Postnatal Depression…..Or Depletion?

Some readers of these blogs may have seen a recent report in the press about the work of an Australian family practitioner, Dr. Oscar Serrallach, who runs an integrative heath clinic in rural Australia. He has spent many years studying the phenomenon which he describes as ‘postnatal depletion’, and treating women who have developed a wide variety of health issues following the birth of a child. Postnatal depression has long been well documented, but the variety of ailments which he has identified go much further, including such diverse problems as low energy and lethargy, memory disturbances, loss of self-confidence and gut conditions. Furthermore, he emphasises that these problems often remain for years after the birth. Because our medical system is concerned with disease management rather than wellness there is no mention anywhere of this phenomenon in the medical literature, he maintains.

For thousands of years Ayurveda has been aware of the need for attention to be paid to individual doshic balance before, during and after the birth of a child. The process of making a baby is highly resource intensive and any underlying imbalances, even those present before conception, can easily rise to the surface as a result of the depletion of nutrients which are being directed to the developing foetus. Ayurveda refers to the seven ‘dhatus’ (tissues) which are involved in the formation of the body – plasma, blood, muscle, fat, bone, marrow/nerve and reproductive tissue.

These vital tissues supply nourishment, growth and structure to the entire body and if the developing foetus utilises the last remaining raw materials in any of these categories a problem can arise in any organ or system of the mother’s body, for example in the brain, the gut, the heart, the joints or the circulatory system. If there is a virus or parasite present this will naturally make matters worse.

Ayurveda makes use of a variety of herbs to assist in feeding these vital tissues and even after the birth a 41-day program is followed to ensure that balance is maintained. A Vata balancing diet incorporating warm and spicy foods is also encouraged to reduce the Vata aggravation which causes the body organs to swell.

The surest way to avoid health problems arising from pregnancy or childbirth is to arrange for an Ayurvedic consultation as soon as the pregnancy is confirmed. Taking care of individual nutritional requirements, as well as mental and emotional balance at this early stage can prevent many problems further down the line. Call us on 1300 552 260 for an appointment.

Image courtesy of FrameAngel, Freedigitalphotos.net