Prana Pratyagamanam (Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation)

The “Prana-Pratyagamanam (Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation)” book written by Dr. B.M. Singh is a unique book on the Ayurvedic and modern aspects of in-uteroasphyxia, birth asphyxia and associated complication, neonatal resuscitation including their management. The book has recent guidelines on the neonatal resuscitation. It will be very useful in providing instant information on the resuscitation/Prana-Pratyagamanam to the BAMS, Diploma course[Post Graduate Diploma in Neonatal and Child care (Ay)] as well as MD (Ay) students.

Dr. Brij Mohan Singh s/o Shri Ram Swaroop Singh and late Smt. Balwanti Devi; MD (Ay); Ph.D.; Associate Professor and HOD-Dep’t of Kaumarbhritya/Balroga; Faculty of Ayurveda, Institute of Medical Sciences, BHU, Varanasi has produced many MD (Ay) and PhD scholars, published more than twenty research papers, monograph, manual and authored many chapters in books. He is associated with academic and administrative bodies of important research and academic institutions of Ayurveda. He is skilled and expert in neonatal resuscitation. Dr. Sigh is a known renowned personality in the field neonatology and Ayurvedic pediatrics.

Birth of a newborn child fulfill the wishes of every parent with joy and adds the golden wings to their dreams. The aim of every neonatologist is to make all the possible efforts for keeping the child healthy by combating all the possible illness at birth and thereafter. With this view, I have made an effort to bring out the scattered information on the Prana-Pratyagamanam as mentioned in “Birthattrayai” of Ayurvedic medical science as well as on the resuscitation-methodology, complications and their management with the available treatment in medical science, in this book.

An earnest effort has been made to provide up to date information. Emphasis has been given to practical tips and management of Asphyxia, Ulvaka, HIE, TTN etc. diseases.

I am confident that this book will be useful in providing instant information on the resuscitation/Prana-Pratyagamanam to the BAMS/ MD (Ay) students. This book will be also helpful to manage all the critical asphyxiated children and associated common complications.

Constructive criticism and suggestions are always welcome for the improvement.

A number of person have inspired me to envision, plan and produce this edition. I am most grateful to Prof. P.V.Tewari, a learned and most venerated teacher who has given me a consistent inspiration, suggestion and guidance to complete this work. I am also grateful to my special one Dr. Sangeeta Gehlot for moral support and evoked much interest in completing the present work. Mr. Atul Kumar, Publisher-Choukhamba Orientalia, Varanasi has personally supervised and provided this work in book form in due time deserves special thanks.

Ayurveda, the science of life, having been preached by the God of creation Lord Brahma prior to or simultaneously to specific creation i.e. human, animals, birds and plants for the maintenance not only their existence but healthy, active, productive long life. He also preached Vedas to enrich the knowledge. Thus initially the knowledge of Ayurveda and Vedas was flowing concurrently, it is but natural then Vedas also contains number of reference concerning Ayurveda particularly with various aspects care and protection etc of progeny. In protecting (the child) importance of air or vital breadth was accepted. Static states of any knowledge is detrimental for its growth and becomes gradually unacceptable to the society, knowledge has to be flowing continuously enriching it-self with newer and newer advancement from all available sources. Though in golden era of Ayurveda i.e. few hundred years B.C. to 6th century A.D. the arena of Ayurveda incessantly expanded, yet in later period but for addition of use of metals and sub metals as well certain recipes nothing tangible was recorded. The twentieth century may be considered as the period of renaissance which is continuing even in this century.

In health scenario with century witnessed a new trend i.e. much emphasis on health of women and children, in Ayurveda very few books are available on this topic.

The word “Prana” besides breath, respiration, breath of life refers to vitality energy or powers (Bala, Parakrama) etc. The “Pratyagama” is “Coming back or arrival”. This indicates that word “Prana Pratyagamanam” of Ayurveda extends much beyond the establishment of respiration only.

While, the word resuscitation limits to “prevention of asphyxiated death by artificial respiration”. Probably due to this the author has very rightly included the complications of asphyxia likely to influence vitality, powers etc.

It is need of time to enrich the literature of Ayurveda deriving the knowledge from different sources, Dr. B.M. Singh, a young. Dynamic teacher, clinician and researcher has written badly needed book on “Prana Pratyagamanam” extracting the knowledge from Ayurvedic as well as modern neonatology for which he deserves congratulation. I hope and wish that he will pursue this “Saraswati Sadhana” in all days to come.