Ashtangasamgraha 2.36

2.36

Diseases enter a different state due to medical errors and destiny. / Better indeed is snake venom, or flaming fire and iron.

Therefore, especially by means of agreeable and beneficial [measures], one should protect her from things that harm the fetus; and in whatever manner the fetus grows, in that very manner the woman suffers a loss of strength due to the non-consumption of heavy food and the drawing away of the nutrient fluid of her food.

Now, these are the factors that harm the fetus:

namely, sexual intercourse, physical exercise, emaciation, trauma, riding in extremely jolting vehicles, staying awake at night, sleeping by day, suppression of natural urges, indigestion, exposure to sunlight and fire, anger, grief, fear, terror, fasting, squatting or sitting on uneven and hard seats, looking at or listening to chasms, wells, waterfalls, and disagreeable things, and so forth;

in brief, all food and drink that is excessively heavy, hot, sharp, or dry, and violent activities.

When the cold has subsided, sour eructation, fainting, intoxication, and thirst arise.

At will, however, one may eliminate his waste products with milk or evacuating enemas.

One should place the burden of these qualified [measures] upon sand.

One whose limbs are afflicted by vāta-fever should drink an intermediate draught.