If you are a parent or to be a parent who discovered Kaṣhāya out of a desire to give your baby the best, you’ve probably known our baby clothing and accessories are crafted from herbs infused organic cotton. While we may have been among the first few to bring Ayurvedic baby clothing (known as Ayurvastra) to you, in olden days it was a common practice to wrap a baby in Ayurvastra to avoid any bacterial infection.
Let’s explore what is Ayurvastra and its potential benefits for your baby.
What is Ayurvastra?
The word Ayurvastra is the combination of two words, Ayur (Health or healing) and vastra (cloth) – Healing cloth. The concept of Ayurvastra is nothing but including herbs in fabric for health benefits. The organic cloth is infused with Ayurvedic herbs in Eco-friendly processes such that it not only holds colour but also the therapeutic properties of these herbs. You can refer to our blog here to know the Ayurvedic dyeing process.
The most common herbs used in Ayurvastra for dyeing and enhancing fabric include:
Turmeric (yellow)
Indigo (blue)
Neem (beige)
The health benefits of Ayurvastra clothing are experienced through the principle of touch. In Ayurveda, the skin is considered a fence that protects the body and also a medium for outside substances to enter the body. Ayurvastra uses skin as a medium to transfer the therapeutic properties of the herbs to the body that helps to nourish the immune system.
Why Kaṣhāya clothing is perfect for your baby?
At Kaṣhāya, we believe if you cannot eat it do not put it on your skin as a baby chew and suck on anything in proximity. What is closer to them than the clothes they wear. Needless to say, your baby’s skin is like a cushy piece of sponge, which absorbs more of everything it touches. When they are dressed in the Kaṣhāya herb-infused organic clothing, their skin absorbs the therapeutic properties of herbs instead of chemicals in the conventional clothing. The therapeutic properties of these herbs may help to nourish skin.
Below you will find the health benefits of just a few of the Ayurvedic herbs that we use in our natural dyes.
Red Sandalwood
Red Sandalwood is used in Ayurvedic medicine as an antiseptic, skin conditioner, wound-healing agent, and as an anti-acne treatment.
Indigo
In Ayurveda, Neelini Herb or Indigo herb is used mainly as an antidote or as an anti-venom. Neelini is the primary ingredient in providing the blue hue. In ancient India, newborns were swaddled Indigo-dyed cloths to keep the mosquitoes away from the baby.
Turmeric
Turmeric is a natural antibiotic and boosts immunity. Fabric dyed with turmeric helps to heal and soften the skin as it is considered as the tonic for the skin. Yellow hues are obtained from Turmeric.
Pomegranate:
The skin of the pomegranate is rich in Vitamin C and is a natural sun-blocking agent. Moreover, it moistens the skin.
Vetiver
The soothing and cooling nature of Vetiver pacifies inflammation and aids a good night's sleep.
Neem
Neem is revered for its anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and insect repellent properties. The soft buttery brown shade of our Neem dye has been created using every part of this magical plant.
Madder
Madder helps to cure skin allergies, soothes the skin, and is anti-bacterial. This wonderful herb also keeps skin problems away.
Wild Tulsi / Holy Basil
Holy Basil, Queen of Herbs, is rich in antioxidants and other nutrients. Tulsi is a known antiseptic, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-viral which makes it effective in fighting infections.
Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera helps to heal wounds, relieve itching and swelling. It is also known for its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. It is one of the key ingredients that we use in our natural bleaching process which brings off white colour on our yarns.
You can read more about some of these plants in the on our Kashaya Herbs blog series.
We certainly don’t think wearing Kaṣhāya clothing will change your life or cure diseases but there is some health benefit found in exchanging toxins for Ayurvedic herbs.
With love,From two moms