Irregularity of periods can occur in several ways, it can either be a change in the frequency of periods, a change in the amount of blood discharged by the body during every cycle, or a change in the duration of every cycle. It varies from woman to woman, age, and underlying condition. Even the reasons for this problem are as varied as its nature:
- Imbalance of hormones like progesterone and estrogen
- Too much exercise
- Stress
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
- Birth control pills
- Uterine fibroids
- Pregnancy
- Intrauterine device
- Onset of menopause
These are some main points that plays important role in irregular periods treatment in Ayurveda. When someone has irregular periods, then it’s recommended to consult with a doctor.
How does Ayurveda define Irregular Periods?
In terms of Ayurveda, the menstrual cycle is controlled by the three governing doshas – Vata, Kapha, and Pitta. Out of these, a sub-type of Vata dosha, Apana Vata takes care of the complete period cycle and resides in the lower abdominal region. The Apana Vata flows downwards across the reproductive system. When any factors lead to vitiation or imbalance in Apana Vata leads to irregularity in periods. Apart from that, medication, improper diet, and lack of physical exercise are some of the common reasons for irregular periods. The problem is primarily categorized into three categories:
Oligomenorrhea – This category includes females of reproductive age. The woman misses her periods which cause the cycle to last up to 35 days.
Polymenorrhea – It is completely the opposite of oligomenorrhea where the monthly cycle is less than 21 days. It often results in abnormal uterine bleeding.
Metrorrhagia – It is characterized by the bleeding caused in-between two consecutive periods. It sometimes lasts for two or less than two days.
Apart from these three, there is one more condition called amenorrhoea which refers to the complete absence of periods. If a female misses her periods for more than three months, the condition is known as amenorrhoea.
Ayurveda gives due recognition to cycles as they are one of the biggest regulators of human health. Every dosha works in a cyclical fashion which includes the biological clock. Therefore, the doshas are never the same as they keep changing with every new phase of the cycle. Everybody’s function works well on its natural rhythm when doshas behave the way they are meant to. When the normal physiology of these doshas is disturbed, they behave in an abnormal fashion which leads to deterioration of health and finally illness.
Ayurvedic doctors are of the opinion that the menstrual cycle is the barometer of female health. Therefore, whenever periods go missing it is a sign that everything is not right within the body. It exemplifies several issues related to female health. Therefore, the core focus of irregular periods treatment in Ayurveda is on restoring the balance between vitiated doshas. It adopts a holistic approach that works on multiple levels to bring desired relief to the patient.
Normally, the treatment begins with a plan specifically designed for an individual patient depending on the symptoms and extent of the disease. The course of treatment shuffles between Panchkarma therapies, medication, lifestyle adjustments, and diet improvement. The diet is charted in view of replenishing the deficiencies in the patient’s body and strengthening the inner systems against disorders and diseases. The medication, on the other hand, helps in the upkeep of the female body’s delicacy and regains the balance in the cycle.
In Ayurveda, there are many practices or therapies as mentioned in the above post, that help to control and cure the period problems in the woman. These methods are known as irregular periods treatment in Ayurveda. These therapies and treatments are done with the help of natural herbs and remedies. An Experienced and skilled doctor always tries to find the root cause of the problem so that they can provide the best and most effective treatment for the patient.
Apart from this, the patient is advised and recommended to adopt yoga to strengthen the inner systems, detoxify, and prevent the recurrence of problems in the longer run. Simple exercises like deep breathing and meditation can play a key role in keeping the hormones in tune. If the problem results from stress or work pressure, meditation and simple yoga asanas like butterfly pose, child’s pose, and sun salutation can be practiced regularly to strengthen the person’s mindset, break the constant chain of thoughts and help the person stay in present. These are a few simple techniques to keep up the patient’s mindset and keep the body functions working in a regular fashion. Similarly, oil massages are also recommended for regulating cycles and hormonal activity. If the patient has some specific problem then it can always be resolved with massages with medicated oils. Massages improve blood and oxygen circulation through the target area and thus restore its natural state in a very scientific and effective way.
