Sutkeri Masala – Nepali Traditional Recipe-The Best Puerperal Health Tonic

Sitkeri Masala is a research article based on traditional knowledge and practice of Nepali community written by Dr. Buddhi Prasad Paudel, MD Ayurveda(Kayachikitsa) , Medical Director & Senior Consultant Ayurveda Specialist, Aatreya Aarogya Mandir & Research Center, Budhanilakantha-12, Kathmandu.

Sutkeri Masala is a traditional health tonic used in various communities of Nepali society. It has been used for centuries as a nutritional supplement to strengthen the postpartum mother’s body and improve the health of the newborn baby.

Abstract

Background

Health promotion in developing countries like Nepal is almost impossible without developing Ayurveda and incorporating it into the national health care system. Reproduction, child health, maternal nutrition and diet is mentioned in Ayurveda classics. Normal puerperium is six weeks post-delivery period when maternal system returns to pre-gravid state.

Method

In traditional Nepali culture use of Ayurveda based recipe is popular in different ethnic societies for healthy puerperium & post natal period. Methika,Yavani,Nepali Soop, Maricha, Chokada, Madhise Badam, Kaju, Mishri, Jaiphal, Gond, Dalchini, Ghrita, Narikel,Battisa and Khuwa are the ingredients of Sutkeri Masala. The preparation of the same resembles Abaleha Kalpana.

Results

Regular use of Sutkeri Masala in the dose of 10 to 20 gram twice daily during puerperal period helps in healthy restoration of physiological changes in pregnancy.

Conclusion

Sutkeri Masala is safe and time tested traditional Nepali recipe. It is helpful in restoration of changes in pregnancy, prevention of complication in puerperium, lactation promotion and healthy newborn.

Keywords: Ayurveda, Sutkeri Masala, Puerperium

Introduction

Health promotion in developing countries like Nepal is almost impossible without developing existing traditional medical systems (TRM) and incorporating it into the national health care system. Every traditional medical system has its own concept, quality, principle and philosophy. Nepal is rich in both- traditional medical knowledge as well as natural resources.

We are losing our century old cultural-based indigenous knowledge and practices including herbal resources in many ways.

Traditional medical knowledge holders and practitioners, codified literatures/ Prior arts, non-codified knowledge or practices or technologies, organizations or individual preserving classical manuscripts and working in the sectors of Ayurveda and Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs) are not in national resource list and they are in a state of erosions/extinction/serious threat.

Government organizations, academic institutions, legal institutions/individuals, research institutions – medical and bio-prospecting research, floral research, genetic research –  individuals from different fields, IT specialists, language specialists are the national stake holders and also responsible for the work.

Significant numbers of traditional healers and their indigenous medical knowledge, recipes, technologies, herbal resources, minerals, animal parts etc. are important components and resources of traditional medicines. Piracy or loss of non-codified knowledge, practices, recipes and other resources is one of the major problems of traditional medicine.

Reproduction, child health, maternal nutrition and diet is mentioned in Ayurveda classics. Normal puerperium is post-delivery six weeks period when maternal system returns to pre-gravid state. Management of normal puerperium is prevention of PPH, Care of bowel and bladder habit, use of iron folic acid, care of perineum, care of breast, breast feeding, postpartum exercises, food advices, infant feeding, infant immunization, use of contraception.

Methodology

Ingredient of Sutkeri Masala: Methika, Yavani, Nepali Soop, Maricha, Chokada, Madhise Badam,Kaju, Mishri, Jaiphal, Gond, Dalchichini, Ghrita, Narikel, Battisa and Khuwa.

Method of preparation

1. Cleaning: All ingredients
2. Soaking: Soak Methika, Yavani and Nepali Soop separately for 24 hrs.
3. Grinding:Grind Methika, Yavani, Nepali Soop, Chokada, Narikel, Kaju, Badam, Maricha, Dalchini separately in mixture grinder
4. Frying: Ghee from churning of butter in traditional wooden pot is best. Gond is fried and kept in a pot. The paste of Methika, Soop and Yavani is fried in ghee till it becomes brown red and Gandha, Varna & Rasa Utpatti. During frying process Agni should be Manda.
5. Mixing: Kaju, Badam, Narikel, Battisa, Khuwa, Dalchini, Gond should be mixed in the paste prepared. Stirring should be continued till all ingredients mix homogenously.
6. Paka test: Blackish-brown color, separation from pot, smell of ingredient
7. Svangasheet: let it cool.
8. Storage: Airtight  stainless steel container

Dose & Method of using

5-10 gram twice daily with milk.

Self-life

2 months

Results

Regular use of Sutkeri Masala in the dose of 10 to 20 gram twice daily during puerperial period helps in healthy restoration of physiological changes in pregnancy.

Discussion

In traditional Nepali culture use of Ayurveda based recipe is popular in different ethnic societies for healthy puerperium & post natal period. This practice is useful in prevention of puerperial complications like puerperal pyrexia, puerperal sepsis, venous thrombosis & breast complications like engorged breast, cracked nipple, retracted nipple, acute mastitis and breast abscess, failing lactation and suppression of lactation.

The use of Sutkeri Masala helps to restore the physiological change in pregnancy. During pregnancy valve becomes vascular and hypertrophied; vagina becomes vascular and soft; gravid uterus enlarges (10ml non pregnant increases to 3 liters), undergoes hyperplasia and hypertrophy up to 12 weeks; cervix vascular, edematous and soft; breast increase throughout pregnancy; linea nigra, stria gravidarum and stria albicans appear. Pregnant women gain 10 kg weight till term.

Cardiac output increases, pulse rate increase by 10/m, femoral venous pressure raises, blood volume increases, red cells increase, ESR increases, tidal volume rises, extracellular water retention; metabolic changes in protein ,carbohydrate, lipid, calcium and Iron; nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite in early pregnancy; constipation and GERD in late pregnancy; local immunological suppression specific to foeto-placental tract; lordosis and relaxation of joints by relaxin; maternal hormonal changes in pituitary and parathyroid; placental hormone- hCG and HPL; steroid hormone- progesterone and estrogen. Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) seeds contain mucilage, trigonelline, 4-hydroxyisoleucine, sotolon, diosgenin, luteolin, phenolic acids, and protodioscin.

Fenugreek has been used in a number of geographical regions worldwide as a galactagogue to increase milk supply and is included in numerous proprietary mixtures promoted to increase milk supply. Preliminary research in Nepalese kitchen spices for their antibacterial activities shows positive results.

Conclusion

Sutkeri Masala is safe and time tested traditional Nepali recipe. It is helpful in restoration of changes in pregnancy, prevention of complication in puerperium, lactation promotion and healthy newborn.

Sutkeri Masala Sutkeri Masala Sutkeri Masala Sutkeri Masala