Abstract

BREAST FEEDING AND STANYAPANA IN AYURVEDA: REVIEW STUDY

Komal Santosh Chavan*

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Abstract

Adequate nutrition is the first and foremost need of a new born baby. Breast milk is the ideal food for normal neonate. It is the best gift that mother gives to her baby. It contains all the nutrients for normal growth and development of a baby from birth to the six month of age. The health and survival of the New-born depends upon the health status of the mother and her awareness, education and skills. And breastfeeding is the best way to care for neonates. Besides all these advantages there are so many challenges in breast feeding practices which can be overcome by proper guidance and treatment. Importance of breastfeeding is described by both Ayurveda and modern science in detail. Acharyas has mentioned stanya nirukti (definition of breast milk), stanya praman (quantity of breast milk), formation of stanya (breast milk), causes of stanya pravrutti (milk ejection), properties of stanya, stanya dushti lakshan (properties of vitiated milk), dhatri (wet-nurse), dhatri pariksha (examination), stanapan-vidhi (breastfeeding), stanasampat (merits of breast), stanya-nasha hetu (causes of cessation of milk formation), stanyavriddhi dravyas (galactagogues), stanyapanayana (weaning), abnormalities of breast milk and its treatment in detail. This article helps us to explain how breastfeeding is ideal food for baby according to ayurvedic and modern aspects.

Keywords: Stanya, Breastfeeding, Stanya nirukti, Stanya praman, Stanya dusti, Dhatri, Stanasampat, Stanya nash, Stanyavriddhi, Stanyapanayana.