Raksha bandhan is celebrated on the poornima of Shravana month as per the hindu calender. It reminds us of the importance of the brother-sister relationship
Interestingly, in Charaka Samhita, we come across a procedure of Raksha Bandha.
It is told that Raksha Bandha should be done to a Sootika(post partum Mother), which means she should be tied with Rakshoghna Dravya.
It is suggested that a pottali containing Rakshoghna Dravyas such as Vacha(Acorus calamus Linn.), Kushta (Saussurea lappa C.B. Clarke), Hingu (Ferula narthex Boiss.), Sarshapa (Brassica nigra Koch.), Atasi (Linum usitatissimum Linn.), Lashuna (Alium sativum Linn.) and other drugs known to be repellents of "evil spirits" (~microbes), be tied around the necks of the mother and the child.
What do these dravyas do?
Rakshoghna dravyas are the drugs which help in protecting the body from various micro-organisms. Post pregnancy, a puerpural woman's body and the new born baby is very delicate and needs to be constantly protected from various microbes.
There have been some studies done about Rakshoghna Dravyas which are tied on body.
One such study using Kirlian Photography shows the effect of Rakshoghna Dravyas on aura of the person before and after Raksha Bandha procedure. It was found that size of aura increased after Bandhana procedure.
A bigger and stronger aura is sign of good health;
it wards off bad vibrations and even micro-organisms to some extent.
Tying of rakhi on Rakshabandhan is not merely a symbolic representation of bonding in relationship, it is more about the brother and the sister both protecting each other, just like these rakshoghna dravyas. The sister protects her brother from the ill health, and the brother protects his sister from worldly troubles.
May be for this Raksha Bandhan we should come up with Rakhis made of these rakshoghna dravyas and give some real raksha to our health.