Natural therapy and recovery
Doing the month is arts and science that has been practiced since the good old days until these days. It is folk wisdom that flows through many generations as our grandparents see the importance of postpartum health of a mother. Today, ancient traditions meet modern practices combining a variety of useful herbs to help women recover after parturition.
Why is doing the month necessary for postpartum care?
During pregnancy, internal organs of women’s body are expanded including hair follicles and blood vessels. Body temperature becomes lower as it is replaced by coldness flowing from outside. The four elements: earth, water, air and fire, are changed resulting in body imbalance and health problems as follows:
• body ache and bone pain;
• shivering due to raining or cold air;
• bad blood circulation due to irregular menstrual cycle;
• foul-smelling leukorrhea;
• dry and darkened skin especially on private part area.
That’s why the postpartum care comes in. It helps maintain balance of body temperature, promote healthy condition and ward off illness.
In the past “YooFai” was done by the mothers stay in the small hut with thatched roof (old way house made of dry leaves) warming herself by the fire together with the baby in the basket and the mothers lie or sit on the flat wood, shower and drink warm water every day, stop injurious food, eat rice with salt which again old people believe that salt will replaced the water that sweat during the “YooFai”.
There were 2 ways of “YooFai” in the past,
1. Staying fire: lying by the fire near the abdomen.
2. Stretcher (sling bed made of bamboo) fire: the mother lie down on the stretcher and the stove was underneath (roast method),
Normally they would use the 1st way. Husband or relative will take care of fire. Normally “Yoo Fai” will take about 7-15 days after delivery and the mothers will not leave the room in order to maintain balance of body temperature, promote healthy condition and ward off illness.
Now, they way of “YooFai” still be using both method and name “YooFai” but the system is changed by the replaced of a New Theory of Medicine. YooFai has been promoted recently by applied traditional Thai medicine e.g. hot herbal compress, herbal steam bath, lukewarm water showering or hot herbal compress with salt steam.
Care steps to postpartum health
1. Herbal bath
Herbal bath helps enlarge pores allowing skin to better absorb herbal nutrients. It is a marvelous way to relax, remove dead skin cells, stimulate breast milk expression and get rid of foul smell from parturition while a mother soaks away.
2. Hot herbal compress with salt steam
3. Stone compressing
Stone compressing is a method of healing traumatic uterus, reducing lochia, bringing uterus to its normal position and relieving pain in lower abdomen, back and inner thighs.
4. Herbal compressing
Herbal compressing helps stimulate blood circulation. Herbs are absorbed into the body relieving postpartum pain, strain and sprain.
5. Herbal steam bath
Herbal steam bath offers a great way to detoxify, refresh your skin, reduce lochia, send uterus back to normal position and bring vigor to you.
6. Herbal bath and special formula herbal scrub
Special formula herbal scrub with ginger and jasmine rice helps remove dead skin cells around the neck and over knee- and ankle- joints as well as refresh your skin.
7. Aromatherapy massage
Aromatherapy is an alternative treatment that uses natural essential oils mixed with pure sunflower oil to relieve stress, prevent postpartum depression and moisture your skin for softness and younger look.
When is the right time for postpartum care?
- Natural delivery: 7 days after giving birth
- Caesarean section: 30 days after giving birth
Main herbs used for postpartum care
1. Plai (Zingiber cassumunar Roxb.)
2. Turmeric (Cureuma longa Linn.)
3. Indian arrow root (Cureuma zedoaria Roscoe.)
4. Lemon grass
5. Kaffir lime leaves (Citrus hystrix DC)
6. Javan Turmeric (Curcuma xanthorrhiza Roxb)
7. Mango Ginger (Curcuma amada)
8. Leaves of Sompoi (Acacia concinna Wild.)
9. Tangerine leaves
10. Leaves of Ngai camphor (Blumea balsamifera DC.)
11. Leaves of Euphorbia (Croton oblongifolius Roxb.)
ostpartum care benefits
1. Remove lochia 2. Detoxify the body
3. Uterus is in normal position faster. 4. Remove dead skin cells
5. Smooth and radiant skin 6. Faster health recovery
7. Stimulate blood circulation 8. Stimulate milk for breastfeeding