ROLE OF MASANUMASIKA PATHYA TO PREVENT GARBHA SHOSHA

Pregnancy is a state of high nutritional demand. The diet taken by the pregnant women is utilised in three ways as said by the classics - For the nourishment of pregnant women, for the production of breast milk and the proper nourishment of the foetus. So, the health and growth of the foetus depend mainly on the diet and nutrition of the mother. With this viewpoint, garbhini paricharya is explained. A condition in our classics has been explained as ‘Garbha Shosha’ where there is retarded growth of the foetus in the womb. ‘Aaharamaapnothi yathaa na garbhaha’ is said as the nidana of garbha shosha by Acharya Charaka which states that this condition arises where the foetus is not provided with a nutritious diet through the mother. Acharya Vagbhata points out that vitiation of ‘Rasavaha Srotas’ happens in the same. Acharya Bhavamishra advised brimhana drugs with mamsarasa in this condition for nutrition. Strict adherence to masanumasika pathya may help in preventing garbha shosha by promoting the growth of the foetus.Keywords: Garbha shosha, Diet, Nutrition, Brimhana, Masanumasika pathya