ayurvedic infant oil bath or massage

[Guest guest]

Dear Dr. Bhate and other group memebers;

Although we were taught to always begin with a palm of warm oil

pooring over the top fontanelle and then full contact oily circles

over the head, this explanation is so much appreciated. Also the use

of oil in ears, nose and eyes, which we know for adult dinacharya

(daily routine, tho not very many practice it for the wonderful

effects) as well. Perhaps this was removed by my initial source of

training " for westerners " interms of what they are likely to accept.

From now on, this will be added to what I encourage mothers and

students. Recently I have enjoyed the benefits of castor oil in my

eyes at bedtime. Thanks so much, Shirish.

 

For those unfamiliar with the word " dhatu " , here is a brief:

Dhatu means tissue in general, specifically one of the 7 tissues

defined in Ayurveda (variations on spelling apply as usual to the

transcriptions). From first to be produced by digestion of food,

which is within minutes to hours, Mamsa dhatu takes on the average as

I remember 8-10 days (food to muscle tissue). The reproductive

tissues (generically often called shukra like we use he instead of it

for collective reference) generally take 28 - 36 days is my

understanding. So when folks say their digestion is " fine " ......how

do they know? They don't necessarily without the skilled assessments

as in ayurvedic pulse reading and other methodology.

 

Rasa - Plasma, which includes breast milk

Rakta - Blood

Mamsa - muscle

Meda - fat

Asti - bone

Majja - nerve, brain and marrow

Atharva or Shukra - reproductive (F & M)

 

Warm Regards;

Ysha

 

> tradition. the oil massage to baby includes putting a few drops of

> oil in nose, ear and even eyes. and a gentle but firm massage on

> crown area of head, where skull is yet to close into ... " Majja "

dhatu in the brain (gray/white matter) gets nourished here. The head

massage takes care of deformation of head, if any, by forceps during

[Guest guest]

According to western medicine we should not put nut oil on babies under a year,

to make sure she has no allergies to nuts. What do you think of that and what do

you think is a good alternative? Vicky

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi Vicki;

This is also what I recommend, although we do not put sesame oil in

that category. Because it is so beneficial for the vata imbalances

common after birth, warming, mildly antiseptic, mildly antifungal to

the skin and absorbing much better thru the skin layers to nourish

into the brain and organs via the skin, it is the preference. Some

babies have high pitta systems and more prone to rashes, usually then

we use sunflower or coconut oil (the latter in warm weather/clime, or

else mix with sesame or sunflower).

 

There are some very nice infant massage oils with organic lavender and

the like sold on our market place. Weleda of course is a standard,

may mothers prefer to buy something packaged that says baby oil on it.

I do not remember what tyupe oil they use, but remember it as good.

As you must know, the more mainstream use of mineral oil as baby oil

is contraindicated, stripping minerals from the body among other

things I am told.

>

> According to western medicine we should not put nut oil on babies

under a year, to make sure she has no allergies to nuts. What do you

think of that and what do you think is a good alternative? Vicky

>

HOpe this helps -

Ysha

[Guest guest]

yes, mineral oil (Johnson's for example) is very drying too. To think that we

all used it on our babies for so many years. tsk. Thanks Ysha.

Vicky

 

 

-

Ysha Oakes

ayurveda

Friday, October 13, 2006 3:27 PM

PerinatalAyurveda forum Re: ayurvedic infant oil bath or massage

 

 

Hi Vicki;

This is also what I recommend, although we do not put sesame oil in

that category. Because it is so beneficial for the vata imbalances

common after birth, warming, mildly antiseptic, mildly antifungal to

the skin and absorbing much better thru the skin layers to nourish

into the brain and organs via the skin, it is the preference. Some

babies have high pitta systems and more prone to rashes, usually then

we use sunflower or coconut oil (the latter in warm weather/clime, or

else mix with sesame or sunflower).

 

There are some very nice infant massage oils with organic lavender and

the like sold on our market place. Weleda of course is a standard,

may mothers prefer to buy something packaged that says baby oil on it.

I do not remember what tyupe oil they use, but remember it as good.

As you must know, the more mainstream use of mineral oil as baby oil

is contraindicated, stripping minerals from the body among other

things I am told.

>

> According to western medicine we should not put nut oil on babies

under a year, to make sure she has no allergies to nuts. What do you

think of that and what do you think is a good alternative? Vicky

>

HOpe this helps -

Ysha