PRACTICE OF VETHUKULI IN POSTNATAL CARE AMONG STREE ROGA – PRASUTI TANTRA SPECIALISTS ACROSS KERALA – A CROSSSECTIONAL DESCRIPTIVE STUDY

Puerperium is the period following childbirth during which the body tissues, especially the pelvic organs revert back approximately to the pre-pregnant state both anatomically and physiologically. This period is crucial for the health and survival of both the mother and her newborn. Pregnancy and postnatal period involve metabolic overload and nutritional deficiency which can compromise a woman’s health and immune status. Due to the strain involved in labor and the loss of fluid and blood from body dhathukshaya will develop, which can lead to vata vitiation and agnimandya. Therefore, a delivered woman should be nursed very carefully to attain vata balance, correcting agni and dhathukshaya, thereby improving her bala and vyadhikshamathwa. This study specifically focuses on the Vihara - Parisheka, popularly known as Vethukuli in Kerala. Parisheka is a type of drava sweda in which ushnodaka processed with medicinal herbs is continuously poured over body. Nearly all Ayurveda Acharyas have mentioned Parisheka in the context of postnatal care. A standard procedure regarding Vethukuli including its duration, method of administration, and specific medicinal ingredients are lacking. The objective of this study is to explore the practice of Vethukuli in postnatal care among Stree Roga – Prasuti Tantra specialists across Kerala with minimum one year of clinical experience, through a telephonic assisted data collection using a validated semi structured questionnaire via Google Form. The sample size was calculated using Yamane formula for a finite population. After adjusting for a 10% non-response rate, the final sample size was determined to be 156. The results will be analyzed using descriptive statistics, thematic analysis for open-ended responses and suitable statistical test according to data.