Being a new parent, you might want to know everything possible to give your baby the best start. It is a very common thought for almost all new parents. But as a new parent, your first and foremost priority should be to keep your child healthy, aid its development, and take steps to boost immunity. It is in the early years that a child's maximum development is achieved physically and mentally.
Ayurveda, the go-to option for our mothers and theirs as well, has suggested many ways you can achieve this. Some of these ways are for physical development, some for mental development and others for the overall growth of a baby.
One such way to foster the development of a baby suggested by Ayurveda is Swarna Prashan.
What is Swarna Prashan?
Swarna Prashana is basically a process of fostering baby development and enhancing their immunity. This, however, is not only for infants. Any child up to the age of 16 can be given this Swarna Prashana.
It is some herbs mixed with gold, a noble metal, and given in the form of a paste or liquid. Usually, swarna bhasma, commonly known as gold dust, is mixed with honey and herbs like brahmi, shankhpushpi, etc to make a therapeutic mix that has a really high recommendation in Ayurveda.
Swarna Prashana for Baby
Swarna Prashana can be given to babies from an infant age. The sooner, the better. It has some highly preventive and promotive aspects that help babies fight against certain kinds of diseases, aid in their development and also boost the immune system. This oral method of enhancing immunity has been followed since the Vedic period.
In many cultures of India, there's a specific ceremony for this. In the ceremony, the father feeds the baby a small amount of clarified butter ( ghee) mixed with honey, after rubbing his gold ring in the mixture. It is after this ceremony that the baby is given swarna prashana regularly.
How to give Swarna Prashana?
The first thing you should remember while giving your baby Swarna Prashana is, that it is herbal medicine. You've got to be careful with the quantity.
Just feed the baby a small amount of the mixture every morning. It is better to give it the first thing in the morning.
You can easily get it online or in some ayurvedic stores. Mix it with honey and clarified butter and you're good to go?
If your baby is under six months, two drops of swarna prashana are enough for him/her. And if the baby is six months or older, you can mix four drops with the suggested ingredients.
It should be given regularly for a period of a minimum of 30 days, i.e. a month, and a maximum of 180 days, i.e. 6 months.
When should you start giving Swarna Prashana?
It is an ayurvedic mix of herbs with ghee, honey, and gold dust that is fit even for your infant. So, considering this, you can start giving it to your baby from the first week of birth itself. It won't harm your baby, but rather boost their immunity.
Additionally, you can give it to your child anyway if he/ she is less than 16 years old. The ayurvedic mix is a great immunity booster for children between the ages of 0-16 years.
It's just if you start giving it to them sooner, the healthier they'll be while growing up.
Are there any side effects of Swarna Prashana?
If we go with Ayurveda, there are no side effects noted so far. Because of its rich composition, it is considered good for your baby. However, when it comes to the scientific approach, certain questions have been raised by doctors over time.
Doctors claim that, contrary to what Ayurveda suggests, swarna prashana can cause immune dysfunction or bone marrow depression due to the presence of metal.
These are all the facts about Swarna Prashana. It is completely up to you to decide whether you want to give it to your baby or not. You can even consult your child's paediatrician for the same.
