Indigenous form of ancient indian method of postpartum care in Kolam tribe of Maharashtra

The objective of this research paper is to describe the traditional method of postpartum care prevalent in the Kolam tribe of Maharashtra and find out the changes in its adherence over time and throw light on the remedial measures. For the research, information was collected from 116 married Kolam women residing in seven villages of Kalamb tehsil of Yavatmal district. Research result shows that the Kolam women provide postpartum care that includes warm, liquid food that is easy to digest, adequate relaxation, massages, and hot water baths. Sutika keeps away from the outside world, following the notions of impurity and restrictions of oily, chillyspiced, indigestible, sour, and cold-natured meals for at least forty days. In addition, herbal therapies and home remedies use to manage postpartum health issues. Despite the availability of modern medical facilities, the faith and dependence of Kolam women on traditional methods are still intact. While on the one hand, modern medical methods provide quick recovery in emergency and unsafe situations, on the other hand, the traditional practice of postpartum care forms the basis for a healthy and long life. This research paper emphasizes the need to integrate traditional healthcare practices into modern healthcare methods to preserve and make effective the existing intellectual heritage of traditional Indian postpartum care.