Concept of Dhatri (wet nurse) in perspective of Ayurveda w.r.t. Babylonian Code of Hammurabi
Abstract
Ayurveda, the native healthcare system of India, is a rich resource of well-documented ancient medical knowledge. Although the roots of this knowledge date back to the Vedic and post-Vedic eras, it is generally believed that a dedicated branch for healthcare was gradually established approximately between 400 BC and 200 AD. It is well known and nature’s gift that breastfeeding is the best nutrition for human infants. There are several problems in motherhood so in such cases there is an alternative source for breastfeeding given in the code of Hammurabi and Ayurveda. But in today’s world, there are advancements in the technology through which we preserve mother's breast milk and form milk bank and formula feed for baby. But there is a lack of love, care, and nutritional values that varies in the milk bank and formula feed. Due to advancement in the technology, there is some drawback which affects the baby normal life in term of nutritional value. Anger, grief, and lack of affection, etc. cause loss of breast milk. Ayurveda has a concept of Dhatri from an ancient time in the absence of mother milk for the baby. Dhatri another mother for the baby. Hence this article reviews the concept of Dhatri (wet nurse) in perspective of Ayurveda w.r.t. Babylonian Code of Hammurabi.
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