If you've spent any time in a Maharashtrian household, you've probably seen some version of this: a tin of tooth powder by the sink, a small bottle of hair oil that gets warmed before a head massage, a jar of foot cream for cracked heels in winter. These aren't new "wellness" inventions — they're things households have made and used for generations, usually passed down rather than bought off a shelf.
SARWADNYA is what happens when that home know-how gets made properly and sold honestly. It's a range of eight traditional home-care products — tooth powder, hair oil, massage oils, skin packs, foot care, and eye drops — prepared by Pooja Mahila Bachat Gat, a women's Self Help Group in Hingoli district, Maharashtra, under the Mahalaxmi Saras umbrella. None of it is medicine, and none of it is sold as one. It's the same category as the soap your grandmother trusted or the oil your mother rubbed into your hair before a bath — useful, traditional, and worth knowing what's actually in the tin before you buy it.
Here's a plain rundown of all eight, what each one is actually for, and who it tends to suit — with one important caveat upfront: if you have a real medical concern — a skin condition, an eye problem, a joint injury — see a doctor. These are traditional home-care products, not a substitute for medical treatment.
Vajradanti Dant Manjan — herbal tooth powder
A tooth powder made with vajradanti, neem, and amla — the same trio Ayurvedic oral care has leaned on for a long time. It's used the traditional way: a pinch on a finger or brush, worked gently over teeth and gums, then rinsed off. If you grew up with a family member who swore by tooth powder over paste, this is that category, done by an SHG rather than a large FMCG brand. See it here: SARWADNYA Vajradanti Dant Manjan, 30g.
Nirgudi Pain Relief Oil — joint and muscle massage oil
Nirgudi (Vitex negundo) is a plant long used in traditional Indian massage oils, usually paired here with hadjodi and vitamin E. It's meant for external massage on tired joints and muscles — the kind of oil an elder in the family might reach for after a long day of physical work, not a clinical pain treatment. It comes in two sizes: 50g and 100g, so it's easy to try before committing to the bigger pack.
Kumari Ark Hair Oil and Complete Hair Care — scalp and hair
SARWADNYA actually makes two hair products under this name: a lighter Kumari Ark Hair Oil (bhringraj, amla, fenugreek, hibiscus, and coconut oil) meant for a pre-wash scalp massage, and a thicker aloe vera-based Complete Hair Care tonic aimed at dandruff and dryness. If you want the classic "oil it, leave it, wash it out" routine, go for the oil; if dandruff or a dry scalp is the actual complaint, the aloe vera tonic is the more targeted pick.
Nirmal Massage Cream — everyday moisturising cream
A herbal massage cream meant for regular use on face and body — nothing exotic, just a moisturising cream built for a daily routine rather than a special-occasion product. Good for anyone who wants a simple, natural-ingredient cream instead of a mainstream cosmetic brand. Product page: SARWADNYA Nirmal Massage Cream, 50g.
Hydro All Purpose Skin Pack — tan and dullness
An aloe vera and glycerin-based pack aimed at the specific, very common Maharashtra complaint of tanning from sun exposure — neck tan, dullness, and dark patches from being outdoors. Used two to three times a week rather than daily, it's closer to a weekly face-and-body pack than an everyday cream. See: SARWADNYA Hydro All Purpose Skin Pack, 75g.
Pritam Herbal Pimple Pack — face pack for cleansing
Neem, tulsi, sandalwood, and manjistha, applied as a 10–15 minute face pack a couple of times a week. It's a cleansing and cooling pack rather than an acne "treatment" — think of it as the herbal-face-pack equivalent of what a lot of Indian households already do with besan and turmeric, just pre-mixed and packaged. Product page: SARWADNYA Pritam Herbal Pimple Pack, 50g.
Skin Foot Care — cracked heels and dry skin
Made with neem, babool khair, and lokhandi extract, this one is specifically for cracked heels and rough, dry skin on the feet — a real Maharashtra winter problem for a lot of people who are on their feet all day. Apply on clean, dry feet and use regularly rather than as a one-time fix; cracked heels usually need consistency more than a single application. See: SARWADNYA Skin Foot Care, 35g.
Drushti Eye Drop — traditional eye comfort
This is the one product on the list that deserves extra caution. Drushti is a traditional formulation meant for general eye comfort — the kind of relief people look for after screen strain or dust exposure — but anything you put directly in your eyes carries real risk if it's the wrong product for your situation. If you have any existing eye condition, infection, irritation that doesn't clear up, or you wear contact lenses, talk to an eye doctor before using this or any eye drop that isn't specifically prescribed. For everyday, occasional use by someone with no underlying eye issues, it's a traditional product; it is not a substitute for an ophthalmologist's care.
Picking by what you actually need
Daily oral care: Vajradanti Dant Manjan. A pre-bath hair oil routine: Kumari Ark Hair Oil. Dandruff or a dry scalp specifically: the Kumari Ark Complete Hair Care tonic. Tired joints after physical work: Nirgudi Pain Relief Oil. An everyday moisturiser: Nirmal Massage Cream. Sun tan and dullness: the Hydro All Purpose Skin Pack. Occasional breakouts: the Pritam Pimple Pack. Cracked winter heels: Skin Foot Care. Buy by the actual problem you're solving, not by trying the whole range at once.
Who's making these
Every product in this range comes from Pooja Mahila Bachat Gat, a Self Help Group of women in Hingoli district, Maharashtra, operating under the Mahalaxmi Saras network that UmedMart works with. The group prepares, packs, and ships these themselves — it's the same small-batch, traditional-knowledge model behind a lot of what UmedMart carries. If you want the wider picture of how these SHG partnerships work, our piece on rural artisans and Self Help Groups in Maharashtra has more detail.
You can browse the full SARWADNYA range, along with the rest of the Mahalaxmi Saras SHG products UmedMart carries, on the Mahalaxmi Saras collection page.
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