What is Prasuti Tantra Evam Stri Roga?
Prasuti Tantra Evam Stri Roga, a term in Ayurveda can be considered as Obstetrics & Gynaecology in modern science to some extent. Among eight branches of Ayurveda, Prasuti Tantra Evam Stri Roga is not mentioned separately but in Kaumarbhritya i.e. Paediatrics (branch of science that deals with children & their diseases), one among eight branches of Ayurveda which includes antenatal and postnatal care of women besides dealing with newborn, children and related diseases is mentioned. So, it could be assumed that importance of woman in Ayurveda is considered as who can conceive, bear pregnancy and give healthy progeny to society which is possible only if woman is not suffering from any gynaecological disorder (Stri Rogas). Though it is not mentioned as a separate branch in Ayurveda but detailed description of all Stri Rogas (gynaecological disorders), pre conceptional care, antenatal and postnatal care with detailed description of Rajahswala Paricharya (regimen during menstruation), Garbhini Paricharya (regimen during pregnancy), Sutika Paricharya (regimen after delivery of baby) and various disorders that can occur after delivery (Sutika Vyapad) are mentioned by Acharayas in different Samhitas of Ayurveda.
Need of Prasuti Tantra Evam Stri Roga – So, in the recent years, Prasuti Tantra Evam Stri Roga is started to be taught and practiced as a separate branch. Post graduation in this subject is now available in Ayurveda as Masters of Surgery degree which was previously not available. In India, maternal mortality rate (MMR) decreased from 97 (2018-20) and 93 (2019-21) to 88 (2020-22). Various schemes started by Ministry of Health like Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan (SUMAN), POSHAN Abhiyaan and LaQshya (Labour Room & Quality Improvement Initiative) to promote quality care, skilled birth attendants, and digital health systems. Southern states, Gujarat, Karnataka have much lower MMRs while Bihar, UP, MP, Rajasthan are working for it. This may be attributed to relatively more Ayurveda practice in those states as compared to northern states.
Advancement in Ayurveda in Stri Roga
In today’s competitive era where women are not only working in one area of interest that is family and house chores but striving to show her existence in other fields also resulting in late marriages, faulty diet & lifestyle, stress which leads to various gynaecological disorders like menstrual irregularities, PCOD, uterine fibroid, white discharge etc. and ultimately leading to infertility (not able to conceive baby). In modern medicine, various therapies are mentioned including IUI, IVF which are mostly not successful leading to stress in women making them feel insecure and inferior to others. In Ayurveda, an ancient Indian medical science, management of all diseases are already mentioned with complete management but keeping in view the today’s era form of medicine are changed to make it palatable for the patients e.g. medicine Phalaghrita (a medicinal ghee) is now available in capsule form to make it easily consumable by patients, doses of medicines are changed according to today’s body constitution, tolerance of body and drug quality.
Modern investigation techniques like ultrasonography, MRI, CT scan, HSG are used in Ayurveda to determine the effect of medicines or therapy used before and after treatment as investigation techniques mentioned in Ayurveda in today’s world are slightly difficult to perform as well as time consuming so making use of easily available equipment, results of Ayurvedic medicines could be determined in a short span of time making Ayurveda evidence based.
In Ayurveda, various Sthanika (local) therapies particularly for women are mentioned like Yoniprakshalana (vaginal douching), Yonipichu (vaginal tamponing), Yonidhupana (vaginal fumigation), Yonipurana (filling vagina with medicinal paste), Yonilepa and Uttarabasti (giving medicated medicine through vaginal route to uterus or urethra). All these methods used for treatment are modernized like for Yoniprakshalana, a can like container attached with nozzle through a rubber tube just like an enema can is used , for Yonipichu, Pichu made from cotton & bandage roll is sterilized in modern equipment, autoclave before using to make it aseptic then dipped in medicated oil or ghee & kept in vagina, for Yonidhupana, a special chair is made with a hole in centre to allow the medicinal herbs fumes to pass through that hole into vagina and for Uttarabasti, all instruments and materials like swab, gauze, sheets, oil or ghee used are autoclaved to make it sterile, to prevent infection. Modern solution of betadine or savlon are used along with Yoniprakshalana and as per its indications in Ayurveda, it forms the most important part of treatment of infertility with any cause like anovulation, PCOS, Tubal block, Endometrial factor, Cervical factor, uterine fibroid, polyp nowadays.
Advancement in Ayurveda in Prasuti Tantra
Garbha Samskara, a term used most commonly nowadays actually not as such mentioned in Ayurveda but various things are mentioned for preconceptional preparation of both husband & wife by Acharayas in Ayurveda. Panchkarma, therapeutic procedures in Ayurveda for purification of body is advised to both husband & wife to get a healthy progeny i.e. physically, mentally, emotionally & socially healthy child without causing any complications in mother during pregnancy. Diet, lifestyle & Achara Rasayana i.e. how to behave, what to do & what not to do are advised to both according to Ayurveda. Yagna is performed with Mantras recitation before conception of child and during pregnancy. Nowadays, many software apps are available by name of Garbha Samskara which describe the diet, lifestyle, yoga, music, clothes, books, mantras that should be followed by women during pregnancy to achieve healthy progeny.
In Ayurveda, in eighth month of pregnany, Basti, a Panchkarma procedure in which medicated decoction, ghee or oil is given through rectal route, is advised for pregnant females so that delivery could be done by normal route i.e. vaginally and operation, Caesarean section could be avoided in relative conditions as well as Basti works by decreasing the pain felt during labor & decreasing the duration of labor. Basti also helps in combating some complications seen in third trimester of pregnancy like constipation, difficulty in respiration due to pressure on diaphragm by growing gravid uterus.
Summary
In short, it could be said that Ayurveda makes a woman healthy by mentioning various gynaecological diseases commonly seen in today’s world and management in form of oral treatment, Panchkarma (body purification procedures) and local treatment (Sthanika Chikitsa). So that a healthy mother can bring a healthy progeny in this world to contribute to development of our society as mentioned in Ayurveda by following the techniques, diet & lifestyle to be followed before conception, during pregnancy and after delivery. New technology and advancements in modern science in terms of equipment, instruments, software apps further helps in providing the benefit of our ancient literature to all people who are very busy nowadays in today’s busy world by making time management easy & working in a very effective and safe manner. At last, I could say that our ancient literature in Ayurveda, which is immortal and truth, is a boon to us given by our ancient Acharayas and Rishis but that science can be used today very easily in a more effective & safe manner by using modern techniques and gadgets available today saving our precious time, which is a great necessity in this era.
