Ayurveda and breastfeeding

[Guest guest]

Hi Everyone,

Is it true that Ayurveda tells mothers not the breastfeed their kids past one

year?  If so, is there a reason for it?  One ayurvedic practitioner told me

this, and I have also seen it mentioned in some websites, such as

http://ayurveda-foryou.com/women/breastfeeding.html ( " Gradually, breast-feeding

should be stopped and the child should be given solid food from the age of one

year. " )

Thanks in advance,

Gayathri

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi Gayathri -

 

This is a misrepresentation of some information that is helpful, as

well as of tendencies according to some teachers and not others.

Breastfeeding after a year from what I've seen and was taught, tends

to be more of an emotional issue, less of important nutritional for

many babies. Yes, breast milk still offers not only such precious

comfort and as we are calling it in the west, beneficial attachment

parenting. And it offers continued so sattvic nutrition with a little

protein and other nutrients, and the special ingredient both human and

cow's milk give, that word " ojas " . It does also becomes more

difficult process after this time, due to the emotional stickiness

factor.

 

After the body cuts teeth (most often around 6 months) Baby is

beginning to secrete digestive enzymes to handle other nutrients which

were intended to digest for body-mind-spirit needs as Dr. Thite has so

well expressed. So actually, " solid " food (actually very soupy then

mushy of course) is best started around 6 months. It has to be a

gradual process of introduction too, and cultivating the digestive

strength as well as introducing the 6 tastes which give balance of

nutrients correctly used. So breastmilk continues to be important in

this transition, as well as for special circumstances whether it is

comforting a fall or bedtime or stressful event.

 

I do see many mothers overdoing their attachment to breastfeeding and

if they are depleting themselves (or Baby) then that seems to me a

good time to both attend to rejuvenation and a shift in who gets what

nutrients and comfort where. For families where there are extra

stressors - a move, loss of family member, separations, other traumas

- continuing breastfeeding is such a blessing for both Baby and Mama

also. For many, it is a beautiful process of several years. Kapha

mamas tend to handle longer breastfeeding best.

 

Dr. Mishra gave a wonderful lecture many years ago in Boulder I

attended, on the 6 tastes and " Nutrition by taste alone " - describing

how the B vitamins, cooling, antibacterials, liver cleansing and other

features come from bitter taste, antioxidants, warmth and grounding et

al including C from sour, what is needed to build tissue and

contentment from sweet taste (yes, that also includes oil, carrots,

many things), tissue toning, grounding and cooling from astringent;

warmth, digestive support et al from pungent; and minerals, digestive,

absorptive and other help from salty tastes. Again, very fascinating!

Dr. Lad/Frawley's book the Yoga of Herbs and other resources on

Ayurveda talk at more length on the influences of each taste,

including the up and down side of too much/too little, and herbal

examples.

 

So some of this will be found in the materials I've published before,

and insufficient discussion was previously offered to other aspects of

it. Whether this info came as misinterpretation from my writings, I'm

happy to have the opportunity to respond here. There are so many

factors, it is not at all appropriate to give a rigid rule about any

of it - and it is still very important to attend to what is happening

with both maternal and infant physical as well as emotional health,

not just from a concept that one should breast feed for this long or

that long.

 

Hope this clarifies?

 

Blessings,

Ysha