This document discusses Sootikopachara, or the care of postpartum mothers, according to Ayurvedic traditions. It outlines several key aspects of postpartum care, including rejuvenation through shodhana and brihmana techniques. Common postpartum health issues are described such as pain, bleeding, and lactation problems. The views of several Ayurvedic texts on postpartum care are summarized, including techniques from Charaka, Sushruta, Vagbhata, and Kashyapa. Physiological considerations and practical problems encountered in postpartum care are also discussed. Finally, some traditional recipes and practices used in postpartum care in coastal Karnataka

1. Sootikopachara
By
Dr. Mamatha K.V.
Professor
Dept of Prasooti Tantra
SDM College of Ayurveda, Udupi

2.  Health of a sootika if lost it can never be corrected – a
folklore saying.
 Indian tradition inherits the wealth of this through their
ancestors – needs no special training.
 Sootikopachara a rejuvenation ‐ shodhana followed by
brihmana.
Care of soothika compared to walking
with taila poorna patra on head

3. Problems are multiple
Garbha vriddi, prasava vedana, kleda and rakta nisruti
 Agnimaandya
 Vaata Prakopa
 Dhatu Shaithilya
 Dhatukshaya
 Shunya Sharira

4. Soothikopachara to make it punarnava
by achieving
Agnisandhukshan.
Vata shamana.
Garbhaashaya shodhana.
Yoni Samrakshan
Kumarabharana with good breast care, stanya pravartan and
stanya pushti.

5. Comparison of brihatrayis view
Charaka Sushruta Vagbhata
Ushnajala parisechana Balataila abhyanga and Abhyanga
Sneha pana with any of vatahara kashaya Snehapana with yavani
the chatusneha upachara upakunchika panchakola
Udara vestana Panchakola choorna with drugs
Sneha yukta yavagu gudodaka for 2‐3 days Udara vestana after
Ushnajala parisechana Sneha yavagu or ksheera yamaka snehabhyanga
yavagu of vidari Yavagu pana
gandhadi gana drugs. Apyayana with Jangala
Yava kola kulatta sidda mamsa rasa
jangala mamsa rasa with
shalyodana

6. Contributions of Kashyapa
 Individualized the paricharya based on the desha, kula,
satmya and sex of the child.
 Samanya and vishesha paricharya.
Samanya paricharya:
Rakshoghna karma –nyubja shayana –udara patta
bandhana – asandika – priyangu krashara abhyanga
/swedanam‐ ushnaambu snana – dhupana – sasneha
manda yavagu paana

7. Vishesha paricharya – deshanusara
 In anupa desha – sneha should not be used in the
beginning
 Agni vardhaka & bala vardhaka mandadi prayoga,
 Swedana, Nivaata shayana, Ushna dravya sevana.
 In jangala desha – sneha pana with pippalyadi
kashaya anupana for the strong woman and snaha
yavagu or snigdanna prayoga for weak.
 Sadharana desha – sadharana kriya

8. Vishesha paricharya
 In kumari prasava – snehanarta taila prayoga
In case of kumara prasava – ghrita prayoga.
 Mleccha – kanda moola phala, mamsa rasa acc
to their saatmya.
 Given the freedom to change the diet and
oushadas as per the kula saatmyata

9.  Bhava prakasha ‐ Hita aahara vihara, vyayama,
vyavaya,krodha,sheeta sevana varjana, daily massage
& swedana for one month.
 Yoga ratnakara has added that immediately after
delivery ,vaginal canal should be compressed to
avoid entry of air.

10. Harita opines
 Kashaya pana ‐lodhra, arjuna,kadamba, bijaka, devadaru,, &
karkandu for rakta & yoni shodana.
 Yoni purana with oil. Abhyanga and swedana.
 fasting on first day,
 2nd day morning nagara, haritaki + jaggery, afternoon kulattha
yusha pana.
 3rd day panchakola yavagu
 4th day chaturjata mishrita yavagu
 From 5th day shali anna sevana till 10thor 15th day.

11. Physiological considerations of soothika
 Pulse
 Temperature
 Weight loss
 Diuresis
 Care of the bowel
 Involution of uterus
 Lochial discharges
 Personal hygiene
 Perineal care
 Breast care
 Menstruation and ovulation

12. Practical problems encountered in wards
Early
Exhaustion
Giddiness, black outs
Vomiting
Bleeding
Hematoma
Retention of urine
After pains
Pain in wound
Feeding difficulties

13. Intermediate
After pains
Constipation
Pain in episiotomy wound
Inadequate lactation
Cracked nipples, breast engorgement
Infections leading to sepsis ‐ UTI, genital tract
Thrombophlebitis in the i.v line
Episiotomy wound gaping

14. Late
Secondary pph

Puerperal sepsis

Fistulas

Venous thrombophlebitis / embolism

Wound problems of the LSCS wound

Breast abscess


15. Special cases in puerperium
Post abortal management
Counseling – loss of fetus/ child
Care after multiple pregnancy
Care in case of placenta previa
Care in retained /adherent placenta
Care after LSCS or forceps deliveries

16. Recipes of sutika used in costal belt of ‐Karnataka
Ahara / oushada –
Anna with rasam or pickles or chutney
Krishna jeeraka kashaya pana – 3 days
Shunti choorna with guda and ghee – for 3‐5 days
Preparations of ajamoda ‐3 days
Lashuna paka next 5 days
Brihmana payasam of different spices /chicken soups
Paka of dry fruits with coconut scrapings with lot of ghee.
Abhyanga Snana –with kashaya of vasa/ pancha valkala.
Udara bandhana ‐
Dhoopana – gandha dravyas

17. Thank you