Ayurvastra: The naturally healing garments

Kerela, the hub of rejuvenation therapies, Ayurveda and naturopathy; is fast becoming famous for another healer - the Ayurvastras. The Ayurvastras are garments known to possess healing capabilities and are part of one of Kerala’s healing therapies fast carving a niche for themselves world over.

The healing practices using Ayurvastra, involve the use of natural fibres and herbal dyes. It is based on the use of touch therapy for healing and is an eco-friendly process. According to this practice, such is the natural power of the materials used that the body begins to loose all toxins when it comes in contact with them. The metabolism fastens and the balance of the body systems is restored as the immune system regains its strength.

The healers permeate this cloth with special kind of herbs and oils. It is bleached in cow’s urine, which has great medicinal value and the dyes used are also a mixture of 40-60 ailment specific herbs. It is because of this fact that Ayurvastra is able to help in curing a vast range of ailments especially those related to the immune system. 

Some of the diseases Ayurvastra has been known to be effective against are – asthma, arthritis, diabetes, skin infections, psoriasis, hypertension and rheumatism. Some vital herbs used to dye the yarn for arthritis patients are - curry leaves and apocynceae; while those for skin diseases are- neem and sandalwood.  

The Handloom Weavers Development Society, Balaramapuram near Thiruvananthapuram is one of the manufacturers of such garments. However, they have not been able to get a patent on the product as it has been developed from the ancient method mentioned in Charaka’s Kudipraveshika Chikitsa. The method to manufacture Ayurvastra has been developed by the ancestors of the Kuzhivila family in Kerala. 

Ayurvastra has also undergone clinical trial initiated by the Ministry of Health at the Government Ayurveda College in Thiruvananthapuram. The results indicated that all the people who were exposed to herbs via Ayurvastras for six months showed remarkable improvement, especially those suffering from arthritis and skin allergies. The research was led by Dr Vishwanathan, the former dean of the Drug Research Department at Ayurveda College and was funded with Rs.1 crore by the government in 2005-2006.

Today Ayurvastras are available across stores run by the society in major cities of India including Delhi, Bombay and Calcutta. The society also exports the product to US, Italy, Germany, UK, Singapore, Taiwan, Malaysia, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.

Practitioners advise the use of this garment while sleeping or meditating as this is the time the body is at rest and the mind is peaceful, thus, making it all the more effective. It is at this time that Ayurvastra help restore the balance in the body and strengthen the immune system most.