Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) have become normalized today. PMS has a wide variety of signs and symptoms, including mood swings, breast tenderness, food cravings, fatigue, irritability and depression. PMDD is an extension of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) that can include severe and sometimes disabling irritability, anxiety, depression and even thoughts of suicide. According to the Mayo Clinic, 75 percent of menstruating women have experienced some form of PMS.
Because PMS and PMDD are so common, menstruation has been experienced as a burden and a painful and debilitating time during which productivity decreases, irrational emotions take over, fatigue and body pains increase and one is left only to endure it. It is important to make the distinction that normal and common are not synonymous.
From an Ayurvedic perspective, menstrual patterns and symptoms are signs of potentially greater imbalances in the body. Normal menstruation is a blessing that not only serves the function of preparing the body for healthy conception but also provides the opportunity for toxins to be alleviated so that the entire body, mind and spirit can be renewed monthly.
Understanding and experiencing menstruation as a healthy cleansing period enables us to approach our cycles from a place of connection. From here, we can learn to nourish ourselves, support our monthly cleanse and foster natural, pain-free flows.
Ayurveda provides support and remedies for menstruation that heal at a root level. Applying Ayurvedic principles to your diet and lifestyle also provides the opportunity to balance your chemistry before even more difficult conditions arise.
What is a ‘Healthy’ Cycle?
In Ayurveda, a healthy cycle has blood that is red in color and does not stain clothing. Blood that stains, clots or is dark is a common characteristic of toxic buildup (ama) in the uterus. While there are variations even within healthy cycles, bleeding is neither too short nor too long, has no foul odor, and the quantity is neither too great nor too little. Any other discharge, pain, mood swings, cravings, or heavy bleeding are signs of an imbalanced menstrual cycle and a potentially unhealthy reproductive system.
Consult with your Ayurvedic clinician to know whether your cycle is healthy for you.
Imbalanced Cycles
Ayurveda teaches us that imbalanced cycles are the result of greater, more systemic imbalances, including low immune function (Ojas) and toxic accumulation (ama). Ama accumulates in a specific region of the body and blocks important channels and physiological functions. For example, ama accumulated in the breasts can result in breast tenderness, ama accumulated in the skin can result in acne, and ama in the uterus can result in painful bleeding, excessive bleeding or clotting.
Modern holistic and integrative medicine has also taught us that accumulated toxins lead to chronic inflammation, which can and will make the entire menstrual cycle incredibly unpleasant. Physical and mental stress also promote pro-inflammatory cytokines and imbalanced hormones.
The Ayurvedic doshas – air-types (Vata dosha), fire-types (Pitta dosha), and earth-types (Kapha dosha) – are the energies in the body that are responsible for physiological, mental and emotional health.* The Ayurvedic approach to fostering healthy cycles begins with balancing these doshas throughout the body and removing toxins. Balanced doshas result in strong Ojas and prevent the formation of toxins.
Air-Type (Vata Dosha) Menstruation Imbalance
Vata dosha, or excess air in the constitution, is the energy responsible for motion and it governs the downward flushing actions of menstruation. PMS-type symptoms are predominant Vata dosha imbalances.
Vata is cold, light, dry and mobile. Therefore, raw foods and smoothies, excessive traveling, exposure to extreme temperatures (hot or cold), overstimulation and prolonged stress all vitiate air-types. They also deplete the system and have a negative impact on Ojas (strength, vitality and immunity).
The golden rule of treatment in Ayurveda is that “like increases like”, and opposites decrease. To balance Vata, we want to decrease the light, cold and mobile qualities by increasing the opposite qualities of heavy, moist, warm and stable.
Warming, nourishing meals; eating mindfully; cultivating stillness; slowing down; taking long deep breaths; practicing yin yoga, yoga nidra, mindfulness and meditation all balance Vata. Also, sipping warm water or moderately spiced herbal teas throughout the day and practicing abhyanga, or self oil massage, will help pacify Vata through cellular hydration and nourishment. These practices also help to slow you down and foster a positive connection with your body.
