What did we use to clean our homes and our bodies before the advent of synthetic options? It is this question and our reflection on this which lead to the formation of Krya. Indic knowledge documents the use of hundreds of indigenous herbs that are safe, non toxic and highly effective for home cleaning. Ayurveda recommends the use of these herbs in various forms to clean, fumigate and uplift the energy of living spaces. Are you looking for clean, non toxic ways to cleanse spaces? Then this presentation is for you.

1. Herb Magic
Or the short story of how human beings
cleaned over the ages.
Sensibly.
From the folks at krya .

2. Sometimes we make the mistake of
assuming that all of human
invention just happened.
And that we lived “primitively” a few
hundred years ago.

3. Like we just invented a soap to bathe with.
(the earliest recorded mention of a soap was nearly 5000 years ago in Babylon).

4. The East, especially countries like India never took to a soap (for reasons we will
elaborate in another presentation). We used herbs and grains to bathe with.

5. Or that we either just wore dirty clothes or disposable clothing until the modern
synthetic detergent was invented.

6. In India, we traditionally washed our clothes near a flowing waterbody. Or constructed
dhobi-ghats like these to do our laundry.

7. This made sense when we were washing with these. Please note I’ve given only 3
examples of the many hundred that used to exist.
Soapberry fruits – Sapindus trifoliatus,
Sapindus mukorossi, Sapindus
emarginatus
Shikakai pods – Acacia concinna
Chiura seeds – After oil extraction, the oil cake is used as a washing soap in certain
communities in Uttaranchal

8. But not any more as we are washing with these.
Synthetic LAB based detergent powder.
LAB is a by product of petroleum.
Also, India has no phosphate regulation in
cleaning products. So some Indian
detergents carry upto 40% phosphate –
this level is regulated to 1.5% in the U.S.
Walls of foam over 6ft high caused by
detergent run-off into lakes in Bangalore.

9. We’ve written a lot more on this.
Here’s where you can start:
http://bit.ly/kryadet

10. Ancient and “primitive” civilisations
knew a lot more than we give credit
for.

11. The medieval Islamic world can pat its back for inventions and discoveries as varied as
different kinds of mills to grind flour, the use of mercuric chloride to disinfect wounds,
the modern guitar, early torpedoes, and varied pottery and cryptoanalysis
There would be no guitar if
it weren’t for the Oud, said
to have been “invented”
atleast 5000 years ago.
We, the Fans, thank you.

12. This is the “Big temple” in Thanjavur. It was consecrated in 1000 AD. This temple
entirely made out of granite has withstood the ravages of climatic change, 6 recorded
earthquakes , one major fireand the passage of 1000 + years and is still standing
strong.

13. The Dogon tribe of Mali, West Africa possess advanced astronomical knowledge. In
1930 were interviewed by 2 french anthropologists. At the time, the Dogon wise man
spoke about the existence of a companion star to the star Sirius. The companion star
Sirius B, a white dwarf, was unknown to modern astronomers and was photographed
for the first time in 1970.
Dogon tribe, Mali.
A picture of Sirius A and B
photographed by the Hubble telescope.
Sirius B is the tiny dot on the left-west.

14. This is the “Indian rhinoplasty technique” as described by Sushruta atleast 2500 years
ago. This technique uses parts of the cheek and the forehead flap to reconstruct the
nose. This technique is still used today and is still called the Indian rhinoplasty
technique.

15. The Sushruta Samhita also describes operative techniques for rhinoplasty, ascites,
removal of kidney stones, removal of metallic splinters using magnets, cataracts, c-
section, osteoplasty, fracture setting and construction of different kinds of sutures
from plant and animal materials.

16. It seems strange that with all these
sophisticated inventions and surgical
techniques being discovered, no one
would have invented a simple
antiseptic for post operative care.
They did. And a very powerful one.

17. I know (or I hope) I am preaching
to the choir.
But I still want to spend a few
minutes on this.

18. Most (All) synthetic products that
we use to clean our homes are
extremely toxic.
And not only when we use them.
They cause great damage as they run off from
our sewage and along the entire way.

19. A few examples.

20. Water wastage Fresh water damage
Eutrophication Animal and plant hazards
Detergents, Dishwash and other LAB &
Phosphate based cleaners
from the folks at www.krya.in

21. Bio-accumulation
Formaldehyde from 1 burning coil can be =
to formaldehyde from 51 cigarettes
Chemicals in mats and sprays
highly toxic to bees, birds and cats
Synthetic mosquito solutions (DEET / DDT, synthetic pyrethrin)
Potentially damaging to neurons
and brain cells
from the folks at www.krya.in

22. Excessive use of anti bacterial and antiseptic products can lead to a rise in antibiotic
resistant bacteria or super bugs. This cross resistance has been documented in lab
studies on Triclosan, a common antibacterial agent found across categories promising
anti bacterial property. Super bugs are resistant to most antibiotics and can cause
great harm.

23. Some natural herb alternatives
And documented properties

24. Disclaimer :
Plants are POWERFUL.
Do not self diagnose and drink /eat any
kashayam or chooranam unless under the
advice of a qualified Aurvedic / siddha
practitioner.

