Although this article is devoted to the pregnant mother, let me just mention that there are also fascinating Ayurvedic suggestions for conception which take into account rituals of bathing, aromas, clothing, color therapy, mantras, herbs, and fortuitous astrological times to conceive. This, however is a subject unto itself.
Babies, the future of our world. If we can nurture them during and after pregnancy, they can be born with stronger immune systems, and live more vital, joyous and spiritual lives. There is an entire branch of Ayurveda devoted to conception, pregnancy, delivery child care and midwifery.
Ayurveda offers the mother a wide range of modalities to nurture, heal, prevent, rejuvenate, and promote Self-Realization in herself and her child. Herbs, gems, color therapy, aromatherapy, massage, meditation, Yoga and astrology (Jyotish), all combine into a holistic approach, for the mind, body and spirit.
The goal of Ayurvedic child care is to provide a most nurturing environment for the mother and baby during and after pregnancy. Even before conceiving, the parents may help insure the health and vitality of their offspring by following healthy lifestyles, nutritional meals, being ethical and compassionate, and still finding time for devotion to Divinity.
Both the husband and wife may use herbs like ashwagandha and shatavari to strengthen their reproductive fluids, hormones and organs to create healthy children. Poor diet, too much or too little exercise, stress, and overwork, all contribute to imbalance and ill health.
As discussed in earlier articles, Ayurveda offers more personalized insights into using various alternative therapies. People are dealt with as individuals rather than as a generic group of humans.
To recap the Ayurvedic approach, people are comprised of various combinations of the five essential elements of life, ether, air, fire, water, and earth. There are three basic doshas (constitutions), predominantly Vayu (air and ether), Pitta (fire), or Kapha (water and earth). Often, people have combinations of two, or sometimes all three of the doshas.
For example, a Vayu person would tend towards containing an excess of air and ether in their body and mind. The qualities of air (light, dry, cool) when in excess, may manifest as dry skin, light-headedness (anxiety, worry, fear), gas, constipation, or bone problems. A Pitta dosha person tends towards an excess of fire.
Symptoms of excess fire include, acne, hyper acidity, ulcers, bleeding disorders, hot temper or impatience. Kapha doshas tending towards an excess of water and earth, exhibit symptoms, including overweight, bronchitis, edema, and lethargy.
People whose constitutions are combinations of two, or all three doshas (tridosha), when aggravated, can have symptoms of the respective doshas. The utility of these insights allows one to follow therapies which help balance persons during pregnancy without imbalancing or creating discomfort to their constitution.
Thus, the Ayurvedic practitioner can help clients heal and rejuvenate with comfort and effectiveness. Herbs, foods, aromas, yoga, etc. for each constitution have been discussed in an earlier article. Let us look as some of the Ayurvedic therapies specifically for pregnancy.
Therapies During Pregnancy
Herbology: For the pregnant mother, Ayurveda suggests a general cleansing and toning using aloe vera gel and turmeric. Nervines and antispasmodics like basil and gotu kola, are recommended for muscle spasms, cramping pain and calm.
Herbs like shatavari and angelica are useful for boosting the immune system of both the mother and fetus. shatavari is considered the best herb for balancing hormone levels and strengthening the reproductive system. Chyavan Prash, a traditional tonic comprised of mainly ghee (clarified butter) and amalaki is another suggested method to boost immune strength.
Raspberry is useful in removing nauseous feelings. There are certain herbs that are not advised while one is pregnant. Among them, saffron and myrrh are contraindicated.
Nutrition: Following one's Ayurvedic diet, according to their dosha brings balance. A general group of foods include, unleavened whole wheat flat bread (chapati or burrito), white basmati rice, moong beans, fresh fruits and vegetables.
Meals are to be of smaller quantity, but eating is to occur more often. Boiled milk (organic and raw if possible), with cinnamon, ghee and raw honey is nourishing. It is taken before bed and/or first thing in the morning. Milk also is said to develop brain tissue.
Vitamin supplements of C and B complex are sometimes useful.
Yoga Postures: In addition to herbs, various hatha yoga exercises are helpful for health and tone, but need to be taught by qualified yoga instructors. Many postures, useful before or in the early stages of pregnancy, are not advised later on.
After the third month of pregnancy, yoga postures are no longer advised, except for simple, gentle stretching, and no postures which require the woman to lie on her expanded belly are healthy.
Three safe postures are, lying on one's back and pushing the small of the back to the floor, then swaying knees to one side and the other; squats, cat pose, and always ending with the corpse pose. It is safest to discontinue yoga postures during the eighth and ninth months.
Aromatherapy: This therapy helps with mental clarity and joy, and is useful for various physical troubles as well. Herbs like lotus, rose, jasmine and geranium are useful for these purposes. For morning sickness, a drop of peppermint oil is smelt every hour until nausea subsides.
