Arthava Dusti/Menstrual or ovulation dysfunciton/Irregular periods

In Ayurveda word “Artava” denotes menstrual blood/ovum. Artava is related to 2 seasons i.e., it may be due to presence of Ritukala (ovulation period) and Rajakal (menstruation period) in women. Irregularity in Artava is basically due to imbalance in Vata, Pitta or Kapha Dosha. Either there will be Nasta artava/Anartava (absence of menstruation) or Atiartava/Pradara (heavy or prolonged bleeding). Ayurveda classics explains about colour, texture, specific smell, amount and other associated features like type of pain in various Artavdushti. So, only by observing menstrual blood variation we can find out the disease associated with it.

An Ayurvedic approach to a healthy menstrual cycle

Doshas are stated as bio energies in the body which initiate, sustain and complete all the functions in the body, they are three – Vata, Pitta and Kapha, for easy understanding we can see them as – Vata – relates to wind and causes movements, Pitta related to fire and cause metabolic activities and Kapha relates to earth and causes formation.

Vata is considered as special one and so, in female body all the fertility related functions are governs by Vata itself examples – expulsion of blood during periods. It is more to do with ‘Apana Vata’ – a subtypes of Vata dosha which is responsible for downwards movements. According to Ayurveda, health is a balance status of Doshas, in sort ‘being in Balance’ is Health – complete health. ​A normal menstrual period lasts from 2 to 7 days.

​The range of the cyclic pattern is between 22 to 35 days. Any abnormality in - flow, gap between two cycles and flow days is irregular periods and you should contact your health practitioner. This could be due to hormonal imbalance. And you may be prescribe some synthetic hormonal medicines (OCP's etc) to artificially balance your cycle. And of course with this comes a big list of side effects. If you are looking for correcting your hormonal imbalance and not a quick easy solution (just getting periods) then Ayurveda medicines has much to offer. ​Women- the most important one on this planet. And what we do is neglect this fact. Read this article from WHO to know more. Ayurvedic treatment for female related problems such as menstrual problems, heavy bleeding, no periods, PCOS, PCOD, infertility and other hormonal problems, is provided and well managed by Ayurvedic medicines prepared and dispensed at our clinic by our trained Ayurvedic doctors.

Ayurveda talks in detail about female related problems, their treatment and how a woman can restore her fertility and prevent all menstrual disorders. Fertility is not required only to have babies but it is a very “core concept” of being a women. It is more to do with a healthy life. A women’s body goes through a lot of changes since her childhood and the very first change appears when she starts having her periods. In medical terms it is called as ‘menarche’ and Ayurveda calls it – ‘Rajo darshanam’.

Ayurveda suggest that from this time onward, a girl needs extra care and support to look after her body, to be free from all kinds of menstrual disturbances. Read about care during your periods. Menstrual disturbance are the basically symptoms of any underlying pathology. For example, when there is imbalance between ‘Doshas’ the body shows sign and symptoms of that abnormal Doshas.

Eight varieties of Aartavdushti are described in the classics. Acharyas has not addressed the specific causes of the eight menstruation diseases. According to Kashyap, Nasya during menstruation, eating extremely hot consumables and giving Mridukostha patients too many medications after Snehana and Swedana vitiate Artava which results in menstrual disorders. Thus, it may be inferred that Aartavdushti is caused by certain variables that contribute to Dosha vitiation in conjunction with predisposing factors. Following are the 8 Artavadoshas-
1. Vataja
2. Pittaja
3. Shleshmaja
4. Raktaja - Kunapganthi
5. Vatapittaja - Kshina
6. Pittakaphaja - Putipuya
7. Vatakaphaja - Granthibhuta
8. Tridoshaja - Mutrapurishaganthi
The vitiated Artava has no Beeja, and its clinical characteristics - such as color, discomfort etc. are in line with the Doshas that are involved. Dalhana explains that the clinical characteristics of Artava are identical to those of Shukra. Harita has discussed the clinical features and management of Vataja, Pittaja, and Kaphaja Aratavadushti in the context of Bandhyatva but he has not described Aartavadushti.

Why to choose Ayurveda for periods related problems

Women’s health is the primary factor to be considered for well being of family, society and culture. Any physical or mental disorder disturbs her educational, social and economic life. We all know that, there are many physiological changes takes place in women’s body which is markedly seen in the reproductive life.

