An Ayurvedic Approach to Manage Menopause

By Aditya Sharma, PhD, Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist

Menopause is a unique experience for every woman. According to Ayurveda, menopause is a natural transition, which every woman experiences in her life. It is the ending of a woman’s monthly menstrual periods and ovulation. It also signals other changes to the body and mind, brought on in part because the body begins producing smaller amounts of the hormones estrogen and progesterone (among others).

Menopause is not a disease. It is a natural process in a woman’s life. Menopause is a natural hormone (estrogen) deficient state that occurs around the age of 45 to 55 years. Ayurveda associates menopause with aging. Aging is a ‘Vata’ predominant stage of life. Thus, the symptoms of menopause experienced by some women are similar to the symptoms seen when the Vata dosha rises and upsets the normal balance of the body.

The doshas are responsible for the physical and emotional tendencies in the mind and body. The attributes of the doshas and their specific combination within each individual help determine the individual’s physical and mental characteristics, while imbalance among the doshas is the cause of disease. There are different types of menopause.

Types of Menopause and Their Symptoms
Vata-dominated menopause – nervousness, anxiety, insomnia, depression, lack of skin tone, mild hot flashes, constipation, vaginal dryness.

Pitta-dominated menopause – anger, irritability, short temper, hot flashes, night sweats, urinary tract infections, skin rashes.

Kapha-dominated menopause – weight gain, sleepiness, sluggishness, yeast infections, slow digestion, fluid retention.

Perimenopause is the time prior to menopause when we start having hormone-related changes. These can start during our early 40s. The symptoms we get and the order in which we get them vary from woman to woman and a small percentage of women have no symptoms at all. The most common symptoms are hot flashes, insomnia, irregular bleeding, vaginal dryness, anxiety, depression, fatigue, weight gain, fuzzy thinking, loss of libido, and more.

The most common symptoms of menopause are anemia, weakness, feeling of intense heat in your body on some occasions, profuse sweating at night, excessive hair loss, irregular menstrual periods with excessive or scanty bleeding, burning and increased frequency of urination, vaginal dryness and itching, joint pain, edema, irritable nature, sleeplessness, and lassitude.

Dealing With the Doshas
Ayurvedic Treatment: The type of treatment depends upon the dosha in which the woman’s menopausal symptoms are manifesting. Most of the women are unaware of the right kind of treatment, diet, nutritional supplements, and exercise which should be done during this period. With proper guidance and simple lifestyle changes, they can easily avoid most of the unpleasant side effects of menopause. Various Ayurvedic herbs can be used during this period to strengthen and rejuvenate the female reproductive system along with herbs to regulate the hormones and calm the emotions. Many herbs, which rejuvenate and tone the female reproductive system, are also helpful: Aloe gel, Shatavari, Saffron, Kapikacchu, and Ashwagandha, taken in milk decoctions (boiled down), if possible, or in different preparations such as Shatavari compound. Aloe gel is specific for maintaining the youthfulness of the female reproductive organs.
Balancing vata-dominated menopause: Vata is naturally cold, light, and dry. These tendencies are increased with vata-dominated menopause symptoms. Make sure your drinks are warm and that you are eating warm food rather than salads. Try and eat your meals at regular times and go to bed early. Learn relaxation techniques, meditation, and yoga; these will help to calm your nervous system and make you feel more secure and confident. Decrease caffeine, sugar, and other stimulants. Spices such as fennel, cumin, cardamom, and ginseng are beneficial.
Balancing pitta-dominated menopause: Pitta is naturally hot, oily, and intense. These tendencies are increased with pitta-dominated menopause symptoms. Increase the amount of cold water you drink and cold foods you eat. Have more sweet, juicy fruits such as melons, apples, plums, mangoes, and pears. Stay out of the hot sun and try to avoid eating hot spicy foods and having hot drinks. Stay away from alcohol. Try not to work yourself into a frenzy; the less aggravation you have, the better. Meditation is a great way to help keep yourself calm. Shatavari is an excellent herb to take for menopause; it has general cooling qualities which help reduce the hot flash symptoms and help you to cope with mood swings.
Balancing kapha-dominated menopause: Kapha is naturally cold, oily, and heavy. These tendencies are increased with kapha-dominated menopause symptoms. Eat light, dry, warm food and avoid refined sugars, white flour, pasta, and potatoes. Eating fruit, whole grains, legumes, and lots of vegetables will be beneficial. Rising prior to 6:00 a.m. is preferable, use the vata energy that is dominant at this time to keep you alert and motivate you for the entire day. Kapha women can tend to be heavier and prone to weight gain, so it is important to exercise and stay active if you are prone to kapha imbalances. Exercise will help with fluid retention, weight gain, moodiness, energy, and memory.
It is best to consult with an Ayurvedic practitioner to evaluate the proper herbs and diet program for you according to your constitution.
Dr. Aditya Sharma is a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist at Geeta Ayurvedic Healing Center, Inc., P.O. Box 1653, Simi Valley, CA 93063. For comments and questions, please contact Dr. Sharma at 805-584-9025 or at aditya2@pacbell.net. For more information about Ayurveda and Rishi products, visit http://www.rishiherb.com.