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Sukhprasava (normal labour) in ancient literature: a review

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Journal name: Ayushdhara
Original article title: Sukhprasava (normal labour) in ancient literature: a review
AYUSHDHARA is an international peer-reviewed journal. It focuses on research in Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, Homeopathy, Allopathy, and Pharmaceutical Sciences.
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Author(s):

Priyanka H
PG Scholar, P.G. Dept. of Prasuti tantra & Stri roga, National Institute of Ayurveda, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India.
K. Bharathi
Professor & Head, P.G. Dept. of Prasuti tantra & Stri roga, National Institute of Ayurveda, India.


Ayushdhara:

(A peer-reviewed, bi-monthly open-access journal)

Full text available for: Sukhprasava (normal labour) in ancient literature: a review

Year: 2021 | Doi: 10.47070/ayushdhara.v8i2.718

Copyright (license): CC BY-NC-SA 4.0


Download the PDF file of the original publication


Summary of article contents:

Introduction

The study of Sukhprasava, or normal labor, in ancient Ayurvedic literature reveals a rich tapestry of beliefs and practices surrounding maternal and child care. Ayurveda transcends mere medical treatment, offering comprehensive guidelines for health, lifestyle, and wellbeing throughout a woman's journey into motherhood. The ancient texts, including the Vedas, Upanishadas, and various Samhitas, provide insights into the natural processes of childbearing, emphasizing the importance of prenatal and postnatal care to facilitate a safe and healthy delivery.

The Significance of Maternal Nutrition and Care

One of the key concepts in ancient Ayurvedic literature is the emphasis on maternal nutrition and its impact on fetal development. Texts such as the Rigveda and Atharvaveda highlight the importance of nourishing the expectant mother to ensure high-quality progeny. The fetus, described as being nourished through the nabhi, or the umbilical cord, is considered to depend on the mother's health for its own vitality. Various deities are invoked to assist in the healthy formation and growth of the fetus, and the rituals surrounding conception and labor are intricately connected to the health of both mother and child. Acharyas recommend specific treatments, including medicinal oils and dietary adjustments, to support a smooth labor experience and encourage a prosperous maternal environment.

Mechanism and Management of Labor

Another critical aspect discussed in the ancient texts is the mechanism and management of labor itself. The process of labor is defined with a focus on natural contractions and the body's physiological readiness to deliver. Acharyas describe how the dynamics of labor are akin to natural forces, portraying the role of Vata (air), which facilitates the descent of the fetus during childbirth. The proper positioning and use of various methods, such as midwifery guidance and specific techniques to ease the delivery process, are emphasized. The literature underscores the need for a supportive environment and the importance of the mother's emotional state, highlighting techniques to maintain calmness and patience during labor, contributing to a more favorable outcome for both mother and child.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the ancient Ayurvedic texts offer profound insights into the practices surrounding normal labor and childbirth, emphasizing the interconnectedness of maternal health, nutrition, and the physiological processes of labor. With rising instances of complications in childbirth today, revisiting these ancient guidelines may provide valuable tools for modern obstetrical care. The concept of Sukhprasava implores contemporary healthcare providers to prioritize maternal wellbeing, thereby facilitating a healthier experience for mothers and their newborns. By integrating these time-honored practices into modern medicine, it is possible to enhance the efficacy of natural labor and promote better outcomes in maternity care.

FAQ section (important questions/answers):

What is the meaning of Sukhprasava in ancient literature?

Sukhprasava means bringing forth easily or happily. It emphasizes the importance of normal labor and the well-being of both the mother and baby during childbirth, as described in various ancient texts.

What were the practices recommended for normal labor in Ayurveda?

Ayurvedic texts suggest various practices, including nutritional care, invocation of deities, herbal remedies, and certain rituals. These practices aim to ensure easy delivery and the health of both mother and child.

How does ancient literature describe the mechanism of labor?

