How To Approach And Manage Menopause Through Ayurveda

Introduction

Menopause is a natural phenomenon that signals the complete end of menstrual cycles and hence fertility in women, due to variations in reproductive hormone levels - estrogen, progesterone, and ovarian follicular activity. It is derived from the Greek words Menos meaning month and Pausis meaning cessation.

In Ayurveda, the menopausal syndrome is known as “Rajonivrutti”, which means “the end of Artava Pravrutti” i.e. the stopping of menstruation. It is characterized by an aggravation of the Vata Dosha, thereby leading to an imbalance in the three doshas – Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. As a result “Dhatu Kshaya” or decline in body tissue mass occurs, being a gradual consequence of aging. According to Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita, and many other famous ayurvedic scriptures, the beginning of menopause is when menstrual cycles stop in women for a continuous term of 12 months and do not occur henceforth. This natural biological transition begins between ages 45 and 55’.

In Ayurveda, the menopausal syndrome is known as “Rajonivrutti”, which means “the end of Artava Pravrutti” i.e. the stopping of menstruation. It is characterized by an aggravation of the Vata Dosha, thereby leading to an imbalance in the three doshas – Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. As a result “Dhatu Kshaya” or decline in body tissue mass occurs, being a gradual consequence of aging. According to Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita, and many other famous Ayurvedic scriptures, the beginning of menopause is when menstrual cycles stop in women for a continuous term of 12 months and do not occur henceforth. This natural biological transition begins between ages 45 and 55.

Symptoms Of Menopause

Menopause has several painful symptoms including:

• Irregular periods.
• Vaginal dryness.
• Hot flashes.
• Chills.
• Night sweats.
• Sleep problems.
• Mood changes.
• Headache.
• Depression.
• Insomnia.
• Fuzzy thinking or fatigue.
• Weight gains and slowed metabolism.

Causes Of Early Menopause

• Poor nutrition and Poverty.
• Smoking increases the risk of early menopause.
• Alcohol consumption may contribute to an early entering into the phase of menopause. .
• Medical treatments such as chemotherapy & radiation can initiate menopause earlier than usual.
• Stress, strain, and mental tension lead to early menopause.
• Genes.
• Hormonal Issues.

Different Phases Of Menopause

Menopause is the transition period in a woman's life when her ovaries stop producing eggs, her body produces less estrogen and progesterone, and menstruation becomes less frequent, eventually stopping altogether. There are three phases to the transition, which include perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause.

• Perimenopause

  It is the interval in which a woman's body begins making the natural shift from more-or-less regular cycles of ovulation and menstruation toward permanent infertility, or menopause. Your periods may become irregular — longer, shorter, heavier, or lighter, sometimes more and sometimes less than 28 days apart, and also experience menopause-like symptoms, such as hot flashes, sleep problems, and vaginal dryness.

• Menopause

  when you have experienced 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period you’ve officially reached menopause, and the perimenopause period is over. When you have not had a period of over 1 year, you are no longer at risk of becoming pregnant.

• Postmenopause

  The years following menopause are called post-menopause. During this stage, menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes, may ease for many women.

Menopause is the transition period in a woman's life. Different stages of menopause are Perimenopause, menopause, and Postmenopause.

Ayurvedic Treatment Of Healthy Menopause

The type of treatment depends upon the dosha in which a woman’s menopause symptoms are manifesting. Some of the Ayurvedic treatments are the following:

• Panchakarma Chikitsa

  Panchakarma Treatment is physical therapy that thoroughly cleanses and purifies the physical and mental impurities from the body and mind. The general purpose of the Panchakarma Therapies is to loosen, liquefy, and remove the vitiated substances and doshas from their abnormal sites in peripheral tissues via their natural pathways of elimination. .

• Several panchakarma practices can make a big difference for women in menopause. They are

  .

• Abhyanga

  It involves the massage of the body with warm-herb-infused oils that are mixed based on a person’s need and dosha. It helps with sleep, nervousness, muscular tension, and relaxation.

• Shirodhara

  This treatment is the gentle pouring of the oils over the forehead. It counteracts stress, reduces anxiety, improves sleep quality, and helps to pacify the Vata dosha.

• Virechana

  Virechana is a treatment that cleanses the small intestines, liver, gallbladder, and pancreases and works to reduce excess pitta energy. It is achieved through the ingestion of purgative substances such as castor oil, prunes, flax seeds, raisins, Aloe Vera, salt, and other similar foods.

• Nasya

  This treatment works to lubricate sensitive nasal tissues with oil. Just a few drops of herbal oil are sniffed by the patient and are helpful for dryness.