Remedies For Menopause: An Ayurvedic Perspective

Every stage of a woman’s life is special, right from the moment she is born to adolescence. Being a vibrant youth, first period, motherhood and then menopause.

For this is when the skin starts to sag, wrinkles appear, the hairline recedes and energy levels drop.

These are the signs of menopause. And yes, the common notion is that this phase is tough and miserable for all women.

But Ayurveda, has some great solutions to ease the discomfort that women go through during this stage.

Menopause: Introduction

One of the common traits of all women between 45 – 55 is menopause.

This is a natural process that marks the end of menstrual cycles and hence fertility in women due to changes in reproductive hormone levels - estrogen, progesterone and ovarian follicular activity.

In fact this term is derived from the Greek words “Menos” meaning month and “Pausis” meaning cessation.

Some women experience it before time, called premature menopause which can cause some problems.

Ayurvedic View of Menopause

In Ayurveda menopausal syndrome is called “Rajonivrutti” which means “the end of Artava Pravrutti” i.e. the stopping of menstruation.

According to Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita and many other ayurvedic classic texts, menopause is when menstruation stops in women for a continuous period of 12 months and does not occur henceforth.

Rajonivrutti is characterized by the aggravation of Vata Dosha and hence imbalance of the three doshas – Vata, Pitta and Kapha. As a result “Dhatu Kshaya” or decline in body tissue mass occurs which is a gradual process of aging.

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Menopause Symptoms

Menopause causes many painful symptoms including hot flashes, weight gain, low metabolism and cardiac activity, loss of sexual drive or libido, dryness in the vagina, bone and joint aches, urinary incontinence and night sweats.

Additionally due to the fluctuations in female reproductive hormones including progesterone and estrogen mental functions are also affected causing mood swings, depression, fatigue, anxiety and insomnia.

Yes menopause can cause irritability and fatigue. But there are many natural ways to combat these symptoms so that women can accept the bodily changes and have a smooth menopausal transition. Read on to know more.

Herbal Remedies For Menopause:

• Arjuna

With the decline of estrogen levels in the female body, the regulation of fat metabolism and control of cholesterol levels becomes a problem. Arjuna is a herb that helps to augment heart functions thus helping women to maintain normal blood pressure and prevent cardiac problems.

• Cardamom

Menopause brings sudden ups and downs in female reproductive hormones which affects the nervous system. Cardamom is a spice that’s a great mood booster and helps in increasing mental activities, brain functions, memory and concentration and relieves depression.

• Fennel

In menopause vata dosha increases drastically and also affects pitta and kapha doshas, the body heats up rapidly and gives hot flashes. Fennel seeds are a natural vata-reducing spice and have a cooling property which helps in controlling sweating and body temperature. Also Read: How To Bring Down Excessive Body Heat

• Guggul

Hormones fluctuate wildly during menopause and so does body weight. Unhealthy weight gain leads to diabetes and obesity so it’s essential to keep weight in check. The gum resin of guggul herb is a great way to lose excess kilos for women going through menopause.

• Garlic

Due to Dhatu Kshaya i.e. loss of tissue mass and reduction in estrogen levels, bones, muscles and joints also become weak in women during menopause and increase the risk of arthritis, osteoporosis and other joint disorders. Garlic is known for its anti-inflammatory properties which strengthens bones, joints and muscles. B. Ayurvedic herbs and remedies

Menopause Herbal Drinks:

1. Giloy Juice

Method:

Wash the giloy stems thoroughly, then peel them. Using a mortar and pestle, mash the stems and blend them into a smooth paste in a mixer, add some water. Strain the giloy juice using a strainer, add some honey and drink it empty stomach twice a day in the morning and evening.

Therapeutic Benefits:

Giloy juice from the giloy herb (Guduchi in Ayurveda) is a great tonic that boosts immunity and slows down skin ageing to help women combat fever, cough and other diseases and prevent a very wrinkled face during menopause. Since estrogen levels decrease during menopause and the hormone is essential for strengthening bones, joint giloy juice has osteoprotective properties and prevents osteoporosis in older women.

1. Pomegranate Juice

Method:

Wash one or two pomegranates, then cut open the fruits. Remove all the arils and keep them in a clean bowl filled with some water. Blend the arils in a mixer to get a fine consistency. Now fill two glasses with some ice cubes, then distil the pomegranate juice and chill it.

Therapeutic Benefits:

Pomegranate juice from the arils of pomegranate (dadimah in Ayurveda) has a treasure trove of plant-based nutrients that relieve menopause discomfort. Since pomegranate has cooling property and pitta-reducing properties, the juice of this fruit reduces excessive body heat during hot flashes.