European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

MATRUSTANYA (BREAST MILK) - A REVIEW

Dr. Shubhangi K. Thakur*

ABSTRACT

Ayurveda, the science of life, bestows upon prevention of disease and maintenance of healthy life. Breast feeding is a pivotal part of child care which needs enormous importance. It is widely recognized that breastfeeding is the best nutrition for human infants. Breast milk is the optimal food for almost all infants in the first year of life. The breast milk provides numerous health benefits to both mother and baby. Breastfeeding should begin soon after birth. Ayurvedic texts, formation of stanya (breast milk), causes of stanya pravriti (or milk ejection), dhatri (wetnurse), dhatri-pariksha (examination of wet-nurse), stanapan-vidhi (breast feeding), stanyasampat (merits of breasts), stanyanasha hetu (causes of cessation of milk formation), stanyaviridhi dravyas (drugs increasing quantity of milk), stanya apanayakala (weaning period), abnormalities of breast-milk and its treatment etc. are discussed in detail. This paper helps to explain the importance of breastfeeding with ayurvedic aspects.

Keywords: Stanya, stanya pravriti, breastfeeding, stanapan-vidhi.