Garbhini Paricharya

Pregnancy and childbirth have a great significance in the life of a woman. During this period, a woman needs great care and attention from her family members, especially her mother and husband. Ayurveda brings to a pregnant woman and a new mother the warmth and security of Mother Nature. The Ayurvedic texts like Garbhini Vyakaran discuss the possible diseases during pregnancy with appropriate treatments, the dietary principles to be followed, rules regarding the activities and the mental behavior and so on.

Ayurveda lays down the four stages of pregnancy as

1. Prajayini (First Stage)
2. Upasthita Prasava (Second Stage)
3. Prajayi Syamana (Third Stage)
4. Apara Patana (Fourth Stage)

There is a suggested protocol for every pregnant woman in Garbhini Paricharya (pregnancy care). It draws out a plan for ahar (nutrition), vihar (life style) and vi char (thought process) to be followed during the different stages of labor. This plan is devised for the well being of the mother as well as the child. In fact, in Ayurveda the child care starts before its conception. Great care is advised during the first three months and after the seventh month. While doing this, Ayurveda pronounces the use of any medicine which is recommended only if there is a medical condition. Ayurveda also warns against smoking and drinking and any sexual activity after the fifth or the sixth month as it can lead to fetal abnormalities.

The Diet

She should follow a nutritional and wholesome diet enriched with all the six rasas (tastes). She may a eat little but often. She should eat six times if she generally eats four times. She may not fast or bloat the stomach. Food should be tasty, natural and without chemicals or preservatives. It should not be very solid but moist and easy to digest. Home made food is always recommended. Constipation and indigestion during pregnancy are common and to be foreseen. An early and mild dinner is advocated. The use of fluids like milk, juices and coconut water is highly recommended.

• A pregnant woman should always be happy and not listen to or witness unhappy events.
• She should always be neat, clean and well-dressed. She should wear loose and comfortable garments.
• Needless to mention that she needs to be in a clean and hygienic environment.
• She should get good sleep in the night and avoid sleeping in the day time.
• A mother-to-be woman should not remain bending for a long time or lift heavy things.
• She is warned against bumpy rides and wandering alone and into remote areas.
• Panchakarma during pregnancy is forbidden.

If a garbhini (pregnant woman) suffers from constipation mild laxatives can be taken. Otherwise, may use oil enema. In most cases, a  cup of warm milk before going to bed may solve the problem. Ayurveda foresees a few medical conditions as a part of pregnancy: nausea, anorexia, vomiting, dryness of mouth, fever, o edema, anemia, diarrhea and retention of urine. However, Ayurveda does not support any kind of medicines other than mild herbal ones.
Ayurvedic care is religiously followed in many parts of India during pregnancy and puerperal period for a healthy posterity.

-Aparna K V

Tags: obesity, herbal, homeopathic, acupuncture, chinese, Ayurvedic, blood pressure, remedies, herbs, asthma

I am late!

Monsoon has already struck its favourite parts in India with great zeal and enthusiasm. Can’t ignore the bumpy splashy precarious rides on the motor bikes through the heavy rain dressed up like an astronaut. Can’t forget the tricky rains which pour out only while you leave for office or while coming back.

The Edavappathy or Kalavarsham in Kerala (south-west monsoon) begins just when your school reopens after summer vacation. Though a rain is welcome in the blazing heat, it comes along with its closest chums, discomforts and ailments. The most common diseases of the season are the water borne and gastrointestinal illnesses. Typhoid, diarrhea and jaundice in union with malaria, chikungunya and dengue (thanks to mosquitoes) pester men far and wide. Not to forget dysentery, conjunctivitis, asthma, arthritis and the skin diseases arising from unhygienic water-logging. The schools echo the coughs of little children troubled by viral fever and colds.

The monsoon brings a sudden change in the weather. It is a quick change from heat to cold and humid conditions. So be careful!

