Management of Postpartum Depression in Ayurveda -a Critical Case Study

Pregnancy and Puerperium are at times is sufficiently stressful to provoke mental illness. Today there is decrease in post-partum mother death due to availabilities of well-equipped hospitals but Postpartum Psychosis or other mental health conditions are increasing day by day. Among them the most common psychological effects following after childbirth is postpartum depression, it is very common in cities due to isolated and nuclear family pattern and lack of care in antenatal and postnatal phase due to lack of interest or treating the procedure as hectic job which has to perform not for themselves but for the society insane. The pathophysiology of development of the PPD is explained by different models like biological, psychological, integrated, and evolutionary models, which relate the result of the condition. Later in life, if PPD is not treated properly, it may results in developing obsessive- compulsive disorder, anxiety and other psychological risk factors. It also affects the mother-child bonding. Postpartum depression (PPD) not only affects the mother but also has a significant negative impact on the child's emotional, mental as well as intellectual development if left untreated, which can later have long-term complications in them. We can easily prevent it by early diagnosis and timely care and management of the mother by using holistic approach of Ayurveda. Understanding the underlying pathophysiology would also go a long way in preventing and managing the disorder Sootika Vishada which is similar condition mentioned in Ayurvedic texts.