Women's Health
Women's Health Remedies
According to Ayurveda, women's health refers to the physical, mental and spiritual well being of all women. It is often debated that women are routinely afflicted with psychological illness, which is then related to physical symptoms. An unstable mind leads to hormonal imbalance in a woman’s body thus leading to further complications. Apart from routine illnesses, there are natural physical changes in women's bodies from puberty to menopause. A few ailments related to women’s bodies during this period are discussed below:
Dysmenorrhoea /Amenorrhoea (Krishartava /Anartava)
Symptoms
The symptoms that indicate the presence of this disease in women include:
- Painful / Scanty menstruation
- Disturbed digestion
- Pain in lower pelvis (back and stomach)
- Nervousness
- Giddiness
- Overall weakness
Causes / Dosha
This disease is primarily caused by vata dosha. Pitta dosha is a minor cause whereas kapha dosha is active to at very low degrees.
Pathogenesis
In ayurveda it is believed that this ailment is caused by the aggravation of the three doshas or body energies. In a woman’s body, it is lower pelvis or the seat of Apana Vata that is responsible for the elimination of menstrual blood, stool, urine and reproductive fluids. Due to anxiety and stress, Apana Vata increases at the onset of menstruation. There are situations where aggravated Vata causes accumulation of toxins in minute channels, which carry the menstrual blood and blockage of these channels causes Amenorrhoea or Dysmenorrhoea.
Treatment
The medical treatment given to women for this ailment is as follows:
- Rajapravartni Vati
- Nastatpushantak Rasa
There are few remedies that are beneficial for curing this ailment:
- Take 2 cloves of crushed Garlic twice a day.
- Mix one teaspoon of Aloe Vera with a pinch of black pepper or cinnamon. Take twice a day. This helps to reduce cramps.
- Take mild laxatives like Triphala for about two days before the scheduled start of menstruation. Massaging the lower abdomen with warm sesame oil for 10 to 15 minutes, followed by an application of hot fomentation (such as a hot water bottle) while resting, can also sooth pain.
- Although the inclination may be to take complete rest, remaining active and taking regular exercise is beneficial.
Recipes
Add one teaspoon of cumin seeds to 2 cups of water and simmer over a moderate heat until the mixture reduces to half. Sieve, add 1 table spoon Jaggery (if you can find it) or raw sugar and drink.
Dosage: Take this decoction twice daily for 2-3 days from the start of the menstrual cycle. Regular use with each successive cycle helps reduce the severity of symptoms.
Potency / Virya
Cold
Panchakarma
- Medicated diet must be preferred especially 7 days before the menstrual cycle starts.
- Deep- fried, greasy, sour food, beans and food that produce gas and constipation etc. should be totally avoided.
- Very cold / frozen foods as well as vegetables such as potatoes, mushrooms, peas, broccoli and cauliflower should be avoided.
- Vegetables like squash, zucchini, and pumpkin are advisable. · Fresh fruits may be taken.
- Foods may be garnished with spices like cumin, asafetida, black pepper, cloves, coriander, and mint.
- Sedentary life must be avoided and light exercise is recommended.
- Walking is good for alleviating Vata.
Yoga
Bhujangasana
Leuchorrea (Shweta Pradar)
Symptoms
Following are the signs or symptoms that indicate the presence of this disease in women:
- White discharge from the vagina accompanied by backache
- General weakness
- Constipation
- Headache
Causes / Dosha
In this ailment kapha dosha is responsible for the onset of this disease.
Pathogenesis
This ailment is the result of aggravation of kapha dosha due to certain diets and lifestyle. Aggravated kapha contaminates the vagina and produces stickiness and itching in the vagina accompanied by a thick white discharge.
Treatment
The medical treatment given to women in this ailment is as follows:
- Pradrank Churna
- Pushyanuga Churna.
There are few remedies that are beneficial for curing this ailment:
Mix one teaspoon of Amla (Indian Gooseberry) powder with 1 teaspoon honey and take this mixture twice a day.
Recipes
- Boil six cups of water. Add 1cup rice and cook until rice becomes soft. Sieve the rice. The water is the rice gruel. Take one cup rice gruel and add salt (according to taste), a quarter teaspoon of black pepper. Drink warm.
- Soak five grams of fenugreek seeds in 250-ml. water (overnight or minimum of 4 hours). Boil and reduce it to 150 ml. Filter and drink warm once or twice a day.
Potency / Virya
Cold
Panchakarma
- Mind must be pure.
- Sexual intercourse during treatment must be reduced or avoided.
- Avoid reading, watching or listening to sexually stimulating materials.
- Sattvic, easily digestible food should be taken at regular intervals.
- Non-vegetarian foods, excessive amount of puddings, garlic, onion, pickles, potatoes, sour foods, excessive fried and greasy food must be avoided.
- Bowels must be well cleansed regularly.
