A LITERARY REVIEW: STANYA (UPDHATU OF RASA)

Abstract

Ayurved emphasizes curing diseases as well as preserving one’s health. Ayurved mentions dosha-dhatu-mala, the main triad responsible for creating disease when imbalanced as well as preserving one’s health when balanced. Updhatus is one of the peculiar concepts described in Ayurved. The bodily elements responsible for the sustenance of life, derived from dhatus and performing similar functions as that of dhatus, but in a limited capacity are called Updhatus. Updhatus are considered secondary to dhatus as they do not nourish any other entity in the same body. Stanya i.e., breastmilk is said to be updhatu derived from rasa dhatu. The characteristic of the class Mammalia is the ability to produce milk i.e stanya, an externally secreted fluid designed specifically to nourish the young ones. Explaining stages of life, new-borns are described as Kshirad and Kshirannada for the first few months of their life. That's why stanya is the most important food for children since it not only gives them energy but also helps them grow and develop properly throughout this time. Even during the Vedic Period, breast milk was thought to be a complete meal for new-borns. The focus of the current review was on the idea of stanya, or breast milk, as it is described in Ayurvedic literature, and its relevance today.