Pregnancy is the stage in women’s life which adds happiness to their life. This also contributes in many physiological, pathological, mental, and social changes in their life. Ayurveda creates supports for pre pregnancy, antenatal care and post natal care. This care we should incorporate in our daily regimes. There are very specific recommendations to bring about a state of balance in the consciousness, mind, body, behavior, and environment of the pregnant woman.
Taking a bath after you have undergone delivery is known to bring a wide range of benefits to the mother, from emotional to physical as well. But we should be careful that post pregnancy bath should be very carefully to start. As any infection or injury during that will directly hamper to your delicate body and baby as well. It’s completely doctor’s decision and type of delivery (vaginal, vaginal with episiotomy, c- section) that when one should start taking bath post pregnancy.
For bathing we choose warm water. Now to upgrade that herbal bath is introduced which is nothing but the ayurvedic concept explained years ago. Ancient Ayurvedic texts speak of therapeutic baths with rose petals, honey, milk, and turmeric, preceded by a luxurious full-body massage with warm oils. These Ayurvedic baths were designed to restore balance to the body, mind, and spirit.
Herbal bath water is nothing but the warm water which is processed with herbs. These herbs are good for the skin tissue and de-stress the mind as well. Following are the benefits of herbal water bath.
(1) Mother feels freshness and revitalizing her energy.
(2) It stimulates the circulation of blood within the body when followed by oil massage.
(3) Herbal bath can relax sore and trauma of pregnancy due to its herbal effects.
(4) It is safe hygienic for breastfeeding of child.
(5) Herbal bath helps in reducing the pain in enlargement and hardness of breast.
(6) After healing of the incision in c-section herbal bath helps to reduce the scar and fasten the pain and infection of the same.
(7) Herbal bath calms the nerve down thus relieving overall body ache.
(8) It cleans the skin and makes the skin glow.
(9) It prevents the skin infection.
We are free to choose our herbs according to the issue facing. Here are some common herbs which we can use-
(1) Basil: Basil is traditionally used herb and almost everyone used to have in their house. It has antibacterial and anti inflammatory properties that helps in a wide range of skin problems. It wakes up our sense and leaves us feeling refresh.
(2) Eucalyptus: It has antiseptic, antiviral, bactericidal, decongestant, expectorant and insecticidal effect.
(3) Rose petals: Rose petals have healing properties and mild anti inflammatory. Its scent calms and gives relaxation.
(4) Turmeric: It has got anti inflammatory, anti microbial, and anti inflammatory values which can be used in dermatitis, acne conditions post pregnancy.
(5) Bakuchi: (Psoralin corlyfolia ) It has active component like psoralin, isopsoralin which gives antibacterial, antifungal, antitumor, immunomodulatory activity. It is widely used in lucoderma and psoriasis like conditions.
(6) Sariva: ( Hemidesmus indicus ) It is antitoxic in nature. It is used for skin disease relieves itching and used for bad odor.
(7) Honey: Honey especially raw is a fabulously versatile, all natural and easily available to use for skin . Post partum there are lots of vaat increased in our body which occurs as dryness of skin. Honey smoothen and moisture the skin. It is antioxidant which is good for scar, wrinkles and aging skin.
(8) Neem: Neem is also traditionally used plant for years its antibacterial property is very useful in itching and infection like conditions.
-The article is attributed by Dr. Rekha Shukla, MD Ayurveda, specialized Ayurvedic doctor with Birla Ayurveda