The mechanism of labor is elaborated through analogies such as wind ruffling lotus petals. It discusses uterine contractions, the descent of the fetus, and the importance of relaxed pelvic joints for a successful delivery.

Glossary definitions and references:

Scientific and Ayurvedic Glossary list for “Sukhprasava (normal labour) in ancient literature: a review�. This list explains important keywords that occur in this article and links it to the glossary for a better understanding of that concept in the context of Ayurveda and other topics.

1) Kala:
Kala refers to different periods or epochs in the history of Ayurveda and ancient Indian literature. The study describes several Kalas: Vedic Kala, Samhita Kala, Madhya Kala, and Aadhunika Kala. Each period marks distinctive developments in medical knowledge.

2) Prasava:
Prasava means labor or childbirth. In the context of Ayurveda, it emphasizes the process of delivery. Acharyas have described methods and practices to ensure Sukhprasava, or normal and easy delivery. This involves minimizing complications and ensuring a healthy birth process.

3) Labour (Labor):
Labour refers to the process of childbirth. Ancient texts provide detailed guidelines for managing labour to ensure Sukhprasava or normal delivery. These guidelines include dietary recommendations, herbal medications, and specific practices to ease the birthing process.

4) Garbha:
Garbha means embryo or fetus. In Ayurveda, the formation, development, and nourishment of Garbha are extensively discussed in texts like Rigveda, Yajurveda, and Atharvaveda. Ensuring the health of Garbha relies on maternal care, proper diet, and medicinal recommendations.

5) Samhita:
Samhita refers to a collection of ancient texts that form the foundation of Ayurvedic knowledge. Important Samhitas like Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita, and Kashyapa Samhita provide insights into various medical practices, including those related to pregnancy and childbirth.

6) Yoni (Yonin):
Yoni is the term used for female reproductive organs, including the vagina. Ancient texts describe its role in conception and childbirth. Practices such as Yoni Pichu involve lubricating the Yoni to facilitate a smoother delivery process.

7) Anuvasanabasti (Anuvasana-basti):
Anuvasana-basti refers to an enema therapy used in Ayurveda. It involves the administration of oils or medicinal decoctions to ensure the proper functioning of organs and easing the birthing process, especially in the ninth month of pregnancy.

8) Anuvasana:
Anuvasana is a type of basti (enema) treatment involving the retention of medicated oils in the rectum. In the context of pregnancy, it helps prepare the body for labor by lubricating the reproductive tract and easing the descent of the fetus.

9) Basti:
Basti refers to the administration of medicinal substances through enema. Anuvasana-basti, a specific form, is used in pregnant women to prepare for childbirth by ensuring proper lubrication of the birth canal and aiding in the smooth delivery of the fetus.

10) Sthana:
Sthana means place or region. It is often used in anatomical context, such as Garbhasthana (the place where the fetus resides). Different Sthana in the body are integral to how various Ayurvedic treatments and procedures are applied.

11) Ayurveda (Ayus-veda):
Ayurveda is an ancient system of medicine that originated in India. It encompasses a holistic approach to health, balancing bodily functions and lifestyle. It includes extensive literature on maternal and child healthcare, detailing practices for ensuring Sukhprasava (normal labour).

12) Garbhini:
Garbhini means pregnant woman. Ayurvedic texts emphasize Garbhini paricharya, which is prenatal care involving specific diets, behaviors, and treatments to ensure the health of both the mother and the fetus, facilitating an easy childbirth.

13) Vata:
Vata is one of the three doshas in Ayurveda, representing the elements of air and space. It plays a crucial role in bodily functions, including the process of childbirth. Proper management of Vata is essential for Sukhprasava (normal labour).

14) Vayu:
Vayu, meaning wind, is another term for the Vata dosha in Ayurvedic texts. It is fundamental in various bodily functions, including movement and expulsion during labor. Proper regulation of Vayu is vital for ensuring normal and easy childbirth.

