07/04/2025
On April 7th every year, the World Health Day is held.
This year’s health focus will kick off a year-long campaign on maternal and newborn health and the campaign is aptly titled, “ , ”.
Ayurveda has a history of caring for mothers and children for centuries, embedding into its core tenets and principles the acknowledgment that a child’s health begins before he/she is born. It speaks not only about addressing preventable maternal and newborn mortality, but also adoption of long-term approaches to health and well-being.
Most aspects of maternal care are only now being contributed to systematic healthcare. However, Ayurveda has independently emphasized a holistic, preventive, and personalized approach to mother and infant care for many years. From post-natal wellness nutrition to therapeutic massage and infant rituals to enhance immune function, Ayurveda has implemented its principles, which public health bodies and global health organizations now recommend. Let’s unpack the Ayurveda practices that reflect WHO’s vision, and the reason they are more relevant and important than ever.
Ayurveda’s time-tested approach to maternal & newborn health
* For the new mother (Sutika Paricharya) :
•Sutika Ahara – Ayurveda prescribes easily digestible, warm, nourishing foods to restore strength and aid lactation. Medicinal ghee, herbal decoctions, and Rasayanas like Shatavari and Ashwagandha support long-term well-being. Aligns with WHO’s call for long-term maternal health care.
• Abhyanga – Warm oil massage with Dhanwantaram Thailam or Bala Thailam strengthens muscles, balances hormones, and aids emotional well-being. Supports WHO’s emphasis on mental health and postnatal recovery.
• Udaraveshtana – Wrapping the abdomen with a cotton cloth helps the uterus contract and supports the spine. Reflects WHO’s focus on preventing complications after birth.
• Vayu-Hara Chikitsa – Ayurveda sees childbirth as a time when Vata dosha increases, leading to weakness and stress. Special herbal infusions and therapies restore balance. Matches WHO’s concern for maternal emotional and physical recovery.
*Ayurvedic Infant Care (Bala Paricharya)
•Swarnaprashana – A time-honored practice of giving infants gold-infused honey and ghee with herbs like Brahmi and Vacha. This helps boost immunity, brain development and digestion. This practice reinforces WHO’s call to prioritize newborn survival and long-term health.
•Abhyanga – Gentle daily massage with herbal oils like Nalpamaradi or Lakshadi Thailam improves circulation, strengthens bones and promotes deep sleep. Aligns with WHO’s focus on preventive newborn care.
•Karna, Netra & Nasya Chikitsa – Ayurveda prescribes daily nasal drops (Anu Tailam), eye washes (Triphala water), and ear oiling to prevent infections and enhance sensory development. Matches WHO’s aim to reduce preventable newborn deaths through better healthcare access.
•Panchakarma for Mothers & Babies – New Mothers can begin undergoing gentle detox therapies like Panchakarma after delivery and babies can partake after six months to stimulate digestion and immunity. This aligns with WHO’s proposition for early intervention to avoid health issues later.
AYURVEDA & WHO: A SHARED VISION FOR A HEALTHY FUTURE:
Those traditions within Ayurveda, were utilized to promote maternal and newborn health long before any modern medicine determined that Ayurveda does in fact promote health. Our goal by integrating the holistic wisdom of Ayurveda within modern conveniences is to ensure all mothers and babies will thrive, and that is exactly what the WHO would like to see happen, starting with this World Health Day.
Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures
