Ayurveda Treatment For Infantile Diarrhoea

Intake of defective milk or infection in the alimentary tract causes diarrhea in children. If the child is fed on the breast milk of the mother, then the digestive conditions of the mother also affect the digestion of the milk taken from her breast by the child. Along with diarrhea, the children may even get vomiting or gripping pain in the stomach. The stool may be liquid or foul smelling and it may be of greenish or yellowish colour. Diarrhoea is the common manifestation during the teething time of the child. During diarrhea, the child normally doesnot like to take its feed. Because of the pain, the child maynot get sleep and will constantly cry both day and night. The child, if breastfeed may even bite the nipple of his mother. If, neglected the child may get dehydrated and emaciated.

Treatment

Many types of gripe water are available in the market which are commonly used by the mothers during such troubles. Most of them contain carminatives and often they are harmful if used for long time. The commonly used medicine for this is musta (Cyperus rotundus). This is a small herb which grows in grass fields and hedge rows. The root or rhizome which looks like a small tuber is used as a medicine. This is used as a paste. About two grains of this paste are given to the child three or four times a day. This rhizome may be used in the form of powder. One grain of this powder may be given to the child four times a day, mixed with half teaspoonful of honey each time. This works as a carminative as well. If there are many liquid motions of vomiting then he should be given jati phala (the seed of nutmeg). One grain of the powder of the seed is given to the child four times a day mixed with honey. Depending upon the seriousness of the ailment the dose of the drug can be increased. This nutmeg plant is generally found in the coastal areas of South India. It produces a peculiar smell which is liked by the child and the essential oil contained in the fruit helps in relieving the gripping pain of the child instantaneously.

A compound preparation called gorocanadi vatika is very useful in the treatment of this condition especially when due to frequent,loose motions, the child becomes dehydrated and emaciated. This is available in the form of pills about half grain each. One pill of this drug should be given to  child four times a day mixed with honey. This medicine along other contains  gorocana which is collected from matured cow. The bile of the cow becomes solidified and gets deposited in the gall bladder when it becomes old and are collected in the slaughter house. This is considered to be the best tonic for the heart and it regulates the function of the liver of the child. It also relieves the child from other symptoms associated with diarrhea like fever, cough and cold.

Diet 
The child  shouldnot be given milk containing a high percentage of fat. Cow’s milk is normally considered to be the best because it contains less fat than buffalo milk. If the child is unable to digest even cow’s milk then goats milk can be given. Even cow’s milk can be given if diluted with water. While boiling the milk about two grains of the powder of rhizome  of musta should be added. If the mother is suffering from indigestion, she should also be treated if she is feeding the child. According to ayurveda the breast milk of the mother gets vitiated by vayu, pitta and kapha.  Such vitiated milk produces many diseases in the child. Therefore, in the first instance the milk of the mother should be examined and corrected.

When the mother who feeds her child becomes pregnant, lactation slowly stops. But in some cases lactation continues even after pregnancy. If the child takes milk of his pregnant mother then this causes a disease which in ayurveda is known as parigarbhika. One of the notable symptom of this disease is the commencement of diarrhea. In that case the child should be immediately switched over to some other food.

Other regimens
The child shouldnot be disturbed or teased. It should be permitted to sleep comfortably and as long as it likes. Any disturbance in sleep may cause diarrhea and vomiting. Long journeys by train, car or any other vehicle should be avoided during diarrhea.