Vagbhata Sanhita and Ashtang Hruday are books of ready to use information in palatable form. Vagbhata arranged his collection in ‘files’ and ‘folders’. Some of these are sutra sthana (history of ayurved and science in short), sharir sthana (embryology, gynecology, midwifery, anatomy, signs of death), nidaan (diagnosis), chikitsa (internal medicine), kalpa (ayurvedic pharmacopeias), and uttar sthana {(shalya tantra (surgery), shalakya tantra (ophthalmology and certain problems related to cranial nerves), kaumar bhrutya tantra (pediatrics), vish tantra or agad tantra (toxicology), bhut vidya (psychiatry), rasayana chikitsa (rejuvenation) and vajikaran (aphrodisiac.)}

The branch kaumarbrutya tantra deals with prenatal, natal and postnatal care in addition to gynecology and obstetrics. The ayurvedic stream of thought believed in principles like ‘a healthy baby is tomorrow’s society’ and ‘neonatal care in time saves future medi-care for a lifetime’. In view of achieving its ultimate aim of creating a healthy society, ayurvedic scholars elaborately described precautions to be taken at every stage of life, from conception to adolescence, in kaumarbrutya tantra. This specialized branch recognized direct links between the physical and mental health of an expecting mother and that of her progeny. It addressed the need for society to remain healthy by giving detailed instructions for care to be taken by a couple planning a family.

Ayurvedic scholars knew that mother’s milk is the best for a baby. It is a must for growth and immunity building. Going one step ahead, they suggested that a child should be fed by another lactating mother if its own mother cannot lactate enough milk. This feeding mother was called the milk mother.

Kaumarbrutya tantra also deals with causes of infertility and treatment for the same. To summarize, kaumarbrutya tantra is that branch of ashtang ayurved, which deals with pediatric issues. It covers all topics related to child health, from conception to adolescence.