Int J Ayu Pharm Chem REVIEW ARTICLE www.ijapc.com e-ISSN 2350-0204 Rakshakarma inChild Health Care- A Review Kalpana Patni1* and Gaurav Sinha2 1State Ayurvedic College and Hospital, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India 2Primary Health Center, Udham Singh Nagar, UKD, India Abstract Rakshakarma means protective measures. It is one of the important procedures extensively used in Ayurveda. It is one of the procedures involved in the resuscitation of the newborn. The concept of Rakshakarma in Ayurveda is quite efficient for providing a complete physical and psychological protective shield to the newborn. Protective measures for the new born baby are taken to prevent the infections and to clean the environment, as well as to increase humoral immunity. The fumigation (dhupana) of the Sutikagara(sanatorium/labour room) by various drugs is mentioned to protect the baby from various opportunistic infections. Ayurvedic acharyas have advocated the use of clean and fumigated clothes, beddings etc. The various drugs mentioned in dhupana karma have antiseptic and antimicrobial properties which have been also proved experimentally in various studies. Plants protect by secreting natural phenols, flavonoids, isoflavones, glucosinolates, etc. These different chemicals are usually bitter, pungent or astringent in taste. In addition to their bactericidal or biological activity these substances may provide a defense against predators. Chanting hymns and practicing Yama and Niyama provide a psychological support to the patient, which is helpful for quick recovery and rehabilitation. Thus we can say that Rakshakarma procedure provides a complete physical and psychological protection to the mother and the child. Keywords Rakshakarma, Immunity, Protective Measures, Antisepsis, Vrana Greentree Group Received17/02/17Accepted28/02/17Published 10/03/17 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Patni and Sinha 2017 Greentree Group © IJAPC Int J Ayu Pharm Chem 2017 Vol. 6 Issue 2 www.ijapc.com 164 [e ISSN 2350-0204] Int J Ayu Pharm Chem INTRODUCTION patient. Protective measures for the new Raksha and its various derivatives occur born baby are taken to prevent the infections predominantly in the Vedic texts means – to and to clean the environment, as well as protect, guard, take care of, govern, to keep, toincreasehumoral immunity. to preserve, save, to avoid, to observe or to Under Rakshakarma, AcharyaCharaka gives beware of, an evil spirit, a demon1. detailed description related to protection of Rakshakarma means protective measures. It newborn (rakshakaram) related to antisepsis is one of the important procedures of clothing, beddings, and aseptic measures extensively used and talked about in to prevent infections from surroundings. All Ayurveda on different subjects. Charaka and around the Sutikagara (the place where Vagbhata spoke about Rakshakarma mother and child both resides after especially during child care. Rakshakarma is delivery), the twigs of Adani, Khadira, one of the procedures involved in the Karakndu, Pilu, Parushakas hould be hung, resuscitation of the newborn. and Sarshapa(yellow mustard), Atasi, AcharyaSushruta explained in detail about Tandulakan-kanika(rice particles) should be Rakshakarma in the management of wound scattered on its floor. “Tandul Bali Home” and also patient going through surgery in should be done twice a day i.e, morning and pre-operative, operative and post operative evening. The musal (pestle) should be phase. Rakshakarma is one of the sixty placed obliquely at the entry door. The fire Upkrama (procedures) involved the should always lit by putting the dry wood of management of Vrana (wound) in kana-kantak(ingudi) and Tinduka wood in SushrutaSamhita. Dhupana, Mantra, Yama, the Sutikagara.A packet containing Vacha, and Niyama are the procedures performed Kustha, Kshomka, Hingu, Sarspa, Atasi, for the Rakshakarma as described by Lasuna, Guggulu etc. raksoghana dravyas Sushruta.Again during the chapters related should be hung on the door and similar with pregnancy there is a description about dravyas should be tied around the neck of Rakshakarma for mother and baby care. mother and the child. Well wishing skilled It was thus found, that the concept of care taker women should be remain vigilant Rakshakarma in Ayurveda is quite efficient and attentive continuously in the for providing a complete physical and sutikagarafor the initial 10-12 days i.e, the psychological protective shield to the baby should not be kept alone. The ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Patni and Sinha 2017 Greentree Group © IJAPC Int J Ayu Pharm Chem 2017 Vol. 6 Issue 2 www.ijapc.com 165 [e ISSN 2350-0204] Int J Ayu Pharm