​The menstruation is considered as a landmark of homeostatic condition of reproductive system. Menstrual cycle is such a unique phenomenon in the body which includes dramatically monthly change in the hormones, which ends finally with the shedding of endometrium. 
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Why Ayurveda-

• IT BALANCES HORMONES & NORMALISE M. PERIODS
• REDUCES SPASMODIC PAIN DURING PERIODS
• HELPFUL IN STRESS & RECURRENT INFECTIONS
• PROVIDES PROPER NUTRITION TO FEMALE.
• REDUCE FATIGUE , WEAKNESS & IMPROVES HEALTH

Pain /cramps during Periods- Kasta-Artava in Ayurveda

​Medically called as Dysmenorrohea, in Ayurveda called as Kastaartava.  In contemporary science-The term dysmenorrhea refers to painful menstruation. Dysmenorrhea is a cramp labor-like pain in the lower abdomen that radiates to upper abdomen, waist and thighs and is sometimes accompanied by systemic symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache and dizziness . It is due to  Apana Vata abnormally.

Causes:
Today’s stressful modern life style, food habits, frequent interventions of female genital tract affects the uterine environment, which leads to higher incidence of dysmenorrhoea. Thereby necessitating the beginning ofa new paradigm for understanding and treating one of the major problems of today’s modern era.

​The incidence of dysmenorrhoea is affected by social status, occupation and age, so groups of schoolgirls, college students, factory workers, and women members of the armed forces each provide different statistics. In modern medicine dysmenorrhoea is treated by oral hormonal pills, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) and also with other antispasmodic and analgesics. Long term use of these produces side effects.

Treatment in Ayurveda-
Vata is the main cause of all these problems (gynecological disorders). So, Vata should be normalized, and only then treatment for other doshas should be done.
Panchkarma- BASTI specially

Pathya-
Unctuous, hot, sour and salty articles should be used for the relief from menstrual disorders due to Vata.
Sweet, cold and astringent substances for the purification of Pitta and hot, dry and astringent for Kapha

Life-style changes

• Exercise regularly-minimum thrice a week Ensure sound sleep of at least 6-8 hours.
• Avoid smoking and alcohol Reduce caffeine Diet Eat healthy, warm and fresh foods Eat 5-6 small meals
• Have fresh fruits like plums, dark grapes, apples,
• Eat more leafy vegetables Regularly use ginger in food preparations Avoid high fat and sugar
• Take supplements like calcium, magnesium, vitamin E, B6, B12

Yoga: 
Ushtrasana, Bhadrasana, Gomukhasana, and Vajrasana have a pain relieving effect.

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Heavy -prolonged periods

Menorrhagia is the technical term for the prolonged uterine bleeding. Uncontrolled uterine bleeding or excessive menstrual bleeding is also termed by this name in few of the instances. In Ayurvedic texts it is named as Raktapradara or Asrigdara. ‘Asrik’ means blood and ‘dara’ refers to excessive flow.

​Symptoms of Asrigdara
The symptoms can be divided into four sets based on the Vitiated Dosha
Vataja Asrigdara: Pain, froathy bleeding like the flower of palasha is found.
Pittaja Asrigdara: The bleeding will be blackish red, warm and associated with fever.
Kaphaja asrigdara: Pallor, slimy, thick, stable (long lasting) bleeding is observed in case of kaphaja asrigdara.
Sannipataja asrigdara : It is associated with syncope and fever and mixed symptoms of all the three doshas; It is very difficult to treat.

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No/delayed Periods/scanty flow- Anartava in Ayurveda

THE SYMPTOMS OF ABSENCE OF MENSES ARE:

• The first primary symptom is the absence of menses. The woman would stop having menses regularly for a couple of months
• There could be milky discharge from the nipples
• Excessive facial hair could be present due to hormonal imbalance

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Pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS)

PMS is also called as premenstrual tension. PMS symptoms are considered to be psychosomatic in nature. It appears every month, 7 – 10 days before bleeding (periods).

​PMS causes:
The following are thought to be the causes of PMS –
Alteration in the levels of Oestrogen and progesterone at the middle period of the menstrual cycle, causing stress.
Nerve and nerve related chemical factors – Decreased synthesis of serotonine (a neuro transmitter) during second half of the periods is observed in women with PMS.
Withdrawal of endorphins is also thought to be the cause of PMS.
Psychological causes.

​PMS symptoms:
Abdominal bloating
Breast tenderness,
Swelling of hands and legs, Weight gain,
Irritability
Depression
Insomnia,
Anxiety, headache, loss of concentration.

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