EVOLUTION OF WET NURSING - AYURVEDA AND WORLD

Dr. Ganesh Kumar* and Dr. Swapnil C. Raskar

ABSTRACT

In ancient science of ayurveda the concept of dhatri (a wet nurse) is mentioned by many Acharyas like Charaka as Sushruta and Kashyapa. In deficiency of breast milk, the concept of dhatri-a wet nurse- to feed the baby gains relevance. According to Ayurveda breast milk is considered as nectar to the child and there is no alternative or substitute for the breast milk. A wet nurse is a lactating woman who breast feeds and cares for another's child. If mother is not live or unable to breast feed her baby due to her illness or opting not to feed because of her aesthetic consciousness. In Ashtanga hridya Vagbhatta has advised to appoint two wet nurses while others has not specified the number. Probably in ayurvedic texts child management is advised keeping in mind the children of kings and rich people as these authors were braced by the kings and the queens might not be preferring for the breastfeeding. That’s by wet nurses were arranged for the same , Sushruta advices not to change the wet nurse too frequently as this practise will be not congenial for the child and he may suffer from various disorder as he receive milk of different quality. Ayurvedic classis emphasises on appointment of wet nurses after thorough physical and psychological examination.

Keywords: Dhatri, wet nurse, breastmilk.