Abstract

ROLE OF AYURVEDA IN PAEDIATRIC CARE -A LITERATURE REVIEW

Akshay Prakash Shikare* and Dattatray B. Chavan

ABSTRACT

Ayurveda is an ancient form of holistic medicine. Ayurvedic perspective on child care is incomparable. The concept of child care in Ayurveda begin from the intrauterine and last up to the stage of puberty. The theoretical and practical applications of child care like Jatakarma paricharya, Swarnaprasan, Lehana Kalpana, Sanskara are described in Kasyapa Samhita. In Ayurveda, Paediatric is all about growing the healthy child from the womb. The pregnant mother should adhere to many principles to give birth to a healthy and smart baby. In Ayurveda, Paediatric lays the foundation of a good life. It gives importance to the physical, mental and psychological growth of a child. If child rearing and child care are carried out according to the rules of Paediatric in Ayurveda then definitely the child will turn into a happy and healthy adults. Childhood is the determinant of the adulthood. A foetus after developing in mother’s womb takes birth as a new-born baby and gradually becomes a man. The resistance of the children are also poor even they can not differentiate the useful and harmful objects so in Ayurveda various Dhupana dravya and Kridanaka are described. This paper intends to mention the role of ayurveda in paediatric care on basis of principles of Kaumarbhritya.

Keywords: Jatakarma paricharya, Swarnaprasan, Lehana Kalpana, Sanskara, Mother’s womb, Healthy children, child care, Child rearing, Kridanaka, Dhupana dravya.