ROLE OF AYURVEDA TOWARDS ANTENATAL CARE

Abstract

Ayurveda has given due importance to each phase of human life, it emphasizes the responsibility of physician towards pregnancy before conception up to postnatal care. Mainstreaming the Ayurveda practice in women health care appears to be the most effective remedial measures to promote maternal health. In Ayurveda Classics there are certain rules and regulations mentioned for antenatal care for healthy progeny in which Masanumasika Paricharya (Month wise lifestyle modifications) is one of them. The main aim of this article is to explain the rationality behind Masanumasika Paricharya according to Ayurveda as well as modern point of view. For this review, the materials collected from different Ayurveda classics, scholarly articles published in different journals and information from internet also referred. Antenatal care in Ayurveda includes standard dietary pattern with life style modification in the form of medicated milk preparations along with different procedures like Abhyanga (oil massage), Basti (medicated enema) and Pathyapathya (do’s and don’ts) also advised to woman throughout the period of pregnancy. These specific measures may be helpful for the proper nourishment of mother and foetus and also to prevent Garbhopaghatakara Bhavas (harmful factor for growth of fetus), increase placental circulation, strengthens muscles tissue which are involve in delivery and to remove the waste metabolic products (feces, urine and flatulence). So we can implicit that Ayurveda acting a vital role in antenatal care and the present review highlights the same.