MENSTRUATING THE AYURVEDIC WAY
A healthy menstruation, according to Ayurveda, lasts a few days and occurs every 28 days, from around the age of 12 until around 50. Variations on this can occur due to imbalances to the Doshas, the mind-body energies that govern everything. These three Doshas, Vata, Pitta and Kapha, describe the forces of nature both inside and outside our bodies as well as our own genetic makeup and it is in our interest to make lifestyle choices that keep them in balance.
Using the “qualities” or characteristics of the Doshas, we can describe the various stages of the menstrual cycle. As my Ayurvedic doctor, Dr. Mathew, says:
“1) Vata to the stage of bleeding and cramps 2) Kapha to the nourishing stage until the uterine lining is nourished and whole body is ready to receive the fertilised ovum 3) Pitta the time after ovulation and the series of hormonal changes leading to the bleeding phase. Based on this division we can see why in the Vata phase we may see symptoms of pain, cramps, anxiousness etc. Kapha phase may cause lethargy, water retention etc. Pitta may make the person emotional or even angry and physical symptoms of this heightened acidity can appear as spots on skin etc in the time leading to menstrual bleeding.”
The most important focus should be on a Sattvic lifestyle, which promotes harmony to the body by means of fresh, seasonal, well cooked and easy to digest nutrition, eating, sleeping and undergoing our various activities at the optimal times in a daily rhythm that aligns with day and night, the seasons and throughout the year. From there, you can start to hone in on the details, using knowledge of the “qualities,” or characteristics, of the Doshas to determine where you can apply the principles of Ayurveda to help with any imbalances. For example, a scanty, and perhaps irregular period is associated with a Vata imbalance — i.e. too much influence of the Vata Dosha, which can be remedied by Vata-balancing activities (i.e. the opposite qualities of Vata, which are fast, dry, irregular, cold, rough) such as plenty of rest, warmth, reduced stimuli and warming, well cooked food, hot oil massages and exercise such as walking and slow yoga, as opposed to running and intense exercise.
A very heavy flow that lasts a lot longer with perhaps frequent clotting is recognised as a Pitta (hot, sour, sharp, liquid) aggravation and can be remedied by focusing on cooling activities such as cooling Pranayama (breathing techniques), cooling foods and avoiding spicy foods and favouring the use of cooling coconut oil in our beauty regime and treatments. Aggravated Kapha (slow, cold, wet, thick, heavy) shows up in the menstruation cycle as water retention leading to weight gain, swollen breasts and a heavy feeling overall. Menstrual blood is thick in nature and prone to clots. Warming ingredients such as fenugreek and black sesame seeds are recommended by Dr Mathew while avoiding heavy grains and milk products, and exercise should be upped during the rest of the cycle. Menstruation is a time of purification during which time we should respect that our body is undergoing a different activity and easily undergoes strain. This rhythmic dance of the menstrual cycle that results in the “time of the month” for fertile woman is one that we should embrace and be connected to.Rest and reflection is considered an important endeavour during menstruation for all.
Of course aggravated symptoms of all three Doshas can be found in the same set of menstrual symptoms, and the aggravated Doshas do not necessarily match your dominant genetic Dosha (i.e. you natural constitution). Confusion can arise for many who are looking for an exacting remedy without the help of an Ayurvedic doctor or practitioner. But the good news is that the overall harmonious lifestyle promoted by Ayurveda as a prevention goes a long way to restoring our bodies' natural rhythms.