Article: A CRITICAL REVIEW ON CONTRIBUTIONS OF LAGHUTRAYIS TO KAUMARABHRITYA AND ITS RELEVANCE IN CURRENT SCENARIO

Article Category: Review articles

DOI: 10.7897/2277-4343.15391

Pages: 156-161

Author: Mangala Jyothsna GP *

Abstract: Kaumarabhritya is one among the Ashtangas (eight branches) of Ayurveda. It deals with the maintenance of Health of the Bala (child), purification of Dushta Stanya (vitiated breastmilk) of Dhatri (mother/wetnurse) and alleviation of Graha roga. All the samhithas of ayurveda have given importance for Bala roga (pediatrics) and have mentioned references regarding diseases of bala and their treatment. Though all the brihatrayis (Charaka samhitha, Sushrutha Samhitha and Ashtanga hridaya) have emphasized on this aspect, there are some of the concepts like Aushadhi matra (drug dosages), few diseases which occur specifically in children like Kukunaka (eye diseases), Ahiputana (Napkin rashes), Ajagallika (skin disease specific children), Parigarbhika (Malnutrition), Tundi (throat infections) etc. are explained in laghutrayis (Madhava nidana, Bhavaprakasa Samhita, Sharangdhara Samhita). Acharya charaka mentions that all the diseases that occur in adult are also occurring even in children, but the specific treatment of those diseases are mentioned in laghutrayi like Bhavaprakasha. So, all the laghutrayis were thoroughly searched and references related to kaumarabhritya were collected and analyzed in the current article.

Keyword: Kaumarabhritya, Brihatrayi, Laghutrayi, Madhava nidana, Sharangdhara Samhita, Bhavaprakasa.