Children are the most beautiful blessing from God. A physically healthy and mentally sound child is also the biggest gift one could give to this world. They are the future of the nation, the society, and of their family. So we must give proper care to the health and well-being of our children.
Ayurveda is an ancient system of holistic medicine that provides much information on how to raise healthy children. Among the eight branches of Ayurveda, there is a special branch called Kaumarabhrtya which focuses exclusively on children’s health, including methods of raising them, essential nutrients and herbal supplements required at various stages of growth and also, about how to prevent, manage and cure various childhood diseases.
Ayurveda- Panchakarma
Ayurveda says the preparation for a healthy child starts even before conception where a healthy male and a healthy female only can contribute a healthy sperm and healthy ova. The first step towards creating a healthy generation is cleansing or detoxifying the body of the parents-to-be and preparing for a pregnancy physically, mentally, and emotionally. The Ayurveda therapy of Panchakarma is generally recommended to support the process of detoxification. There are also various treatment procedures and herbal medicines like Phalasarpi/ Phalaghrta which help in begetting a healthy child.
Once pregnant, the woman should be kept physically and emotionally stable (suggest: the woman should pay special care to her physical and emotional well-being and reduce stress levels), as her state greatly influences the health, emotions, and brain development of the fetus. Ayurveda recommends various herbs to be taken by the pregnant woman during each month of gestation to support the growth and development of the fetus inside her. These herbs also maintain her health and promote easy pregnancy and delivery. Herbs like Bala, Guduchi, Amalaki, and Shatavari can be safely taken during pregnancy.
Recommended Care for Newborns:
- Cleaning the oral cavity with clean cotton soaked in a mixture of ghee and rock salt;
- Cutting of the umbilical cord and applying Kushta Taila or turmeric powder to prevent infections;
- Wipe away the vernix caseosa with a paste mixture of ghee and rock salt.
- Gently massage the newborn with medicated Bala oil and bathe in warm water boiled with Neem leaves. This helps remove the child’s tiredness from the birth process and enhances immunity against infections;
- Breast feeding should be initiated as early as possible, to help the baby receive the necessary immunoglobulins from the mother, helping the child to cope with the conditions outside the womb.
- Fumigating the room (bedroom of the child), clothes, and bedding with medicated fumes of frankincense, holy basil, neem, etc is also a part of Ayurveda care; In North America, sage could also be used as a substitute for smudging.
- There is a very unique traditional practice in Ayurveda administering gold to infants called Swarnapraasanan, which serves as an Ayurveda immunization. This treatment is considered highly auspicious and improves the child’s overall immunity power, brain development, intelligence, memory, strength, digestion, color, and complexion.
Brahmi
Sankapushpi
There are various methods of administering the gold to the child. The easiest method is rubbing pure gold on a hard and clean stone surface with herbs such as Vacha (Acorus calamus), Brahmi (Bacopa monneri), Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia), Sankapushpi (Clitoria ternatia), and ghee in very small quantities, it is given to the child every day early morning or at least once a month on an auspicious day. Swarnaprasana is generally given from 0 – 5 years of age when brain development is at its peak.
Swarnaprasana – Ayurveda way of Immunization
Ayurveda Child Care Medicines
Saraswatharishtam Gold: for improving brain functions, 3-15 drops from 6 months to 16 years
Rajanyadi Churnam: Improves digestive function, appetite, and immunity, ½ – 1 teaspoon twice daily with honey.
Chyavanapraasam: Improves general immunity, 1 teaspoon a day.
Brahmi Ghrtam: Improves brain function, 1 teaspoon in the early morning on an empty stomach.
Bala Taila: For general body massage, improves growth and development, immunity, strength, and other body functions.
Saraswatharishtam Gold
Chyavanaprasam
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