15) Prasuti:
Prasuti refers to childbirth or parturition. In Ayurveda, Prasuti Tantra deals with all aspects of pregnancy, labor, and postnatal care. Guidelines for Prasuti help ensure that childbirth is smooth and free from complications for both mother and child.

16) Drug:
In ancient Ayurvedic literature, drugs refer to herbal and natural remedies used to treat various conditions. Many drugs are prescribed for pregnant women to ensure a healthy pregnancy and facilitate easy labor, including preparations like Anuvasana-basti.

17) Oblation:
Oblation involves offerings or sacrifices, often associated with rituals in ancient texts. During labor, specific oblations and enchanting of mantras are recommended to facilitate normal delivery and protect the health of the mother and child.

18) Madhura:
Madhura refers to the sweet taste or the group of herbs classified as sweet in Ayurveda. These are often used in medicinal preparations recommended for pregnant women to ensure proper nutrition and facilitate an easy delivery.

19) Mantra (Mamtra):
Mantra refers to sacred chants or incantations. In Ayurveda, certain mantras are advised to be chanted during labor to soothe the pregnant woman and help in the process of normal delivery by invoking divine assistance.

20) Veda:
Vedic relates to the Vedas, the oldest Indian scriptures. They include foundational knowledge on various aspects of life, including health and medicine. Vedic texts describe the mechanisms of childbirth and prenatal care practices to ensure Sukhprasava (normal labour).

21) Atharvaveda (Atharva-Veda):
Atharvaveda, one of the four Vedas, includes detailed descriptions of conception, fetal development, and childbirth. It provides guidelines on managing labor and ensuring the health of both mother and fetus through oblations, mantras, and medications.

22) Kashyapa (Kasyapa, Kashya-pa, Kashyapanamdana):
Acharya Kashyapa is a significant figure in Ayurveda who contributed to maternal and child healthcare. His works discuss various aspects of pregnancy, labor, and postnatal care, emphasizing the importance of ensuring healthy and safe childbirth.

23) Bharathi:
K. Bharathi is one of the authors of the reviewed article on Sukhprasava. As a Professor and Head at the National Institute of Ayurveda in Jaipur, Rajasthan, she co-contributed to the research on normal labor and its mention in ancient literature.

24) Pregnant:
A pregnant woman, known as Garbhini in Ayurveda, receives specific care detailed in ancient texts. These practices are designed to ensure her health, the proper development of the fetus, and a smooth, uncomplicated delivery (Sukhprasava).

25) Shastra (Sastra):
Shastra refers to scriptures or authoritative texts. In the context of Ayurveda, it includes works that provide guidelines for medical practices, including the care of pregnant women and the management of childbirth through various Ayurvedic methods.

26) Purana:
The Purana are a genre of ancient Indian literature encompassing mythology, history, and traditional lore. Some Puranas, like the Vishnu Purana, describe childbirth and the role of Vayu (wind) in the process of delivery.

27) Ghrita (Ghrta):
Ghrita, or clarified butter (ghee), is commonly used in Ayurvedic medicine. During pregnancy, it is included in dietary and medicinal preparations to ensure proper nourishment and to facilitate an easy and normal delivery by lubricating the birth canal.

28) Nabhi:
Nabhi refers to the navel or umbilical region, considered crucial for fetal nourishment. Ancient texts describe Nabhi as 'Posaka' and 'Pranadharaka', meaning it supplies nutrients and life force to the fetus during pregnancy.

29) Birth:
Birth is the culmination of the pregnancy process, referred to as Prasava in Ayurvedic texts. Guidelines for ensuring a smooth birth, or Sukhprasava, include dietary recommendations, herbal medicines, and rituals to minimize complications and ensure the health of both mother and child.

30) House:
House, or Sutikagara, is a specially constructed space for labor and delivery in ancient Ayurveda. Built pre-delivery, it ensures proper hygienic conditions and provides the necessary substances such as Taila (oil) to facilitate an easy birth process.

