Ayurveda Approach to Menopause at Veda5, The Best Retreat in Rishikesh, India

Menopause is a part of every woman’s life. Menopause is the term used to indicate the end of the period of possible sexual reproduction, as evidenced by the cessation of menstrual periods. It is defined as absence of Menstrual period for 12 months. There is no reliable lab test to predict when a woman will experience menopause. Average age of Menopause is around 45 to 55 years.

During this period women undergo a lot of emotional stress, Ovaries stop producing oestrogen and this leads to oestrogen deficiency. This hormonal imbalance may cause short-term symptoms and long term health risks. Menopause is not an illness but a natural biological process, though the risk for certain diseases rises after Menopause.

Menopausal syndrome does not find mention as disease in Ayurvedic literature, the reason could be women  at that time belonged to a  society which had Ayurveda as its health standard. They entered in old age as kalaja vridhhavastha (timely aging) and Rajonivritti (menopause) occurring at the age of 50 years passed uneventful. Due to changing lifestyle, food habits and socio-economic standards the age is decreasing.

The term ‘Rajonivritti’ is made up of two different words “Rajah” and “Nivritti”. In this context, meaning of Rajah is artava or stripushpa i.e. menstrual blood. The meaning of Nivritti is end or ceasation. Though Rajonivritti as a diseased condition is not described separately in the Classics but it is mentioned by almost all acharyas without any controversy. 50 years is mentioned as the age of Rajonivritti, when the body is completely in grip of senility.

In the Ayurvedic view of the human body, each of us is born with a fundamental constitution, or prakriti, that remains with us throughout life. Acting upon the constitution are three bio energies influences, or doshas: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Though one dosha will always preside within the constitution, a state of health is characterized by dynamic balance between all three within the system. During menopause; women might suffer from various signs and symptoms which can be categorised according to doshas as

VATA DOMINATED MENOPAUSE  During a vata-dominated menopause, women will likely be experiencing any of the following symptoms: 1. Nervousness 2. Anxiety, worry, fear 3. Insomnia 4. Mild hot flashes 5. Depression 6. Poor skin tone 7. Constipation or irritable bowel 8. Vaginal dryness, loss of libido 9. Mood swings 10. Osteoporosis

PITTA DOMINATED MENOPAUSE Women whose menopause is dominated by Pitta may generally experience any or all of the following symptoms: 1. Angry outbursts 2. Irritability, criticism, jealousy 3. Short temper 4. Hot flashes and night sweats 5. Urinary tract infections 6. Skin rashes 7. Hypertension

KAPHA DOMINATED MENOPAUSE In this case symptoms may include: 1. Weight gain 2. Sleepiness 3. Sluggishness 4. Yeast infections 5. Slow digestion 6. Fluid retention 7. Oedema

MANAGEMENT OF MENOPAUSE THROUGH AYURVEDA

Ayurveda is a health care system sensitive to women’s special health needs. Ayurveda can work miracles in menopause. Effective herbal remedies are available for the problem of menopause. Ayurveda has best natural health supplements and products to manage the changes in the body right from pre- menopause to menopause. Ayurvedic healthcare is the perfect solution for women to stop the ageing process. Periodic rejuvenation therapy will keep health, beauty and zest intact throughout the years.

Ayurvedic approach mainly combines food, lifestyle and medicines.

Diet in Menopause – * Whole wheat * Carrot and beet juice  * Barley * Vitamin E – nuts, eggs, olive oil * Vitamin D – egg yolk, fish liver oils * Calcium – milk and milk products, green leafy vegetables, cereals, fruits like sitaphala and dates * Phosphorus – milk, dry fruits, guava. Sweet juicy fruits like grapes, pears, plums, mango, melons, and apples also serve the purpose to alleviate hot flashes. Summer vegetables like yellow squash and cucumber are also advised as good options.

Food items to be avoided – Spicy food, Chocolate, Coffee, Saturated fats like butter, ghee, cheese, Tea

Lifestyle – Eat regular meals; avoid eating during the period of nervousness and worries. Going to bed early can also help balance excess Vata. Women should avoid suppression of natural urges and excessive physical activity. Yoga also plays an important role in alleviating menopausal symptoms. The simple yoga poses help to make the body more flexible, improve posture, and ease many menopausal problems. Yoga and breathing meditation techniques like Anuloma Viloma and Kapalbhati may help to reduce anxiety and psychological disturbances. Aasanas like Trikonasana, Tadasna, Padmasana, Matsyasana and Shalabhasana strengthens abdominal muscles and pelvic floor. Yoga exercises has positive benefits for both physical and mental health of menopausal women.

Role of Panchakarma in Menopause – Snehana, Swedana are found to be very beneficial in curing various ailments of Menopause. Abhyanga followed by light Swedana helps to pacify Vata and improves circulation. Shirodhara particularly is very effective in hot flashes and psychological disorders like mood swings, anxiety, and depression etc. Hrid basti and Dhara also helps to alleviate these symptoms. In joint pains Kati Basti, Greeva Basti and Janu Basti can be used accordingly. Basti therapy, Yoni Pichu Yoni Dhoopana and Yoni Prakshalana (vaginal douching) are beneficial in vaginal atrophy, vaginal dryness and dyspareunia etc. In case of stiffness Kumbhi Sweda and application of tampon of Til Taila is beneficial.

The Menopause treatments actually focus on relieving the symptoms of Menopause and in preventing any chronic condition that may occur during the postmenopausal years such as heart disease and osteoporosis and in this respect Ayurveda is very beneficial due to its holistic approach. There are Many herbal medicines like shatavari, bala, ashoka, arjun, haritaki and brahmi are very helpful in relieving and preventing any illness due to menopause.

All these herbs and treatment are suggested to take in supervision of Ayurveda physicians.

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