According to Ayurveda, menstrual blood, or rajah, is one of the superior by-products of the body’s first tissue or dhatu, Rasa. Rasa is the fluid component of the blood and can be equated with lymph in today’s medical terminology. Rasa is formed when the juices of our digested food enters into circulation and, cooked by the heat of the body, ‘ripens’ after a period of 5 days to form this fluid tissue.
The functions of rasa dhatu are the nutrition and hydration of all the body tissues and organs. From a western perspective, we can say that nutrients, hormones, oxygen and water are carried in this liquid tissue to nourish all other bodily tissues and systems.After a period of five days, the bodily Agni (fire) further ripens the Rasa into the next dhatu, Rakta (blood), and its by-products, menstrual blood and lactation tissues.
Thus, when understanding menstruation and menstrual imbalance, it is of foremost importance to consider the quality of rasa dhatu, the overall nutrition and hydration principle in the body.
The qualities of menstrual blood are hot (usna) as it is predominant in the fire element, as opposed to semen which is considered cool. Menstruation is associated with the sacral or muladhara cakra.
According to Ayurveda, normal menstruation begins in most girls between the ages of nine and fourteen. Girls with Pitta-predominant constitutions will begin menarche on the earlier end of that range, while Kapha girls begin menstruating later. Vata predominant girls begin menarche somewhere in the middle. Similarly in menopause, when women end their menstruating years and enter the Vata stage of life, Pitta women can enter menopause earlier while in Kapha types it can occur as late as 60 years old.
According to the Ayurvedic classical texts, a normal menstrual cycle (Rtu Chakra) will typically last 25-30 days. Healthy menstruation is said to be free from pain and the blood does not stain clothing. A normal quantity of blood is 4 anjalis (approximately 4 oz) and the normal length of a period is between 3 and 7 days of bleeding.
During their menstrual period, women were traditionally encouraged to rest, abstaining from their regular household or working duties.
According to Ayurveda, the ripening of the ovum leading up to ovulation is primarily governed by Pitta and the thickening of the endometrial lining in the lead up to menstruation is governed by Kapha. Menstruation itself, being a downwards flow; is governed by Vata and specifically its subdosha Apana vayu.
When reading the above description of a healthy and normal menstrual cycle, many of us women in the modern world are struck by how little we can relate to this. Most women today experience some discomfort during their cycle. Menstrual difficulties may arise as soon as menarche (known as primary dysmenorrhea) or develop later in life (known as secondary dysmenorrhea). Regardless of a woman’s individual doshic constitution, she may experience Vata, Pitta or Kapha type menstrual disturbances.
Vata type of menstrual difficulties include pain before menstruation situated in the lower abdominal and lower back areas, bloating, constipation, cramps, insomnia and anxiety. The menstrual flow tends to be scanty, darker and may include clots. These kinds of concerns are typically associated with a narrowing of the cervix due to excess Vata in the Arthava Vaha srotas.
Pitta type of menstrual difficulties include tender breasts, heavy flow with burning sensations and bright red blood. There may be acne flare ups, hot flashes, irritability and frustration. More established disorders such as endometriosis are due to excess Pitta in the endometrium of the uterus.
Kapha type of dysmenorrhea can manifest as congestion, pain in the later part of the menstrual period, bloating, water retention or edema and feelings of lethargy and heaviness. Excess Poshaka Kapha is also responsible for growths, cysts or fibrotic changes to the reproductive system which can lead to dysmenorrhea.
The absence or irregularity of menstruation could be caused by an excess of either Vata, Pitta or Kapha.
It is important to note that multiple doshas may be at play in menstrual imbalance experienced by an individual. It is also worth mentioning that the reproductive system, being located in the pelvic region, one of the body’s main sites of Vata and specifically its subdosha Apana Vayu will always have some Vata involvement in all imbalances located there.
If you are suffering from any of these issues, consider scheduling an appointment with a certified Ayurvedic practitioner or doctor, who will be able to understand the complete picture and recommend targeted herbs or lifestyle alterations. Here follow some general guidelines on balancing dysmenorrhea.
For each dosha that is disturbed, one of the most important factors at play is diet. Eating a diet that is opposite in quality to the vitiated dosha will help to bring the imbalance down and provide relief from symptoms.
Women suffering from Vata type of dysmenorrhea should avoid cold, raw, rough, dry foods and favor soupy, warm, unctuous and spiced foods.Those with more Pitta concerns should avoid spicy, oily, sour and pungent foods, alcohol and coffee and instead favor sweet, bitter, cooling foods such as milk, rice and cooked greens. Those with Kapha concerns should try to avoid creamy, heavy, sticky and sweet foods and favor light, spiced, warming foods to offset the imbalance.
Herbs can provide a wonderful support to women looking to regulate their periods or unfold more balance in their reproductive systems. Please always work with an experienced practitioner when using these herbs in clinical dosages.
Shatavari is considered a powerful rejuvenative for the female reproductive system. The name can be translated as ‘100 husbands’ alluding to the potency of the herb for strengthening the womb. The roots of Asparagus racemosus have a calming, nourishing, grounding effect, helping to heal excess flow, irregularity or pain.
Kumari, as Aloe vera is known in Sanskrit, translates as ‘young girl’. The cooling, fresh and lubricating qualities of this herb pacify all three doshas and help restore youth and vitality to all tissues, including the women’s reproductive system. It is thus helpful in regulating the menstrual cycle as well as conditions of excess heat in menopause.
Ashoka is a wonderful herbal support for menstrual disorders such as excess bleeding, pain and congestion. Its name literally means “the absence of grief”, and thus through its cleansing and toning effect on the uterine tissues, it can also aid in regularizing menses and helping to clear cysts and fibroids.
Rose or Shatapatri in Sanskrit, is a familiar and beautiful herb. Cooling and astringent in nature, this herb helps to alleviate growths, painful periods and excessive flow. Just like Kumari, this herb is useful in hot menopausal conditions. Its affinity for the heart helps to unfold understanding and love as difficult emotions arise in conditions such as PMS.
Beatrice has studied under Vasant Lad, and is passionate about sharing the timeless wisdom of Ayurveda to help others heal themselves.
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