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== Garbhini paricharya according to Ayurveda (Pre-natal regime) ==

== Garbhini paricharya according to Ayurveda (Pre-natal regime) ==

Ayurveda scholars have proposed a nine monthly diet plan and a specific month-wise regime for an expectant mother which is known as Garbhini paricharya. It is based on the growth of the fetus in the womb and at the same time ensures health of the mother at that stage of pregnancy and also future. Therefore garbhini paricharya refers to the pre-natal care suggested by Ayurveda.  

Ayurveda scholars have proposed a nine monthly diet plan and a specific month-wise regime for an expectant mother. This is known as Garbhini paricharya. It is based on the growth of the fetus in the womb and at the same time ensures health of the mother at that stage of pregnancy. It is also designed in a way so as to safeguard the future health of mother and baby. Therefore garbhini paricharya refers to the pre-natal care or ante-natal care suggested by Ayurveda.  

The conceived woman is advised to be treated with special care just like a pot filled with oil. As the slightest oscillation of such a pot causes spilling of the oil, similarly the slightest exertions or excitements to the pregnant woman can initiate adverse pregnancy outcomes.<ref>Charaka Samhita (Sharirasthanam Adhyaya 8 Sutra 22)</ref> Therefore utmost care of the pregnant woman is to be taken.

The conceived woman is advised to be treated with special care just like a pot filled with oil. As the slightest oscillati on of such a pot causes spilling of the oil, similarly the slightest exertions or excitements to the pregnant woman can initiate adverse pregnancy outcomes.<ref>Charaka Samhita (Sharirasthanam Adhyaya 8 Sutra 22)</ref> Therefore utmost care of the pregnant woman is to be taken. The pregnancy regime described in Ayurveda is as below,

=== (TBE) Diet of a pregnant woman ===

=== Diet of a pregnant woman ===

The diet (ahara) consumed by the pregnant woman gets transformed into the nutrient fluid (rasa) which is having a threefold action:

The food consumed by a pregnant woman plays key-role in nourishment of mother as well as child. Ayurveda opines that this food when gets digested is trandformed into 3 main parts. Each of the 3 parts of this food have specific role as below,<ref>Charaka Samhita (Sharirasthana Adhyaya 6 Sutra 23)</ref>

a) Nourishing the body elements of the mother

# Provides nourishment to mother's body tissues

# Involved in development of breast milk which is the chief source of nourishment of baby post delivery.

b) Providing nourishment to the growing fetus

Acharya Kashyapa in Kashyapa Samhita has suggested that, whatever diet the pregnant woman consumes becomes congenial to the baby in womb. Thus one should take utmost care while planning diet of a pregnant woman. The diet should be designed considering the digestive strength of the mother, the season, time of the day and area of residence.<ref>Kashyapa Samhita (Sutrasthana Adhyaya 18 Sutra 24-25)</ref> Diet planned considering these points helps to maintain health of mother and baby both and prevents development of diseases.

The month wise diet for a pregnant woman has been suggested in all the Ayurveda treatises. There are some differences of opinion with regards the selection of food ingredients in different scholars but the widely popular and accepted diet regime has been discussed below.<ref>Charaka Samhita (Sharirasthanam Adhyaya 8 sutra 32)</ref> <ref>Sushruta Samhita (Sharirasthana Adhyaya 10 sutra 4)</ref> <ref>Ashtanga Samgraha (Sharirasthanam Adhyaya 3/3 Sutra 11)</ref>'''However it is strongly recommended to consult a nearby [[Vaidya (वैद्यः)|Vaidya]] to get a customized diet plan and make alterations as per individuals [[Prakrti in Ayurveda (प्रकृतिः)|prakrti]] and general health condition.''' 

 

Whatever the diet consumed by the pregnant woman becomes congenial to the fetus. So, diet of a pregnant woman should be designed considering the place of living, time, season and digestive capacity. [Ka. Sa. Sutra Sthana 18/24,25]

{| class="wikitable"

{| class="wikitable"

!Month

!Month

|-

|-

|'''1st Month'''

|'''1st Month'''

|•Milk frequently in desired quantity (considering the digestive power and strength)*

|Sweet in taste, cold in properties and preferably liquid diet is suggested in the first month of pregnancy. Milk can be taken frequently in desired quantity as per one's digestive capacity. The women who dislike milk or have intolerance to milk can be suggested some alternative aby a vaidya considering the basic objective and health status of the woman. Medicated clarified butter extracted from milk is also very much beneficial in this month to be consumed by a pregnant woman. Some acharyas have also suggested to take honey mixed with butter and sweetened milk.