25. Triphala
• Classic antiseptic product documented in
Ayurveda & Siddha
• Made from a specific combination of de-
seeded, sun dried, and finely crushed
myrobalans.
• Triphala uses equal parts of Amla, Haritaki and
Vibhitaki (prepared powder as described
above)
from the folks at www.krya.in

26. Triphala documented uses
• Bhaisajya Ratnavali (the gem of medicinal
formulae) compared in the 19th century by
Govinda Dasji lists the following uses
– Astringent, laxative and antibacterial preparation
– Given for coughs with honey and for constipation with
hot water – (WARNING – please consult a qualified
Ayurvedic / siddha vaidyar before internal
consumption)
– Used in conjunctivitis as a decoction to clean and
wash the eyes
– A decoction of this churna can be used to wash and
clean wounds and ulcers
from the folks at www.krya.in

27. Triphala external uses
• Can be directly used to wash hands and feet
instead of synthetic antiseptic products
• Can be used as an antiseptic dusting powder
on open wounds (after cleaning)
• The decoction can be used to clean wounds
and disinfect them; also to wash the eyes
• The decoction can be used along with natural
cleansing herbs like soapberry and shikakai to
deep clean your home,
from the folks at www.krya.in

28. Triphala availability
• Triphala churan or Triphala chooranam is a
shastric medicine (formulation given in classic
texts)
• Can be bought from any ayurvedic brand or at
IMPCOPS
from the folks at www.krya.in

29. Some other cleansing herbs
• Soapberry (Sapindus mukorossi / trifoliatus /
laurifolius)
– Natural surfactant pericarp
– Saponins have both anti bacterial and anti fungal
property
– Makes an excellent detergent, vessel cleaner and
surface cleaner (and personal cleanser)
– Can be used to scrub and deep clean floors and
tiles when sludge removal is needed.
from the folks at www.krya.in

30. Some other cleansing herbs
• Shikakai (Acacia concinna)
– Natural surfactant pericarp (lower than soapberry)
– Excellent anti fungal property
– Makes a good addition to soapberry to scrub and
clean floors and surfaces
– Can also be used to wash hands and feet
especially in combination with antiseptics like
triphala
from the folks at www.krya.in

31. Some other cleansing herbs
• Henna (Lawsonia inermis)
– Excellent anti fungal property
– Can be used for personal cleansing
• Vitex Negundo (Nochi)
– Strong cleansing, disinfectant and vata balancing
property
– Decoction can be used for disinfectant bath, surface
scrubbing
– Dried leaves can be used for fumigation of rooms to
repel mosquitoes
from the folks at www.krya.in

32. Some other cleansing herbs
• Eucalyptus (Regular and citriodora)
– Strongly cleansing and disinfecting
– Essential oil has excellent anti bacterial, anti
inflammatory and anti infectious properties
– Use liberally to cleanse surfaces, fumigate, and
cleanse homes
– Oil can be used as an infusion in warm water, aded to
mopping liquids and added to washing machine in the
last rinse for added sanisation
– Look for steam distilled authentic oil from high quality
leaves (organic if possible)– often comes adulterated
with turpentine oil
from the folks at www.krya.in

33. Some other cleansing herbs
• Eucalyptus (Regular and citriodora)
– Also excellent to drive away silverfish (repel not
kill)
– Also helps remove fresh green mould attacks on
clothing and fabric furniture
• Sponge off mould directly with a buff cloth moistened
with pure eucalyptus oil
– Mould prevention
• mix about 50 ml of eucalyptus oil in 1 litre of water and
spray problem areas regularly
from the folks at www.krya.in

34. Some other cleansing herbs
• Tea tree
– Essential oil is a powerful disinfectant ; much
stronger than pure carbolic acid
– Add under 10 drops in 500 ml of water along with
eucalyptus and use to disinfect surfaces
– Can also be added as last rinse to laundry
– A few drops mixed in coconut oil makes another
excellent anti fungal oil
from the folks at www.krya.in

35. Some other cleansing herbs
• Sweet flag (vasambu)
– Dry rhizome of Acorus calamus
– Rhizome is emetic, stomachic, expectorant,
antibiotic and insecticidal
– Excellent in keeping crawling insects at bay
(cockroaches, silverfish)
– Can be used as a powder in a potpourri in
cupboards or made into a stronger spray-able
decoction to repel insects
from the folks at www.krya.in

36. This is merely the tip of the
iceberg
India numbers thousands upon
thousands of indigenous plants, some
found only in distinct geographies

37. Almost every single cleaning or
disinfecting need can be tackled
naturally
And sustainably.

38. Are you still going to reach for that
bottle of antiseptic or bleach?

39. Are you still going to reach for that
bottle of antiseptic or bleach?

40. from the folks at www.krya.in

41. Nandri.
From the folks at krya.

42. about krya
We make absolutely awesome, light on the planet, plant based, vegan
and cruelty free home and personal care goodies that work.
We make natural goodies to clean your home, take beauty baths
with, wash your hair to a shine sans dandruff or hair fall and help
you wash your face with super gentle and super effective herbs.
And we make them ourselves at our super eco factory in Chennai
courtesy our superhero team.
Check us out on www.krya.in .
Thanks so much!
from the folks at www.krya.in