Air and Fire-Type (Vata and Pitta Doshas) Menstruation Imbalance
Oftentimes, air combines with fire causing more severe menstrual symptoms. These cycles can be heavy as excess heat resides in the blood. This heat – inflammation – irritates the body and can provoke swelling or burning pain. It can also lead to heated emotions such as anger, irritability, frustration and seemingly uncontrollable outbursts.
PMDD is more likely an air and fire-type condition and needs to be treated as such. If you treat PMDD from a Vata-only perspective, you could make it worse. This is why it’s so important to work with a practitioner and not try to treat your menstrual imbalances on your own.
When these dual-dosha-type conditions combine, they carry the qualities of hot, penetrating, mobile, light and dry. To bring balance, increase cool and soft qualities.
Avoid pungent, hot and spicy foods; and incorporate cooling spices into your meals such as fennel, cilantro and mint to help cool the blood. Also, decreasing competition and intense exercise will help cool the circulatory and nervous systems. Spend time sitting by the water and enjoy meditative walks and time in nature to alleviate excess heat and motility.
Finally, enjoy abhyanga or self-massage with cooling coconut oil, focusing on the lymph nodes that surround the breast tissue as it will help alleviate tenderness and discomfort.
Air and Earth-Type (Vata and Kapha Doshas) Menstruation Imbalance
When the downward movement of air combines with earth, stagnation will result and obstruction and blockages of the system occur. Kapha dosha is dense, heavy, dull, sticky and cool. This results in bloating, swelling and potentially heavy, long cycles with excess clotting of the blood.
In this type of cycle, the pain is dull and itchy yeast infections are more common. Depression and emotional eating also arise, as do lethargy and sluggishness.
In this condition, we want to increase the qualities of hot, light, dry and mobile. Add heating spices such as powdered ginger, cinnamon, cardamom and black pepper to meals to increase the digestive fire and promote circulation. Exercise reduces the stagnation of Kapha by stimulating the movement of blood and lymph throughout the body.
Before menstruation, take brisk walks daily and enjoy dry brushing massage to increase circulation and the proper flow of lymph. Herbal remedies are exceptionally powerful for reducing Kapha imbalances of all types in the body and should be taken only under the guidance of a trained practitioner.
A Healthy Cycle and Fertility
Ayurveda balances the doshas to foster a healthy cycle. Balanced doshas result in strong Ojas, or immunity, and prevents the formation of ama or toxins. A balanced cycle is not only void of symptoms during the premenstrual and menstrual phases, it also involves proper physiological functioning and mental stability throughout the entire cycle.
In other words, balancing your cycle improves your holistic health and wellbeing, creating the proper conditions for fertility. Fertility, from an Ayurvedic perspective, emphasizes not only the sperm and the egg but also metabolic functions, hormonal balance, mental and emotional health, strong Ojas/immunity and minimal accumulation of toxins.
Ayurveda offers a complete fertility protocol for both females and males. The protocol involves a detoxification period prior to rebuilding and nourishing all the tissue layers of the body. This process involves nourishing eggs, sperm, womb and holistic health.
Even if conception is not your immediate goal, cleansing and nourishing the reproductive system is essential for longevity and for building and maintaining holistic wellbeing in mind, body and spirit.
Article authored by Chloe Chaput, who is dedicated to her role as a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist to work with women’s health, male and female fertility challenges, parents/caregivers, and children to address a variety of clinical health concerns at the root of their cause. Contact Path Wellbeing today to set up your appointment with Chloe Chaput, CAS.
*Earth represents the solid structures of your body such as bone and muscle mass and density, as well as stability of the mind and its resilience under stress; water represents the consistency and quantity of plasma, lymph, synovial fluid, etc. as well as your ability to “go with the flow” and not let stress overwhelm you; fire represents metabolism and thermal energy and the quality of discernment, judgement or “seeing clearly” in the mind; air represents movement and how much oxygen, CO2, and other gasses are moving about your body as well as the movement (rate, motility and distraction) of the mind; and, finally ether represents the hollow cavities in the body and the expansiveness of the mind.
The information contained within this article is for educational purposes only and should not replace the direct advice of a doctor or other qualified healthcare professional. Always consult a medical or other professional healthcare provider when considering a new health regime.
