Biotechnology

Biography

Biography: Bipin J. Agrawal

Abstract

Ayurvastra is a branch of Ayurveda, the ancient 5,000 year old Indian system of Vedic healthcare. Loosely translated, “ayur” is Sanskrit for health, “veda” means wisdom, and “vastra” is cloth or clothing. Ayur-vastra clothing is made from organic cotton fabric that has been permeated with special herbs and oils that promote health and cure special diseases depending upon the blends of embedded herbs and oils. Various natural dyes and herbal products are found to be self-healing when they are applied on the fabrics. Ayurvastra prepared in this way heals numerous diseases. Ayurvastra cloth is used by Ayurveda Health Clinics in the treatment of a broad range of diseases such as diabetes, skin infections, eczema, psoriasis, hypertension and high blood pressure, asthma, arthritis, rheumatism and even some forms of cancer. Ayurvastra clothing is believed to help restore balance within the body’s system and strengthen the immune system. Indeed, the natural dyes are better products, simply because they do not contain chemicals harmful to health. There is a whole spectrum of colours that can be obtained from a multitude of plants, insects and fungi; and these have been used across the centuries to dye textiles, colour artefacts, pattern and colour our skin/hair, and even colour the food we eat. The discovery and use of such colourants has contributed to the maintenance of a strong bond between humankind and nature. Today, it is the time to revive and enhance the use of these natural colourants to protect the environment as well as human health. Some of the natural colours and the hue produced by them on textile substrates are as follows –  Indigo (Isatis tinctoria, Indigofera Caroliniana and the woad plant, Isatis tinctoria) – Blue shades of various depths  Henna (Mehndi) – Green to brown shades depending on the mordants used  Palash/Tesu (Butea monosperma) – Yellow to Orange  Turmeric (Haldar; Curcuma Tinctoria) – Golden yellow to Dark Red (as per media)  Saffron (Crocus sativus) – Yellow to Orange and many others produce variety of shades either directly or in the presence of mordants. These shades are not only pleasant and attractive but they also possess good aesthetic value and in many cases are found to have healing effective for many diseases –  Indigo dye is said to have a ‘cooling’ quality and has, in the past, been widely used for cooling feverish conditions. Indigo possess antiseptic, astringent and purgative qualities. It is also said to prevent nervous afflictions such as hysteria, epilepsy and depression.  Henna has been used as a colourant for over three thousand years and was often mixed into a paste and used to colour skin and hair. It is still widely used in cosmetology for its dyeing properties. It is also proven to have antifungal and antibacterial properties.  Turmeric is a wonder herb which possess numerous curative characteristics. It is anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-allergic, antioxidant, analgesic, antiseptic, digestive properties and is helpful in the healing of would, anemia, cancer, diabetes and many other diseases. The colouration of fabrics using Ayurvastra technology is helpful to cure many diseases, some of which are –  Diabetes – It can be cured by dyeing cotton and other natural fabrics with leaves of Mimosa pudica (touch-me-not), cumin seeds, champa flower, and shoe flower (gudahal).  Arthritis – When natural fibre fabrics are treated/coloured with curry leaves of extract of periwinkle (Littorina littorea; Family Apocynaceae) flowers and worn by the patients, they are found to get relief from arthritis  Skin diseases – The skin diseases can be cured by application of turmeric, neem, sandalwood to the fabrics designed for patients by using Ayurvastra technology  Blood pressure – The blood pressure can be controlled with the use of textiles treated with the extracts of myrobalan (Terminalia chebula) fruits and tulsi (Indian holy basil) leaves Ayurvastra technology is beneficial to the mankind in curing diseases with the help of the medicinal characteristics associated with various herbs. It is environmental-friendly process and the usage of the cloth is based on the principle of touch. By coming in contact with Ayurvastra, the body loses toxins and its metabolism is enhanced. The technology is helpful to cure diabetes, skin infections, eczema, psoriasis, hypertension and high blood pressure, asthma, arthritis, rheumatism, and even some forms of cancer. Today, the revival of this ancient technology is gaining importance all over the world. Other cultures and regions of the world are expressing their growing interest in more traditional and natural healthcare systems that are based upon restoring balance and health through natural methods rather than through Western medicines.