31) Picu:
Yoni Pichu involves inserting an oil-soaked tampon into the vagina. This practice is described for pregnant women to lubricate the birth canal, making the process of childbirth smoother and reducing complications.

32) Roga:
Roga means disease. Ayurveda, including the section of Stri Roga, deals with women's health conditions, including those related to childbirth. A comprehensive understanding of Roga helps in managing complications and ensuring a smooth delivery.

33) Wind:
Wind, in the context of Ayurveda, relates to Vata dosha. It plays a role in the physiological processes including labor. The 'wind' helps to stimulate contractions, facilitating the descent of the fetus during childbirth.

34) Mahabharata (Maha-bharata):
Mahabharata is an ancient Indian epic. It also provides insights into Ayurvedic concepts and practices, particularly emphasizing the role of Vayu (wind) and its five types, which include non-physiological and physiological aspects relevant to childbirth.

35) Striroga (Stri-roga):
Stri-roga translates to women's diseases or gynecological disorders. The field covers various aspects of women's health including pregnancy (Garbhini), childbirth (Prasava), and postnatal care, ensuring comprehensive healthcare for women.

36) Vagbhata:
Acharya Vagbhata is a key figure in Ayurveda whose works, like Astanga Hridaya and Astanga Sangraha, include comprehensive guidelines on maternal and child health. His recommendations for Sukhprasava involve specific dietary and medicinal treatments.

37) Samgraha (Sangraha):
Sangraha refers to the compilation of texts. In the context of Ayurveda, it often signifies the collected works of Acharya Vagbhata, such as the Astanga Sangraha, which detail practices for ensuring Sukhprasava and other aspects of maternal healthcare.

38) Samanya:
Samanya refers to what is common or general. In Ayurvedic texts, Samanya Prasava Kala denotes the typical period for labor, which ranges from the ninth to tenth month of pregnancy. Deviations from this period are considered abnormalities.

39) Ashtanga (Astanga, Ashtan-anga):
Astanga refers to the eight branches of Ayurveda, encompassing various aspects of health and medicine. Acharya Vagbhata's works, such as Astanga Hridaya and Astanga Sangraha, include detailed instructions for maternal and child health, ensuring Sukhprasava.

40) Tantra (Tamtra, Tantrism):
Tantra in Ayurveda relates to a system or framework of practices and knowledge. Prasuti Tantra deals with pregnancy and childbirth, offering guidelines that ensure normal and easy delivery through comprehensive prenatal and perinatal care.

41) Dravya:
Dravya means substances or materials. In the context of Ayurveda, various Dravya or medicinal substances are used to treat conditions and ensure health, including those that facilitate Sukhprasava. Taila (oils) and Ghrita (ghee) are common Dravyas.

42) Harita:
Acharya Harita is an authoritative figure in Ayurveda. His works include references to Garbhini Paricharya and practices that influence the onset and management of labor, aiding in normal and easy delivery (Sukhprasava).

43) Madhya:
Madhya refers to the middle period in Ayurvedic history. The Sangraha Kala or Madhya Kala covers the development and compilation of numerous texts that systematize earlier knowledge, including practices for ensuring normal labor (Sukhprasava).

44) Vishnu (Visnu):
Vishnu is a deity invoked in Vedic and Ayurvedic texts to aid in various life processes, including health and childbirth. Invocations to such deities are believed to help in the formation and maintenance of the embryo (Garbha) and facilitate normal labor.

45) Jaipur:
Jaipur, Rajasthan, is the location of the National Institute of Ayurveda where the authors of the article on Sukhprasava are based. This institution contributes to the research and development of Ayurvedic practices, including those related to normal childbirth.

46) Taila (Thaila):
Taila means oil, often used in Ayurvedic treatments. In the context of childbirth, oils are used in Anuvasana-basti and Yoni Pichu to lubricate the birth canal, making delivery easier and preventing complications (Sukhprasava).