Chem Sutikagarashouldbe fulfilled with gifts, should be ensured by reciting hymns. Again auspicious recitations, blessings, praises, Sushruta says, the wound should be playing of music and musical instruments, fumigated with a mixture of powders of foods and drinks, along with devoted, loyal Guggulu, Agaru, Sarjarasa,Vacha, and delighted persons. The person having Sarshapa, Saindhavaand the leaves of the knowledge of Atharvaveda should Nimbatree along with Ghrita. The left over perform „Shanti-Patha or Home’ in the Ghrita then applied over the region of heart morning and evening for the wefare of the and other vital parts of the patients. mother and baby2. Afterwards protective hymns should be Acharya Sushruta directed the neonate to be recited as – May Brahma and other gods wrapped in kshauma (linen) cloth and made counteract sorcery (Kritya) and the dread of to sleep on a bed covered with soft linen. evil spirits (Raksasa), serpent demons Twigs of pilu-badar-nimba-parushaka are to (Naga), devils (Pishacha), celestial be used to gently fan the baby. A cotton musicians (Gandharva), souls of paternal tampon impregnated with oil (tailapichu) ancestors (Pitra), spirits (Yaksha), evil should be applied over the baby‟s head spirits (Nishachara) etc. In the same context daily. Fumigation with Rakshoghana Sushruta further spoke about the protection dravyas should be done in the Sutikagara. of strength, intellect, psyche, and These Rakshoghana drugs should be tied understanding from the blessing of god over the hands, feet,head and neck. Tila, Indra, anu, Atsi, Sarshapa and Kana (rice particles) GandharvaandVarunarespectively5. should be scattered all over the Sutikagara. In ChikitsaSthan, Sushruta says thatwounds The fire should be lit in the place. Else and patients should be protectedfrom should be followed as described in invisible creatures (Nishachara) Vranitopasniya context3. byprocedures like Dhupanaand There are sixty procedures for the protectiveenergy of the prophylactic prayer. management of wound, mentioned by He furtheradvocatedYama and Niyamaas a Sushruta. Rakshakarmaor Rakshavidhanis part of Rakshakarma3.(Five Yama are non- one of them4. The wound should be violence, truthfulness, non-stealing, celibacy fumigated by pain relieving and and abstinence fromlitigation.Five Rakshoghanafumes and the protection Niyamaare cleanliness, satisfaction, ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Patni and Sinha 2017 Greentree Group © IJAPC Int J Ayu Pharm Chem 2017 Vol. 6 Issue 2 www.ijapc.com 166 [e ISSN 2350-0204] Int J Ayu Pharm Chem penance, spiritual study, service of the birth to 6th days period, babies are most preceptor)6. susceptible to various infections and other Acharya Vagbhata described similar complication. After one week, the incidence rakshakarama as described by Charaka7 in of infections and complication reduce, addition,Vagbhatta has also counselled use therefore the chances of survival increase. of herbs as Brahmi, Indryana, Jivakaand According to Aroyakalpdruma, Rishbhakato be tied around hands or neck of Kumaramaragara should be fumigated. The the newborn. Dhupan should be done by horns, hooves of Krishna, Saralu, Laya, Avi- Gugglu ,Agru , Sarjrasa and GauraSarspa Dears and Gandaka along with Gojihva and .Vagbhatta also mentions use of Balvachafor ShewtaSharshapa(white mustard) are taken it promotes medha(intelligence), in equal amount, powdered and mixed with smriti(memory), health and longevity of the butter and heated. The fumes generated baby8. In Astangasamgraha, Vagbhata (Dhupana) helps to protect the child10. described to tie a cotton pouch containing Hingu, Vacha, TuruskaandSarshapa, on the Properties of Raksha karma drugs: upper frame of door and head side of bed The phytochemical screening demonstrated and also in the neck of infant and mother. the presence of different types of Further there is mention of Dhupanafor compounds like terpenoids, tannins, deoxy baby‟s apartment consisting of dried crow sugars, saponins, phenolic compouns, and feathers along with Trivrta, Vacha, Kustha, flavonoids which may contributefor the 8 Srivesta, Sarshapa, added with little Ghrita . antimicrobial action of the above medicinal AcharayaVagabhata has also advised the use plants.Themethanolic extract ofAcacia of protective measures on the 6th night of catechu (Khadira)was found to have birth (SasthiRatri). He says that on 6th night antimicrobial activities against six species of of birth of the newborn, all family members pathogenic and non-pathogenic and friends remain awaken and microorganisms: Bacillus rakasakarma should be performed by subtilis, Staphylococcusaureus, Salmonella offering sacrifices. Ancient scholars have typhi,