The People

-Eat light to avoid intestinal disorders. You would not want infections.
-Drink only boiled or filtered water. During cold seasons, we have a tendency to drink less water. But water is important even then to improve digestion and to prevent water-retention.
-Avoiding eating out as far as possible.
-Wash and boil vegetables well.
-Avoid cold drinks and cold food to avoid displeasing Vata (dosha ).
-Keep yourself warm especially if you have arthritis or asthma.
-Do not sit for long in school or office with wet clothes on. Always have replacements handy.
-Children should avoid playing in the water on the road sides.
-Take proper bath after any outing and use antibacterial lotions.
-Do not walk outside during lightning and thunder. Your family knows that you are brave and you don’t have to prove it.

The House and the Environment

-Clean the house well to avoid mild dew.
-Avoid spending too much time in the place where you dry your wet clothes.
-Keep down the humidity level inside the house by giving proper ventilation.
-Keep your surroundings clean and no water-logging to breed mosquitoes.
-Clean unnecessary plants from your garden even before monsoon.
-Clean any fungus on the wooden furnishings. This might trigger off allergies.
-Check for electric cables and broken wires in the neighbourhood and alert the authorities to avoid dangers.
-In addition, do not leave electric appliances plugged in.
-Do not use electric appliances or telephone during thunder and lightning.

I used to hate going to school during the rainy seasons. I knew I can compromise with the raincoat and the umbrellas but not with my wet shoes and socks which beget me an itchy feet. Salutations to the class teachers and principals who are unusually strict on the children reaching school on time and in full uniform.

I am glad those horrible times are over for me.

-Aparna KV

Tags: Natural Cures, Ayurvedic Medicine, Kitchen Tips, Natural Remedies, Herbal Supplements

I just attented a wonderful 2 day workshop organized by Associated Chambers of Commerce, Ayurvedic Drug Manufacturers Association of India and National Medicinal Plants Board. The workshop was about promoting herbs, herbal products and Ayurveda in USA and western countries.

I am taking first step in my own way to demystify Ayurveda for those who are still wondering….

Some Facts about Ayurveda :

• Ayurveda is a combination of two Sanskrit words : "Ayu" meaning life, and Veda meaning "Science/Knowledge". Therefore Ayurveda, literally means Knowledge of Life.
• Indians believe that Ayurveda originated more than 5000 years ago around the time of Ramayana, the great epic of Indian Gods which itself is several millenia old.
• Ayurveda was discovered by Lord Dhanwantri, the physician of the Gods.
• Ayurveda was brought to the human race by Lord Charaka who wrote the "Veda" or treatise by the name of "Charaka Samhita"
• Lord Sushruta, later, wrote his own compendium called the "Sushruta Samhita" which has several amendments from that written by Charaka.
• Ayurveda is a combination of Yoga and Herbal Science, where it delves into medicinal properties of herbs and their effect on the Human body.
• More than 4000 herbs are manuscripted and detailed in Ayurveda, out of which 1000 are commonly used in modern-day supplements and medicines. Throughout the ages, many different types of poly-herbal formulas have been discovered, tried, tested and perfected.
• Ayurveda also details different methods of preparation and processing of these herbs, such as - roasting them in ghee (Clarified butter), fermenting them to make wines (Asavas), preparing their concentrated powdered extracts (Qwaths) etc. Some of the Ayurvedic preparations are known as Bhasmas (calcined metal ores), Lehyams (decoctions), Vatis (Tablets), Choornas (Powders), Rasas (Juices) etc.
• Ayurveda also deals with various naturally-occuring minerals (Dhatus), for example - Shilajit
• In addition to the herbs it uses, the secret of Ayurveda lies in the therapies …. most importantly, the Panchkarma Therapy. The Panchkarma is a five-part process which aims to detoxify and purify the whole body.
• Ayurveda tries to define each problem or disorder in terms of imbalance of Doshas. You can find out your Dosha here .

American Herbal Products Association and ADMA have signed up a pact to make each other aware of the trends in the herbal industry and to educate people in USA about how safe Ayurvedic medicines can be.

Regards, Puneet