Abstract

CONCEPTUAL REVIEW OF STANYA WITH SPECIAL REFERANCE TO BREASTFEEDING

Aniket Tryambak Bhadange* and Manda S. Ghorpade

ABSTRACT

Food is among the most basic needs for human existence. From childhood until old age, different nutrients are needed. Because there is insufficient nutrition for infants in developing nations like India, infant mortality is higher. In order to prevent this, it's crucial to feed them enough. In order to maintain their energy levels, children need more milk than any other food and also assists them in appropriately growing and developing during this period. The WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, after which "infants should receive nutritionally adequate and safe complementary foods while breastfeeding continues for up to two years of age or beyond. Even breast milk was regarded as a fantastic food for newborns throughout the Vedic Period. Under the topic of jatakarma, several ayurvedic literatures demonstrate the importance of breastfeeding. One of the updhatu of rasa is stanya, or breast milk, according to Ayurvedic literature. In addition to this, the Ayurvedic description of the nursing mother, or Dhatri, is unique. According to doshas (vitiating substances), the qualities and types of breast milk also have comparable relevance and important for proper child development. The focus of the current review was on the concept of Stanya, or breast milk, with reference to breastfeeding as it is known in Ayurvedic literature, and its relevance today.

Keywords: Jatakarma, Stanya, Breastfeeding, Dhatri.