Yoga
- Paschimottanasana
- Sarvagasana
- Halasana
- Padmasana
- Bhujangasana
- Shalabhasana
Menopausal Syndrome (Rajonivarti Lakshan)
Symptoms
Following are the signs or symptoms that indicate the presence of this problem:
- Hot flushes
- Night sweats
- Nervous tension
- Menstrual disturbance
- Insomnia
- Diminished interest in sex
- Irritability
- Depression
- Chills
- Fatigue
- Palpitation
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Numbness
Causes / Dosha
This ailment is the result of imbalance of all three doshas i.e. vata, pitta and kapha.
Pathogenesis
Menopause is a natural process because of which imbalance is created in the three doshas or the body energies, due to which various other symptoms can be observed. Although all three doshas are disturbed by menopause, vata is the first one to be aggravated due to which nervousness, anxiety, insomnia and depression are developed. Furthermore, aggravated vata causes imbalance of pitta dosha and this leads to sweating a night and hot flushes. Finally kapha dosha is aggravated causing numbness, lethargy, weak digestion and obesity.
Due to the absence of the menstruation cycle, a lot of toxins that are otherwise expelled with menstruation, accumulate in the body adding to physical symptoms such as back and pelvis pain, deposition of fat around hips, belly and thighs, tumors, cysts in the uterus or ovaries.
Treatment
The medical treatment given to women in this ailment is as follows:
- Rasayan or rejuvenating medicines like, Bhritvata Chantamani, Vata Kulantak Rasa and Prawal Pisthi.
- Licorice and Ashwagandha that have natural estrogen should be taken in powder form.
Dosage: Take one-half teaspoonful of each (mixed together) twice a day with warm milk or honey.
Recipes
- Soak five almonds overnight. In morning peel off skin and grind almonds into a fine paste. Grind 3 black peppers, 2 pieces of cardamom and one teaspoon of anise seeds and mix them with almond paste. Add paste to 250 ml of boiled milk. Add one teaspoon of honey and drink when lukewarm.
Panchakarma
The diet taken during menopause must be easily digestible, should balance Vata and Pitta and should not produce toxins in the body.
The food must comprise of three basic elements, namely:
- Vegetables
- Fresh Fruits
- Nuts, seeds and grains
- Vitamins E, D and C
- Sprouts
- Soaked nuts and seeds
- Fresh cooked vegetables
- Vegetable soup
- Milk products
- Fresh cottage cheese
- Wheat
- Beet juice (taken in small quantities of 60 to 90 ml thrice a day)
All processed and refined foods such as white flour, white sugar, cold drinks, frozen food, food containing chemicals and preservatives, greasy food, spicy food, fried stuff, sour food must be avoided.
Exercises such as walking, jogging, swimming, meditation, yoga and relaxation procedures are good for maintaining good health.
Yoga
- Bhujagasana
- Halasana
- Sitakari
- Sitali Pranayam
- Breathing Exercises
Potency / Virya
Cold
Menorrhagia (Atyartava)
Symptoms
Following are the signs or symptoms that indicate the presence of this disease in women: ·
- Excessive or prolonged bleeding during menstruation cycle or decrease in inter menstrual period and off and on bleeding (spotting).
Causes /Dosha
The doshas responsible for this ailment are Vata and Pitta dosha.
Pathogenesis
The vata and pitta gets aggravated due to the consumption of excessively salty, sour, heavy, vidahi / acidic (foods that produce burning), unctuous substances, deep-fried, greasy and non-vegetarian food.
Vata eliminates menstrual blood from the uterus and Pitta symbolizes heat or fire. Therefore an increase in the amount of blood in the channels that carry menstrual blood imbalances these two dosha. This further results in excessive or irregular bleeding.
Treatment
- Ashokarishta
- Pradarantak Rasa.
- Make a paste of seven Pomegranate leaves mixed with seven grains of rice mixed with a small amount of water.
Dosage: Take the paste twice daily for 30 days. - Add two or three teaspoon of lemon juice to one glass of water. Add one teaspoon of raw sugar
Dosage: Take twice daily. Take fresh coconut water once a day.
Recipe
- Squeeze the juice from 200 grams of fresh coriander leaves. Take half a cup of the juice twice daily. It has a cooling effect and balances the aggravating Pitta.
- Fresh coriander leaves with 2 tablespoon of coarse coriander seed powder should be soaked in one cup of water in the morning. After 5 to 6 hours mash the solution and drink it. Some honey or sugar for taste can be added. Similarly soak at night and drink in the morning.
Potency / Virya
Cold
Panchakarma
- Food that is fried, greasy, spicy and sour are to be avoided
- Indian spices like coriander, turmeric, mint, anise seeds are recommended.
- Hot spices, garlic, ginger, chilies and similar spices are to be avoided.
- Tea and coffee are not advised.
- Green vegetables like zucchini, squash, cucumber, pumpkin, amla (Indian gooseberry), dates, soups of legumes and vegetables etc must be consumed.
- Fresh fruits (except citrus ones) and dairy products like milk, fresh cottage
- Cheese and ghee (butter oil) should be taken.
- Pulses and grains are also very beneficial.
- Coconut water, barley water or buttermilk can be taken.
- Exhaustion from over work should be avoided.
- Hygiene of genital organs must be maintained.
- Bowels must be cleaned every morning.
- Relaxation of the mind is very important.
Yoga
- Bhujagasana
- Sitkari
- Sitali pranayam