Pediatrics
Department of Kaumaryabhritya
Kaumarbhritya as a science of pediatrics includes minute details of various disorders concerning children’s health such as gastrointestinal diseases, teething disorder, rickets other than midwifery. It gives various natural and herbal remedies to the regular ailments of a newly born kid. It deals with the art of nursing and healthy bringing up of infants, purification and bettering of mothers’ milk, any characteristic deficit traits as well as the influences of malignant stars and spirits on an infant. Apart from this, it also describes an ideal diet for a newly born to 16 years old kid.
Treatment methods. –Child Health Care, Immunization, Child mental health, Pediatric Panchakarma consultation
BalaRoga ChikistaVibhaga of Patanjali Ayurved College & Hospital is organizing “SwarnamrithaPrashana” program every month on PushyaNakshatra day where child aged 0-16 years will be given this medicine to improve the health & to boost the immunity. Maximum benefit can be achieved by continuous administration for two years.
Swaramrita Prashana ensures fantastic benefits in following problems :
- Mental retardation
- Loss of memory & attention
- Hearing, Speech and visual acuity defects
- Bed wetting
- Repeated attack of cold, cough, fever, asthma & other allergies
Benefits Of Panchkarma in childrens
- Mental and emotional well-being
- Improving focus, concentration and manage mood changes.
- Encourage healthy weight balance
- Creating calm, clarity and alertness
- Natural health for ADD, ADHD, Hyperactivity, and special needs
- Maintaining immune strength through all four seasons
- Reduces relapses of cold and other infections
- Reduces doctors office visit and many times unnecessary and overuse of antibiotics or streroids
- Prevents and helo heal food allergies
- Perfect mental health
- Improves academic performance.
- Keeps child health, happy and mentally sound.
Acharya Sushruta recommended panchkarmakriyas or techniques such as induced vomiting, purgation, medicated enema, nasal cleansing, and artificial bloodletting for children after some years of growth and development.
Panchakarma therapy is completed in three parts.
Preparatory part (poorva karma)
- Digestion (paachan)
- Internal/external oleation (snehan)
- Fomentation (swedan)
Main part (pradhan karma)
- Induced vomiting (vamana)
- Induced purgation (virechana)
- Medicated enema (basti)
- Nasal cleansing (nasya)
- Artificial bloodletting ( raktamokshana)
Post-therapeutic part (paschat karma)
- Specific diet (sansarjan karma)
- Smoking medicinal cigars (dhumapana)
- Post therapy rules/activities
Snehan
Internal and external oleation (snehan) includes the oil massages. A specific type of oil massage is performed on the body to remove toxins from the gastro-intestinal tract. These oil massages also rejuvenate the nervous system and relax the muscles. Ayurveda does recommend oleation or snehan in infants and children.
Swedan
According to Acharya Kashyapa, restricted fomentation (swedan) for thin and medium built children is recommended. Swedan is the process of sweating, induced with the help (agni) or heat or in some cases without it. The process removes blockages and flushes out the toxins and impurities. Hasta swedan is advised for infants up to the age of four months. There are several types of swedan, namely, hasta sweda, nadisweda, prastarsweda, upanahasweda, sankarsweda, awagahaparishekha, any of which may be advised for the newborn infant, depending upon the physical constitution and the disease.
Vamana
Vamana or therapeutic vomiting is induced by administering salt water or liquorice and stimulation of the tongue, which causes vomiting through the gag reflex. The technique eases congestion, decreases breathlessness and clears the sinuses. Vamana is not advised for children less than 12 years of age.
Virechana
Virechana or induced purgation is the administration of a therapeutic laxative to cleanse excess bile in the liver, small intestine, or gall bladder. Virechana or purgation is carried out with the help of a mixture consisting of flax seeds, senna leaves, triphala or psyllium husks. Mild laxative purgation or mriduvirechana is advised for children.
Basti
Basti or medicated enema is the induction of herbal blends of specific herbal mixtures and sesame oil in a liquid channel through the rectum. The powerful technique relieves and decreases constipation, chronic colds, fever, sexual diseases, kidney stones, heart disorders, sciatica, arthritis, gout, spasms, rheumatism, back and joint pains. Basti is not recommended for children under the age of seven years. However, some ancient acharyas or teachers recommend the technique for infants soon after the birth, while some other advise the treatment after four months.
Nasya or nasal cleansing is the administration of special herbal medication or concoction through nasal passage. The impurities and blockages in the throat, head, nose and sinuses are removed through the nose. The technique provides relief in convulsions, headaches, sinus congestions, migraines and other ear and eye disorders. Nasya is not recommended for children under the age of seven.
Raktamokshana
Artificial bloodletting or raktamokshana is done by drawing out little blood from a vein. Bloodletting improves the immune system and removes toxins, resulting in the cure of several complex blood diseases such as skin infections, circulatory diseases, and chronic itching. Bloodletting or raktamokshana is not recommended for young children.
Panchkarma is a powerful detoxification treatment, which can help to get rid of several acute and chronic disorders and diseases. However, it is advisable to take extra precautions in case of infants and young children. The treatment may have adverse effects on their underdeveloped system. An expert medical opinion is recommended before undertaking any such treatment for children.