|
Some
common diseases found in women
Breast
Feeding
It
is an infant's privilege and a mother's pleasure to breast-feed.
It is a natural phenomenon, which benefits both the mother
as well as child and should not be avoided. Ayurvedic scholars
have praised breast feeding and mentioned many advantages
of the mother's milk in the ancient scriptures.Brest feeding
is a best method to give the love to the child. This makes
also the mother a total. A child understands the mother through
breast-feeding. In ayurveda breast milk is called as nectar.
Each breast should be considered as the knowledge pots for
the child.
Following
facts about lactation support this comparison.
Mother's
milk is naturally sterile and it protects the baby from many
infections and diseases.
It is always available at right temperature, suitable for
the child.
Mother's milk serves as a good store of IgA ad lectoferrin,
which is not available in such a high concentration in any
other milk. It increases the immunity of the child against
a variety of bacteria and protects the infant from many diseases.
Various digestive enzymes present in human milk make it more
suitable and easily digestible for the baby.
Milk lactose present in the milk inhibits growth of E. coli,
and poliovirus, thus protecting the baby.
Ayurveda describes its Vata-Pitta-Kapha dosha qualities on
the milk and blames the mother's diet for any health problems
in the child. This is because breast-milk is Upadhatu of Rasadhatu
and is directly influenced by the quality of Rasadhatu which
in turn is made up of the food we eat.
The
quality of milk produced can be assessed very easily. Let
a drop of milk fall into a container of water. If it disperses,
the milk is of good quality; if it sinks, it is heavy with
Kapha (hence, Kapha provoking items have to be removed from
the diet) If the milk floats, it is because of the airy Vata
(the child will pass gaseous stools and suffer from gripes).
Dashmoolarishta in this case is the herb of choice. If Pitta
is in excess, it will tinge the milk yellow. Shatavari is
the herb given to the mother for excess Pitta.
Diet
For Feeding Mother
Regular
intake of the canned foods, hot, pungent, and spicy food recipes
should be avoided, as these decrease milk secretion.The best
diet for a nursing mother is a simple, bland vegetarian menu.
Also, Ghee and oils should be taken in adequate amount to
improve digestion, facilitate the evacuation of bowels, nourish
the traumatized tissues, and subdue the vitiated Vata Dosha,
which gets aggravated during the process of childbirth.
Exposure to polluted and infectious climatic conditions should
be avoided, since any infection to the mother during lactational
period can be easily transferred to the child.
Care should be taken while taking drugs during lactation,
since many drugs are excreted through mil and might exert
an adverse effect on the baby.
Breast-feeding should be stopped in cases of breast abscess,
when milk is infected. It should be squeezed out and discarded
to avoid further congestion.
Even when there is profuse milk secretion, semi solid food
should be started from the age of 4th month. Gradually, breast-feeding
should be stopped and the child should be given solid food
from the age of one year. This is known as weaning and is
described in the Ayurvedic texts as Annaprashan Samskara.
The first food item given to the child should be semi solid
paste of well-cooked rice with sugar and cardamom. Initially,
only ½ to 1 tsp of the food should be given. Gradually,
over months, the quantity should be increased and by 10-12
months, regular solid diet should be started.
If milk secretion is more than what is required by the baby,
extra milk should be squeezed and discarded, otherwise it
can cause congestion and result in the formation of the breast
abscess.
Useful Tips
If
your breast milk is scanty, try this mixture of almond milk
and herbs, soak ten almonds in water overnight. Then peel
them, put them in a blender, add a cup of hot milk and puree
them. Pour the almond milk into a glass and stir in a pinch
each of ginger powder, cardamom and saffron and a teaspoon
of date sugar (available in most health food stores) or honey.
Drink this twice a day, morning and evening, to help strengthen
the quality and quantity of your breast milk.
Women with pitta or kapha doshas drink three to four cups
of pomegranate juice (available in most health food stores)
daily to regulate lactation. Vata women should avoid pomegranate
juice since it can aggravate Vata dosha.
Powder of Asparagus recemosus (Shatavari) should be taken
in the dose of 1 GM daily along with milk to maintain the
quality of lactation. Shatavari Kalpa is a formulation very
useful as ‘ galactagogue ’ for mothers after delivery.
Its regular use is very helpful in maintaining quality and
quantity of milk.
Other generic preparations of Asparagus recemosus (Shatavari)
and Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) such as Shatavari Ghrita,
Ashvagandhadi Churna, etc., can also be taken for maintaining
the quality as well as quantity of milk.
For the cases of cracked nipple, local application of 'Shatadhouta
Ghrita' on the affected nipple is very useful.
|
