An Ayurvedic Concept of IUGR (Intrauterine Growth Restriction) with Its Management Strategies

Abstract

In Ayurveda, certain disease entities related to fetus are mentioned in the form of garbhsosa, upvistaka, nagodara or upshuska and leena garbha. By considering the sign symptomplogy of above fetal disorders, there is a lot of difference in opinions about its interpretation. Sarangdhara mentioned the upvistaka, nagodara and gudhagarbha under Astagarbhvyapata; so these are disorders directly related to fetus. Certain authors opine that upvistaka, nagodara and leenagarbha are the intrauterine fetal deaths. Then the question arises as why Acharyas mentioned mrit garabh separately. If we look into the treatment portion why garbhvridhikar ahara vihar mentioned first then at last garbhpatan, there is a lot of controversy about the interpretation of these terminologies. In view of this context, the present paper is an attempt to establish these terminologies that can be understood in a better way in the present era.

Keywords: Intrauterine growth retardation, congenital malformation, infants, Garbhvyapad, Upvistaka, Nagodara