Some time before 1991, while on a tour of the Indian countryside, we observed the village women using clay / mud from the village ponds and river beds to wash and clean their bodies. This opened our eyes to the wonderful qualities of clay and the bounties of Nature that lie around us. Thus commenced our passionate research into Ayurveda – the 5000 year old Indian science of natural living and heal
ing. We researched into different types of clays to understand their therapeutic and beneficial qualities. Each type of clay had its unique quality which it absorbed from its surroundings. The clays in forest ponds were rich with the properties of the medicinal herbs that grew on the edge of the ponds. In virgin forests and hilly areas of India, not inhabited by humans, and along the banks of flowing rivers, medicinal herbs and trees with curative properties grow freely. During the monsoon rains the ponds and water bodies in the forests and hills are fed with the rich herbal and mineral deposits that flow into them, enriching the pond and river bed clays with their therapeutic qualities. These clays are collected and used for Tarika and Mysteribath products. They are first washed and dried in the sun – the natural sunlight plays an important role in many Ayurvedic preparations – it not only has a strong disinfectant and purifying quality, it also energises and enhances the quality of the herbs and minerals. The clays are further purified and enriched with extracts of chosen herbs. Finally, different combinations of Ayurvedic herbs are added to these clays to create Tarika and Mysteribath products.
