KUPOSHANAJANYA VYADHI IN CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS TO KARSHYA AND PHAKKA

Children need proper nutrition to grow up healthy and develop normally. An adequate, balanced diet is necessary to avoid many common health problems. In India, malnourishment in children has caused many illnesses including infectious diseases. The ancient Ayurvedic literature refers to the nutritional disorders as Kuposhanjanya Vyadhis. There are many nutritional deficiency disorders under Kuposhanjanya Vyadhis. The ancient Ayurvedic texts provide a detailed description of different nutritional deficiencies, including Phakka, Parigarbhika and Balashosha. Phakka Roga is one of them which mean to have an emaciated body, which occurs because of lack of nourishment. Similarly Ayurveda provided description of Phakka Roga which refers to weakness or lack of vitality due to being very poor health condition associated with malnutrition. Ayurveda recommended Brimhana (nourishing) and Rasayana therapies along with easily digestible and nutritious foods to restore tissues. This article put special emphasis to Karshya and Phakka Roga under the umbrella of Kuposhanajanya Vyadhi.