47) Ayus (Ayush):
Ayush refers to the traditional system of medicine practiced in India, including Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy. Research in Ayush forms the basis of the journal where the article on Sukhprasava was published.

48) Earth:
Earth, in Ayurvedic and Vedic contexts, is referred to as one of the elements influencing health and life processes. Forces from the sky and earth are said to aid in fetal development and facilitate childbirth.

49) Shuci (Suci, Sucin, Shucin):
Suchi means needle. In the context of childbirth, needles are used for surgical interventions and suturing procedures needed during and after the delivery process, ensuring a smooth and safe birth.

50) Yoga:
Yoga, though commonly associated with physical postures, also refers to medicinal combinations in Ayurveda. Various Yogas (formulations) are described for maternal care to ensure normal labor (Sukhprasava) by facilitating the body's natural processes.

51) Atman (Atma):
Atma refers to the soul. Ancient texts describe how Atma descends into the fetus (Garbhavakranti) as part of its development. Proper care of the mother and fetus, including spiritual practices, ensures the holistic growth and easy childbirth.

52) Diet:
Diet is crucial in Ayurveda for maternal and child health. Specific dietary recommendations are given to pregnant women to ensure proper nutrition and an easy delivery (Sukhprasava). These include the use of Ghrita, milk, and certain medicinal herbs.

53) Fire:
Fire, or Agni, is significant in Vedic rituals. During labor, specific rituals involving fire, such as oblations, are performed to invoke divine assistance and ease the birthing process, ensuring the health of both mother and child.

54) Pain:
Pain management during labor is a focus in Ayurveda. Methods such as Anuvasana-basti, lubrication with oils, and mantras are used to reduce pain and facilitate an easy delivery (Sukhprasava), ensuring minimal discomfort for the mother.

55) Milk:
Milk is a vital part of the diet recommended for pregnant women in Ayurveda. It provides essential nutrients and can be used in medicinal preparations to aid in fetal development and ease the childbirth process.

56) Sushruta-samhita (Susruta-samhita):
Sushruta Samhita is one of the foundational texts in Ayurveda, authored by Acharya Sushruta. It includes comprehensive guidelines on Sukhprasava or normal delivery, detailing methods like Anuvasana-basti and dietary recommendations for pregnant women.

57) Kashyapasamhita (Kasyapasamhita, Kashyapa-samhita):
Kashyapa Samhita, attributed to Acharya Kashyapa, is an authoritative text in Ayurveda focusing on pediatrics and obstetrics. It provides detailed guidelines for maternal and child healthcare, including methods for ensuring normal and easy childbirth (Sukhprasava).

58) Ashtangasamgraha (Astangasamgraha, Astangasangraha, Ashtanga-samgraha, Ashtanga-sangraha, Ashtangasangraha):
Astanga Sangraha is a comprehensive Ayurvedic text by Acharya Vagbhata. It covers various aspects of healthcare, including maternal care and practices for ensuring Sukhprasava through treatments like Anuvasana-basti and dietary recommendations.

59) Garbhiniroga (Garbhini-roga):
Garbhini-roga refers to diseases or conditions affecting pregnant women. Ayurvedic texts describe various treatments and practices to manage these conditions and ensure a smooth and uncomplicated delivery (Sukhprasava).

60) Apatyapatha (Apatya-patha):
Apatya-patha refers to the birth canal through which the fetus is delivered. Ayurvedic practices aim to ensure that this path is adequately prepared and lubricated to facilitate an easy and normal delivery (Sukhprasava).

61) Garbhashaya (Garbhasaya, Garbha-ashaya):
Garbhashaya refers to the uterus. Proper care and preparation of Garbhashaya are essential in Ayurveda to ensure the health of the fetus and facilitate an easy childbirth. Anuvasana-basti and Yoni Pichu are some practices used for this purpose.

[Note: The above list is limited to 75. Total glossary definitions available: 126]

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