A comparative study of milk flow rate, milk quantity, and the excellent and medium quality milk characteristics in first normal postpartum women in each group of four elements and the Benjakalyani’s characteristics according to the principles of Thai traditional medicine

Abstract

Objective: To comparative study of milk flow rate, milk quantity, and the excellent and medium quality milk characteristics in first normal postpartum women in each group of four elements and the Benjakalyani’s characteristics.

Materials and Methods: Ninety-nine people aged 18-35 were volunteers at the obstetrics ward at Thammasat University Hospital. Volunteers passed the inclusion criteria for the research project, collecting general obstetrics, four elements of the body, and Benjakalyani’s characteristics information. Use the obtained data to compare the milk flow rate, evaluate the quality of excellent and medium milk characteristics, and measure the amount of milk by weighing the baby, which collects data at 2-6, 12, 24, 36, and 48 hours after delivery. All volunteers received routine medical care, taking ginger herbal tea twice daily, one glass (250 ml) each time, for two days or 48 hours after delivery.

Results: 1) Milk flow rate: There was no statistically significant difference (p>0.05) between the flow rate of both breasts in each of the four elements and Benjakalyani’s characteristics. However, when considering the average maximum milk flow rate, the fire element was higher than the water, wind, and earth element groups at 2-6, 12, 24, 36, and 48 hours after delivery. 2) Quantity milk: The quantity of milk was not significantly different (p>0.05) between the groups of four elements and Benjakalyani's characteristics. The fire element had the highest amount of milk, followed by the water, earth, and wind elements, respectively.

The characteristics of Benjakalyani were found in type 2, with the highest amount of milk, followed by type 1, type 4, and type 3, respectively. 3) Quality milk: The excellent and medium quality milk characteristics were found to be not significantly different (p>0.05) in both of the four elements and Benjakalyani's characteristics. The water element had the highest amount of excellent quality milk, followed by the wind element. It was found that the Benjakalyani’s characteristics most frequently found with excellent quality milk were type 1.

Conclusion: The fire element has the highest milk flow rate and quantity, and the water element has the highest excellent quality milk characteristics.