Abstract

LEHANA: AS AN IMMUNOMODULATOR FOR LONGEVITY AMONGST INFANTS

Dr. Deepthi P.* and Dr. Karunya J. G.

Abstract

Childhood, the stage which lays the developmental foundation to an adult life; is a stage of Aparipakwavastha (immaturity) of dhatus including ojas (essence of vitality), where in, the innate and adaptive immunity are immature making the child highly vulnerable to all diseases. Infantile period marks the development of both innate and adaptive immunity and introduction of immune boosters at this age is appropriate in building the immune system. Rightly Acharya Kashyapa has put forth the concept of Lehana (electuaries) in infants, because Lehana supports unperturbed growth and development of child by improving vyadikshamatwa (immunity) and bala (body strength) in early stages of life has a direct bearing on longevity. Lehana formulation has a special effect in infants with quicker action as the partial absorption of medicine occurs through the buccal mucosa. This paper is an attempt to analyse the immunomodulatory action of lehanadravyas in the light of modern concepts of immunity and its effect on longevity.

Keywords: Lehana, Immune Booster, Longevity in Children.