Ayurveda
& Menopause
for Wisewomen
What exactly
is menopause?
Meno = menstruation
Pause = stops
So menopause
literally means the stopping of menstruation. This is a healthy
& normal process of women which is impacted by a woman's particular
constitution and if she has healthy lifestyle habits - eating well
, resting plenty, exercise daily, having a meaningful life, practicing
meditation &/or other stress reduction techniques, avoiding
alcohol & caffeinated beverages.
To deal with
the shifting physiology of menopause one needs education, acceptance,
& surrender. Like menarche, menopause is an important milestone
signalling significant hormonal changes in the woman that effect
her entire being.
The process of
menopause may begin several years before the actual ending of menstrual
bleeding and continues through the end of life. Susun Weed, author
of Wise Woman Ways for the Menopausal Years, has divided
the process into three phases:
Premenopausal
years - the beginning varies considerably - the norm being aged
45 with a normal range of 35 to 55. During these years menstrual
periods may become noticeably different and other symptoms are only
occasional.
Menopausal
Climax years - this includes the year or two before and a year
or more after the last menstruation. The average age is 51, however
some women achieve menopause earlier by natural, surgical, or chemotheray/radiation
means; symptoms are more common but not all women have them - osteoporosis,
flashes, palpitiations, sleeplessness, emotional sensitivity.
Postmenopausal
years - this begins symbolically on the fourteenth new moon
after final menstruation, continuing for the rest of life; symptoms
which may be helped are hot flashes, aching joints, heart disease,
incontinence, vaginal changes & bone fragility.
Ayurveda
& Menopause
As mentioned
earlier, menopause is influenced by the constitution & balance
of each individual. By keeping in balance one may avoid unnecessary
discomforts & complications of the menopausal years.
Kapha menopausal
tendencies: delayed menopause; chubby, heavy, lethargic, sleepy,
very psychic, with out -of -body experiences; edema; emotionally
-happy & unbothered, gets sense of maturity; water retention;
fibrocystic preasts; excessive urination
Pitta menopausal
tendencies: earlier menopause; menopausal flooding; hot flashes;
emotionally - sceptical, doubtful, cautious, watchful. Jealous
of mate. Irritability, anger, judgemental, critical; emotional
upset.Hives & rashes; sensitive nipples & tender breasts;
insomnia (pitta time of night)
Vata menopausal
tendencies: earlier menopause; dryness of skin or vagina; mood
swings; insomnia esp. beginning 2 am or later; emotionally - feels
lonely, empty, insecure, fearful, anxious. Feels useless to mate,
that she is losing womanhood. constipation; distention of abdomen;
pain; fatigue.
Self Treatments
for Vata women & Vata Imbalances
Vata pacifying
diet
Sesame oil massage
Gem elixir :
yellow sapphire, tourmaline, ruby
Herbs- haritaki:
1/2 tsp , 1 hr before bed on an empty stomach
Yogarj guggulu
200 mg twice daily
Dashmula herbal
enema
Self Treatments
for Pitta women & Pitta Imbalances
Pitta pacifying
diet
Sunflower oil
massage
Baking soda bath
Gem elixir :
pearl, coral, rose, lotus
Herbs: shatavari
500 mg & guduchi 300 mg & brahmi 200 mg mixed - take 1/4
tsp twice daily before food
Amalaka or triphala
churna 1 tsp w/ water daily on empty stomach 1 hr before bed
Self Treatments
for Kapha women & Kapha Imbalances
Kapha pacifying
diet
Herbs: bibhitaki,
1/2 tsp on empty stomach before bed
Punanarva 500
mg & chitrak 200 mg & kutka 100 mg - mix - take 1/4 tsp
twice daily after food
Common
Discomforts of Menopause
Discomforts of
menopause need to be treated in regards to the doshas of the woman
having the symptoms, as well as symptomatically, to avoid creating
energetic imbalances which will manifest in other ways. The wisewoman
tradition recommends beginning with gentle treatments which may
help such as diet, lifestyle, energetic interventions, and nutritional
herbs & concentrated food supplements. Medicinal Herbs may be
the next step used and if they fail to bring desired results then
one may resort to treatments of drugs & surgeries.
Premenopausal:
-Menstrual irregularities
-Menstrual flooding
-Fibroids
-Spotting
-Menstrual cramps
-Cessation of menses
-Osteoporosis
-Weight gain
-PMS symptoms
: water retention, sore breasts, digestive distresses, emotional
uproar, sore all over
Menopausal
climax symptoms:
-Hot flashes
& other overheated conditions -Chills
-Night Sweats
-Depression/ Anxiety/ Fear/ Extreme Nervousness
-Rage / Oversensitivity
/ Irritablility -Sleep Disturbances
-Sexual changes
-Headaches/ Migraines
-Heart Palpitations -Preventing
Breast Cancer
Postmenopausal
symptoms:
-Vaginal/Bladder
Changes
-High Cholesterol & risk of heart disease
-Aching joints
Sources &
for more information:
-Notes from lecture of Dr. Lad on Ayurvedic Gynecology
-Wise Woman
Ways for the Menopausal Years by Susun Weed
-A Woman's
Best Medicine - Health, Happiness, and Long Life Through Ayur-Veda
by Nancy Lonsdorf, M.D., Veronica Butler, M.D., & Melanie Brown,
Ph.D.
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