Ayurvedic viewpoint - Women's Health
A woman’s health is extremely precious. It relies on having sufficient nutrition to nourish all the organs in the body, a balanced production of hormones to regulate the monthly cycle and efficient removal of toxins to keep the body healthy. Dealing with stress, eating the right food, exercising regularly and enjoying life are the basics that give women good health.
Typical signs of good health
A healthy appetite and a balanced desire for food without cravings.
Appreciation of the flavour of food and feeling satisfied after eating.
Good digestion without any signs of discomfort, belching, flatulence or borborygmus
Clear voice.
Relief from any pain or discomfort.
Proper functioning of the senses; hearing, feeling, seeing, tasting and smelling.
Clear complexion.
Appropriate length and quality of sleep; 6-8 hours/night.
Regular elimination of stool, urine and sweat.
A regular, pain free, PMS free, hassle free menstrual cycle.
Constant energy with good stamina & ability to exercise.
Enthusiasm for life.
Balanced emotions; neither too happy with success nor too sad in times of difficulty.
Regularly compassionate, generous and calm.
Ayurvedic viewpoint
Ayurveda is the traditional medical system of India. It uses natural remedies to give optimum health. The menstrual cycle is a clear indicator of how balanced a woman’s health is. The Ayurvedic view of the menstrual cycle is seen in three phases regulated by kapha, pitta and vata.
The average menses are considered to be a regular 28 days in length, 4-5 days long, moderate flow,
moderate colour, no clots, no discomfort and with no PMS.
The first phase from about day 4 until ovulation is a time of building the endometrium and
increasing kapha. This is time to increase nourishment and eat a really healthy diet.
The second phase from ovulation until the period starts is a time of higher pitta and more heat due to the liver needing to process higher levels of hormones. This is a time to exercise, eat lots of cleansing foods and avoid too much coffee, sugar and dairy products.
The third phase is the start of the period when vata pushes the menstrum down and out, therefore emptying the contents of the womb. This is a time to rest and relax.
Unmetabolised wastes and hormones can build up at this time which can lead to various symptoms such as constipation, bloating, IBS, food cravings, insomnia, breast distension, anxiety, irritation, sadness.
Treatment
There are some very effective natural treatments for regulating women’s health. Here are some of the recommendations that Ayurveda makes:
Use Shatavari to nourish the reproductive system and restore a healthy balance to the hormonal levels via its steroidal saponin content. Energetically it is sweet, bitter, moistening and cooling. This means that it nourishes dry tissue and also clears aggravating heat and sweats. This helps to support the body to achieve a natural balance.
Use Shatavari Plus (a formula of shatavari with ten other herbs) to help correct menstrual imbalances from mood swings to irregular periods. It is a collection of herbs that help to remove water retention, bloating and anxiety prior to the period beginning.
Organic Aloe Vera Juice is used as gentle cooling herb. It is also sweet and bitter and this helps to nourish dry mucus membranes and also to clear inflammatory heat from the body.
Organic Hemp Seed Oil is full of Omega 3-6-9 Essential Fatty Acids and is great for nourishing the mucus membranes. Omega-3 also helps to create prostaglandins which can reduce water retention and normalise hormone levels
Harmonise Tea: A delicious blend of herbs including rose, shatavari and hibiscus that have all been traditionally used to help balance women’s health.
Some Ayurvedic dietary suggestions
The diet will depend on the constitutional factors and so it is best to follow a specific diet for your needs. Some general advice is:
Eat only when hungry.
Listen to your body and what it needs - not your mind.
Treat your digestion like a fire; stoke it with easy to assimilate light meals.
Eat to less than full capacity. It is recommended to eat until the stomach is half full with food, quarter full with liquid and to leave quarter empty for the digestive process to have some space.
Eat fruit, including juice away from other foods; leave a 2-4 hour gap.
Eat in a peaceful environment; not driving, hurrying or standing.
Eat warm and cooked food as this is easier to digest. Cold food, raw food, ice, cold water can
weaken the digestive process.
Include lots of asparagus, beetroots, spinach, almonds, walnuts, sesame seeds, ghee, turmeric, ginger, rice, quinoa and love in your cooking as these all help to cleanse and nourish at the same time.
Try to avoid coffee (creates inflammation and pain), sugar (can aggravate bloating and water retention) and excess cold dairy products (can cause mucus and congestion).
Lifestyle recommendations
Become involved with some form of self-nurturing, personal inspiration, creativity
enhancing practice such as Yoga.
Have regular massage to help tone the skin, clear toxins and calm the nervous system.
Testimonial
“After a few months of trying for a family, nothing happened and so I had some investigations and discovered I was ovulating very late reducing the chances of getting pregnant. Determined to stay ‘natural’, I was delighted to find Shatavari Plus. After just 2 weeks of taking it, I ovulated at the correct time. I might not be pregnant yet, but thanks to Shatavari Plus I now stand a much better chance becoming so soon!”
Lyndsay Harrold, Hants
If you are taking medication seek the advice of your doctor.