Breast Milk and Breast Feeding – An Ayurveda Outlook W.S.R. To World Breast Feeding Week

Abstract

Breast milk feeding is the right of every mother and newborn. Unquestionably breast milk is the complete food as well as remedy for newborn babies. Ayurveda system of Indian medicine, not only emphasized on the quantity of breast milk but also on the quality of breast milk, through the process of breast milk purification (Stanya Shodhana). According to Ayurveda breast milk gets vitiated with Dosha (houmer viz. Vata, Pitta and Kapha) and causes different diseases including growth and developmental disorders. In order to treat those diseases, purification of milk Stanya Shodhana (breast milk purification) and Stanya Janana Upaya (breast milk secretion enhancing measure) explained in Ayurveda. Globally millions of newborns suffers from mortality and morbidity due to inadequate breast feeding. In order to improve the coverage of breast feeding globally, World Alliance for Breast Feeding Initiatives (WABI) along with World health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF has been started the celebration of breast feeding week in first week of August with different theme every year, since last 25 years. Through this campaign is successful in mass awareness and in training of mothers, the outcome can be improved with the use of Association of these Ayurveda measures with World Breast feeding Week Program could be very promising and helpful to today’s health community to reduce the neonatal mortality and morbidity. This article highlights the importance of the role of awareness about this Ayurveda Stanya Shodhana and Stanya Janana Kashaya through World Breast Feeding Week to improve the outcome of the alliance.