Doshik Stanya Dushti: An Ayurvedic Review on Breast Milk Vitiation and Its Therapeutic Approaches
1Shubham Patil and 2*Swapnil Raskar
1,2PG and PhD Department of Kaumarbhritya, Parul Institute of Ayurveda, Parul University, Limda, Vadodara - 391760 (India) 1wisdomshubham@gmail.com *Corresponding Author: Dr. Swapnil Raskar swapnil.raskar@paruluniversity.ac.in Mob.No. 9726587013
ABSTRACT
Breast milk is considered the most essential and natural source of nourishment for infants, contributing not only to physical growth but also to cognitive and emotional development. Ayurveda emphasizes the significance of “Shuddha Stanya” (pure breast milk), describing its ideal qualities such as pleasant taste, mild aroma, lightness, and nutritive value. However, when the doshas—Vata, Pitta, or Kapha—become imbalanced, they vitiate breast milk, leading to a condition known as Stanya Dushti. Classical Ayurvedic texts, including those of Charaka, Sushruta, and Vagbhata, provide detailed descriptions of eight types of vitiated milk and their impact on infants. These disturbances manifest through altered organoleptic properties—such as changes in color, taste, smell, and viscosity—as well as clinical outcomes in infants, including gastrointestinal disturbances, respiratory issues, irritability, delayed milestones, and nutritional deficiencies.Factors contributing to Stanya Dushti include improper maternal diet, psychological stress, sedentary lifestyle, exposure to toxins, and impaired digestion. Modern perspectives often focus only on nutritional and immunological content of milk, whereas Ayurveda highlights the role of maternal ahara (diet), vihara (lifestyle), and manas (mental health) in determining its quality. Importantly, Ayurvedic management prioritizes correction in the mother rather than direct treatment of the infant.