting

A number of natural mordents are used such as : 1. bark of Lodhra (Symplocos racemosa), 2. Kenduka (Diospyrose ebenum), 3. fruit extracts of Haritaki (Terminalia chebula) Alum clays, Iron clays are also used as mordent.

Stage IV: Medication

The organic cotton yarn or fabric is then medicated in a carefully controlled mixture of herbal medicine preparations called Kashayas. The medicated cloth is allowed to cool and repeatedly washed to remove any loose particles and is always dried in shades.

Stage V. Finishing
In herbal dyeing, finishing is done by sprinkling pure water on the cloth and then stretching under pressure, using hand rolls, Aloe vera, castor oil etc.

Natural herbs used depending upon ailment being treated:1. 2.

3.

For diabetes - touch-me-not, cumin seeds, champa flower and shoe flower are combined For arthritis - curry leaves and apocynceae. For skin diseases - the herbs used are turmeric, neem and sandalwood.

Use of Ayurvastra

The most effective time to wear Ayurvastra clothing is when the body is most at rest. Ayurvastra cloth is often used for sleepwear, bed sheets, towels, meditation clothes and coir mats.

Problems with Ayurvastra

1.

2.
3.

Shade variation. Poor fastness. Limited choice.

Conclusion
Ayurvastra reinforces the importance of sustaining the planet for future generations and for the well being of the current generation using age old practices, which do not add up to global warming but helps in minimizing it. The idea is that immunity levels are raised when using these medicinal textiles and the body reaches a certain mental and physical equilibrium. Ayurvastra is still new and more research needs to be done. But the cloth does seem to show some promise. But for now, the weavers must be patient, and hope that the present trickle of buyers can be converted into steady orders.

Refrences

www.ayurvastra.in www.ayurvastraonline.com organicclothing.blogs.com www.ayurvedam.com www.textiles.kar.nic.in

Thank you.

Any questions ?????