Tired of burning insect repelling coils, polluting the air with toxic bug sprays and lotioning up with toxic chemical based pesticides throughout the year, especially in the summer and rainy seasons? If so, why not trade in your N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide and 2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperidinecarboxylic acid1-methylpropyl ester) based insect repellent solutions for something a little more natural, a bit more eco and human friendly, and a lot easier to read. With the threat of Lymes Disease and other bacterial viruses that mosquitos can carry, protecting your family and environment has never been more necessary.
Indigo is a leguminous shrub that when cultivated, produces a beautiful organic dye used not only for creating rich colors on fabric ranging from deep purple to light blue (denim jeans), but for light absorbing qualities, and protecting humans from nagging mosquitos, snakes and ticks with its natural insect repellent qualities too.
For ages, ancient cultures and civilizations swaddled newborn babies in indigo dyed cloths (India)and dipped farming pants in cauldrons full of dark blue to keep the pests away while working in the rice fields of China. Indigo dyed mosquito netting kept the blood suckers away while Egyptian Queens slept, and was used to enhance the 3rd chakra and subdue the suns rays on traveling nomads in the Sub Sahara Desert. Even today in many 3rd world cultures, the natural growing indigo plant with its organic based properties still serve to provide the same benefits as it did hundreds of years ago. And in areas where the plant is not as prevalent, science has found ways to recreate through synthetic applications, the powerful indigo dye. While mosquitos and biting pests are welcomed to continue to serve their higher purpose in maintaining orde
r and balance on the planet Earth as a whole, we certainly are not obligated to extend the invite of these nagging bugs into our homes or on our flesh.
The next time you come across traditional indigo dyed material, stop and pick up a yard or two. Better yet, dye your own at home. For curtains, netting, garments, tents, sleeping bags and bedding, indigo can offer not only a beautiful rich palate and stylish appeal, but a protective property too.
For human/eco friendly insect repellents that you can use on your body, try these following natural growing plant based options:
* oil of lemon eucalyptus - Reapply every 5 hours. Not for use on children under age 3.
* oil of citronella - Used often in candles. Available as skin application.
Labels: dyeing, dyes, indigo, indigo-dye, insect-repellent, lyme disease, natural-dyes, natural-insect-repellent
I once read on old folk story about a group of holy sages in India who spent their lives creating havans and doing spiritual work for their Creator. Because of this sacred purifying fire ritual, they wore protective garb made from textiles dyed in cows urine to make the fabric fire retardant and fire repellent. In order to create a urine with these properties, the sages practiced a protocol of keeping the cows hungry for a few days and feeding them only fresh mango leaves. Afterwards, the first urine collected was used to dye the selected fabric. Now, I've heard of fire retardant applications and even used fire retardant spray myself, but cow urine as a fire retardant, now that is news to me!
Seems cow urine serves not only as an extinguisher of fires so to say, but an antiseptic, a fertilizer, a source of fuel, and an oddly refreshing tea too. In the Indian culture, they worship the gentle cow as the most sacred of all animals. Given the names Kamaduh and Surabhi, the cow represents the sustaining vital and productive principles. With so many ancient and modern day uses, it is no wonder the cow of India spiritually represents the fructifying power in nature....the Divine Mother of all.
The Indian culture is not the only one that revers the cow in such a way.
While more sacrificed than honored, here in America the cow is a vital source of red meat and diary for millions of men, women and children.
Among the Scandinavians, the divine cosmic cow was called Audhumla and each of her utters represented flowing rivers of milk that provide sustenance to all the beings that followed.
In Vedic history, the cow is a symbol of abundance and fertility as it represents both earth and sky.
Finally, in Ancient Egyptian scrolls, the goddess Nut is depicted with the cow having four stars on its belly representing the four corners of the Earth, again reflecting both its nourishing and sustaining qualities available for all of Mother Earths children.
So next time you are needing an application to meet the fire code for your publicly displayed textile or looking for a natural way to keep your raw materials and crafted fabric projects from burning, look for some pre-packaged cow urine in your local market or fabric store to save the day. If you can miraculously find it, take a deep breath and hold. In the end, it will certainly be alot safer, more eco-friendly and less expensive than the chemical spray or paint we have come to rely on.
Now if only we could get past the pungent odor lingering in our memory banks!
Posts by J&O
Fabric StoreLabels: cow-fabric, cow-urine, cow-urine-dye, dallas cowboys, fire-repellent, fire-retardant, natural-dyes, natural-fire-retardant