Lavender oil applied to the abdomen also helps remove feelings of nausea. To uplift the spirit, aromatic baths using a few drops of lavender, sandalwood, patchouli or ylang-ylang are advised. Sandalwood also is useful for heartburn, applying it externally on the chest.
Flowers, incense and music help make the pregnancy house a most pleasant and comforting environment. Frankincense, cedar, sage and other aromas with antiseptic properties are burnt to keep the house and air clean and sterile.
Massage:
The Ayurvedic texts suggest that the pregnant woman receive an oil massage (abhyanga) on a daily basis. Special attention is given to the feet and legs, abdomen, lower back, neck and shoulders (wherever there is undue pain or pressure).
Gem Therapy:
Moonstones and pearls are advised for mental calm and reproductive system strength. These gems are set in silver and worn on the left ring finger, or as pendants. Gems are to be set to touch the skin for maximum benefit (this therapy is also useful during menopause, hysterectomy, and for cysts and tumors).
Jyotish Astrology: This is actually used to determine favorable times to conceive. If a boy is desired, conception is advised on an even day of the lunar month, and for a girl, on an odd day. The spiritual name of the child is determined by the ruler of the ascendant or navamsha (which ever is stronger) in the child's Vedic astrology chart.
Midwives: Ayurveda spends a good deal of instruction on the need for the pregnant woman to have midwives and other female relatives and friends around her during pregnancy, labor and after delivery (for some months, until she regains her strength).
Labor & Post Partum During labor, the women are advised to chant mantras and auspicious or encouraging words to the woman. The lower back and abdomen are continuously massaged for comfort. A hot clary sage compress is used to help ease labor pains.
When the baby appears, the women loudly pronounce its gender to the woman which helps restore her strength. For the first few days after delivery, myrrh, saffron and other emmenagogues are suggested, which promote circulation and cleanse the uterus. After this, milk and shatavari are suggested to increase breast milk, along with fennel which increases milk flow.
Licorice and chyavan prash, along with shatavari are important toning and rejuvenating herbs.? Oil massage is continued, especially to the abdomen to return tone and prevent stretch marks. A cotton cloth is also wrapped around this region for the same purpose. To prevent or remove post partum depression, jasmine scents are used.
For general aromatherapy healing, a bath with rose, rosemary, lavender, cypress, and geranium (mixed together) may be used.
Ayurvedic Child Care Special mantras, gems, aromas, and herbs are all given to the baby to protect it and help assure auspiciousness. Even today, in some areas of India, the newborn is still cleansed by massaging a mixture of ghee and rock salt. This opens the skin pores, which promote the body's protective and respiratory functioning.
Water and whole wheat flour are still used to massage the baby for the first three days of life. Raw honey is the first food given to the baby (for three days), which allows their digestive systems to develop, and for the true mother's mild to begin to flow. Honey is a natural antiseptic, and mixed with ghee is said to strengthen the immune system.
From birth to around age 18, children are prone to Kapha (water) excesses). This is why they are susceptible to mucus in the lungs, colds, ear infections, bronchitis and pneumonia. The diet is thus more of a Kapha reducing one.
Milk is best served alone, and boiled (with ghee, honey and cinnamon) as it is hard to digest. Yogurt is more easily digested when cardamom or cumin are added, as they help digest foods, and it is best digested in a mixture with water (1/2 yogurt : 1/2 water).
Ghee and sesame oil assist in the child's growth process. Sesame oil massages help calm the child's nervous system and nurture their bodies.
Herbology For Children's Health Conditions
* excess mucus - tulsi, sage, mint
* calm - Brahmi, lavender
* intelligence - calamus (caution required)
* growth - chyvan prash
* colic/gas/distention - cardamom, cumin
* teeth/bones/hair - bala, solomon's seal
From birth to age two, only a pinch of herbs are given.
From age two on, children may take slightly larger doses.
Yoga postures increase children's suppleness. Postures can be turned into a game, imitating animals.
Aromas like lavender and sandalwood help calm hyperactivity. Frankincense cleanses the air and promotes peaceful dreams. Sandalwood and lotus build the immune system.
Meditation includes reading children mythological stories of virtuous deeds of the deities, and showing them the pictures.
Gems are prescribed according to their Jyotish astrology charts to remove malefic planetary effects.
Jyotish astrology reveals the child's innate and Divine abilities, to help parents understand and guide their children according to the child's own life purpose (dharma). Other aspects of the reading show how to remove planetary and karmic obstacles and pave their way for inner and outer success.
Summary Thus we see how the ancient Ayurvedic alternative healing tradition offers spiritual and healthful insights into childbirth. Help is available before, during and afterwards, for both the parents and children, insuring the seeds of tomorrows flowers, the children, will grow up to be healthy, strong, virtuous, and spiritually devoted. Herbs, nutrition, mantras, aromas, yoga, gems, colors, and astrology integrate and offer a truly holistic and natural approach to raising children.
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