Kolkata,India 26 April
2015-The Atharvaveda sacred text of Hinduism is considered to be the first
Indian text dealing with medicine and contains prescriptions of herbs for
various ailments which later formed a large part of Ayurveda.
Indian
Ayurveda is a vast science and is divided into eight different branches(Ashtang
Ayurveda) namely Kaaya chikitsa, Graha chikitsa, Shalakya tantra, Agada tantra,
Rasayan Tantra, Vajeekarana Chikitsa, Shalya Tantra and Baala Chikitsa or Kaumarbhrutya
Baala here means children and Chikitsa means medication.
Ayurveda
has detailed descriptions of maternal and child healthcare. Sushruta in his
Sushruta Samhita had devoted a chapter
to kaumarbhrutya . This was perhaps the first record of Paediatrics in ancient
India.
The
Atharva Veda has descriptions about childrens diseases and kaushika Sutra
included Paediatrics.
Kashyapa
and Jeevaka were well known Paediatricians of ancient India. Kashyapa Samhita
deals exclusively with Paediatrics.
Baala chikitsa
or kaumarbhrutrya is equivalent to paediatrics in modern medicine. This
specialized branch of Ayurvda dealt with the diagnosis and treatment of the
disease of children at prenatal, natal and post natal phases. Baala chiktsa
also dealt with the problems related to pregnancy and child birth and other
aspects of child growth and development.
It also
helped recognize the direct link between the physical and mental health of an
expecting mother and that of her progency. Apart from gynaecology and paediatrics
this branch also meticulously dealt with problem of infertility.
The
science of Ayurveda was so advanced that thousands of years back Charaka the
great physician wrote in detail the care and management of newborn in
Sarira–Sthana and Ashtanga Hridaya. Kaumarbhrutya and Prasuti tantra talk of
prenatal care and also laid emphasis on neonatal care of the baby including
feeding and management of illnesses in children. This included maternal care (
with respect to food, drink, leisure, restricted work, sleep etc.) neonatal care ( cleaning,
dressing, bath ) care of the unbilical cord breast feeding ( including concept
of awet nurse ) ‘annaprasana’ (initial eating of solid food) daily care of
eyes, skin and common symptoms in childhood illnesses.
Charaka
had described growth and progress of foetus in minute details. He had even
mentioned about a technique called ‘Punsanvan vidhi’ for having a child of ones
desired gender, intelligence and constitution.
He also
described treatments for the most common
diseases among children viz. gastrointestinal diseases , teeth disorders,
rickets and many more. Since ages, Ayurvedic preparations have been used to
bulid a healthy body strong immunity and sharp intellect right from infancy to
adulthood that shields them from various kinds of diseases.- # amit.sunrisemirror@gmail.com
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