 

•Clarified butter extracted from the milk and medicated with Desmodium gangeticum (shaliparni) and Butea monosperma(palasha) along with water processed with gold or silver (boiled and cooled water)***

 

•Glycyrrhiza glabra(madhuyashti), Grewia asiatica(parushaka) and Madhuka indica(madhukapushpa) with butter and honey, sweetened milk ##

|-

|-

|'''2nd month'''

|'''2nd month'''

|•Milk medicated with sweet (madhura)herbs*

|The diet from first month is to be continued with little change. The milk to be consumed is advised to be medicated with the herbs having sweet [[Rasa (रसः)|rasa]] (taste). The specific herbs have been listed in literature.

 

•Sweetened milk with Lilium polyphyllum(kakoli )##

|-

|-

|'''3rd month'''

|'''3rd month'''

|•Milk with honey and ghee*

|In the third month diet becomes little more nourishing and heavy. The milk should be taken mixed with honey and ghee. The rice of shashtika variety well cooked and then mixed with milk is to be taken. Some scholars also recommend consumption of Krishara (preparation like khichadi made with rice and pulses).

•Cooked rice of Shashtika variety along with milk.**

 

•Mixture of cooked rice and pulse(krisara)##

|-

|-

|'''4th month'''

|'''4th month'''

|•Milk with 12 gm(one aksha) of butter.*

|In this month other milk derivatives like butter and curd are recommended. Milk is to taken with significant amount of butter. The quantity of butter mentioned in treatises is somewhat near 12 gms but in today's time according to digestive and physical strength of the expecting mother the quantity can be revised. Cooked rice with curd is also beneficial

•Cooked rice (shashtika)with curd**

 

|-

|-

|'''5th Month'''

|'''5th Month'''

|•Ghee prepared with butter extracted from milk.*

|Various preparations of rice like rice gruel, kheer/payasam (traditional preparation of sweetened milk and cooked rice) or simple cooked rice mixed with milk, ghee and meat of specific qualities is recommended in this month. Ghee prepared from butter which is directly obtained from milk is known to be beneficial in this month.

•Cooked rice (shashtika) with milk, ghee and meat of wild animals**

 

 

•Rice cooked with milk and sweetened(payasa)##

|-

|-

|'''6th Month'''

|'''6th Month'''

|•Ghee prepared from milk (ksheerasarpi) medicated with the herbs of madhura group*

|A specific recipe of ghee which should be consumed in this month has been given. The milk should be medicated with few herbs having sweet rasa (taste). The ghee should be extracted from such a medicated milk. It is called as ksheerasarpi. Rice gruel which should be taken in this month should be medicated with herbs like Gokshura (Tribulus terestris).  

•Ghee or rice gruel medicated with Tribulus terrestris(gokshura).**

 

|-

|-

|'''7th month'''

|'''7th month'''

|•Ghee prepared from milk (ksheerasarpi)medicated with the herbs of madhura group*

|Ghee similar to the one taken in 6th month i.e. ksheerasarpi is to be consumed. The ghee medicated with certain group of herbs is beneficial. (Your Vaidya can guide you select the ghee).  

•Ghee medicated with prithakparnyadi (vidarigandhadi) group of herbs**

 

•A sweet dish called Gritakhanda.##

|-

|-

|'''8th month'''

|'''8th month'''

|•Rice gruel prepared with milk and mixed with ghee.*

|Rice gruel mixed with unctuous substances like ghee and soup of wild meat is recommended. For vegetarians rice gruel can be prepared with milk abd ghee can be later added to it. Briefly, a woman is advised to take sufficient good fats into diet. Certain traditional sweet desserts can also be consumed in a controlled manner considering other aspects like digestive strength, weight etc.

•Unctuous gruels and meat soup of wild animals.**

 

•A kind of sweet preparation called Gritapooraka.##

|-

|-

|'''9th month'''

|'''9th month'''

|•Meat soup with cooked rice and fat (preferably ghee), rice gruel mixed with large quantity of fat.***

|Rice gruel and Meat soup are the two preferable diets in this month. Those can be taken together. Sufficient amount of ghee should be added to the preparations. Use of different types of cereals is also suggested by some acharyas.  

•Different types of cereals.##

|}

|}