Care of Children according to Ayurveda

Care of Children according to Ayurveda

Dr Aman Kumar, Dr Arjun Gupta

Before the creation of living beings, lord brahma stated that ayurveda is a branch of atharvaveda. He composed it in one thousand chapters having one lakh shloka (verses) and divided it into eight branches. Kaumarbhritya is one of the eight branches of Ayurveda, formed by two word’s kaumar and bhritya, branch which deals with the care of children, their diseases and respective treatment is called kaumarbhritya. Acharya charak placed kaumarbhritya at 6th position in ashtang ayurveda. Acharya sushruta placed kaumarbhritya at 5th position in asthang ayurveda. Acharya vagbhatta placed kaumarbhritya at 2nd position. The subject matter of this branch is available primarily in SharirSthana and Uttar Tantra of treatise comprising BrihatTrayi. It also includes neonatology, amongst which care of children is described in detail. In Ayurveda texts Acharyas stated full description to care of new born from birth to full stability of children.