Dr. Avinash Gole

Pregnancy and childbirth are matters of great importance in a woman’s life. A woman needs to be taken care of and made the centre of attention during this phase. The set of rules that are prescribed in Ayurveda are very important for pregnant women. They give you detailed information about the Vichara (thought process), Vihara (lifestyle) and Ahara (diet) which are recommended to be followed at various stages during the pregnancy period. The general guidelines that are recommended to be followed during pregnancy are:

Do's

1. Maintain a healthy, mild, easy to digest diet
2. Keep your food timings regular
3. Keep your mental health constant and keep yourself happy

Don'ts

1. Avoid foods that are spicy or contain too much oil
2. Do not engage in sexual intercourse, intense work out regimen during pregnancy
3. Try to avoid negative feelings and general feelings of discontent
4. Do not cover your abdomen with heavy blankets
5. While wearing your clothes, do not tie tight knots over your abdomen
6. Do not change sides during your sleep without getting up
7. Avoid sleeping on your back and sleep on your sides

In Ayurveda, the guidelines to a healthy pregnancy are given in accordance to months.

1. First month: A mixture of natural supplements such as khajoor, draksha, vijari and manooka are taken with milk. This mixture is consumed through most of the time. In the first twelve days of pregnancy, drink a mixture of ‘Salaparni’ herb with milk. This mixture should be made in a vessel of precious metal (silver or gold). Also, avoid getting massages during this time and delay that until your fifth month.
2. Second month: The mixture of the natural supplements with milk is continued.
3. Thrid month: Drink the above supplements with milk, honey and ghee.
4. Fourth month: The same mixture is consumed with milk and honey,but the ghee should be replaced with butter.
5. Fifth month: The supplements are continued and along with it, gentle oil massage is started. Take bath with lukewarm water every day and continue this regimen until delivery.
6. Sixth month: The fifth month regime is continued
7. Seveth month: An itchy and burning sensation on the breast and stomach may be felt during this time as the foetus grows in size. It is recommended to eat in small quantities, have sweet things with ghee or oil to make it easy to digest. Salt intake should be kept at a minimum. Avoid drinking water right after a meal.
8. Eighth month: Rice is made into a paste and is consumed with milk and ghee.
9. Ninth month: The eighth month diet should be followed along with oil massages. Massage oil on your belly and genital areas. Hygiene should be maintained to avoid infections. Lubricate your vagina with a cotton ball dipped in oil to provide a smooth passage when the baby is born. If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult an ayurveda and ask a free question.

Fish is one of the great things for your heart and as the saying goes what is good for your heart is good for sex. We should add fish to our meals and have some sort of fish at least once a week. Salmon, mackerel, tuna and sardines are rich in omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA. These are great to help elevate the dopamine levels in the brain which help trigger arousal. Studies further show that high levels of Omega-3 help a person be happier and more at ease, which in turn helps them with arousal and sex.

Apart from these benefits omega 3 lowers the symptoms of depression which is a major source of sexual health problems. It also helps with better brain function, heart arrhythmias, blood clots, better brain function, and protection against dementia.

Fish is also high in L-argine, and as we wrote on the site before in fruits for sexual health, argine stimulates the release of growth hormone and is turned into nitric oxide in the body. Which in turn is crucial when it comes to erections for men, it also helps women with their sexual function.

MRI or Magnetic Resonance Imaging is a process of reproducing images from the structures & organs of the insides of the body on the computer screen with the help of energy pulses generated from the radio waves using a magnetic field placed inside a special machine.

MRI is used to diagnose various medical conditions like internal injuries or bleeding, rupture of blood vessels & other internal infections. However, an MRI scan is also useful for diagnosis of brain tumors, brain strokes, spinal tumors, bone tumors, ruptured ligaments, breast cancers, aneurysm etc. MRI scan is also used to detect problems in liver, gallbladder, kidneys, eyes and ears that are otherwise unrecognisable.

On comparing it with other similar imaging processes like ultrasound imaging, CT scans & X-rays, you will come across the following facts:

1. MRI can effortlessly produce images from different directions & orientations of one particular structure.
2. MRI is also helpful for getting detailed & precise images of soft tissues in comparison to similar imaging processes.
3. MRI provides a macroscopic overview of the body in contrast to other imaging processes like ultrasound which concentrates on a minute examination of your body parts.
4. MRI is also useful to determine the limit to which cancer has spread in the body.
5. MRI can be useful to detect health issues when other imaging processes fail, because of its multi-faceted image recording technique.