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The Ayurvedic Approach to Menopause
Understanding the Transition Ayurvedically
According to ayurveda, the total lifespan of an individual can be
defined in terms of the three doshas or ayurvedic principles:
childhood is governed by Kapha dosha, youth and adulthood by Pitta
and mature adulthood, the last trimester, by Vata dosha. Menopause
marks the transition from the Pitta phase of life to the Vata phase
of life for most women.
"During the transition, women tend to experience imbalance in both
Pitta and Vata," explains Rama Kant Mishra, ayurvedic expert. "As a
result, they can exhibit the symptoms of an imbalanced Pitta - skin
eruptions, depressed emotions, irritability, hot flashes and excess
stomach acid, for example, as well as the signs of an imbalanced
Vata - vaginal dryness, a clouded mind and thin dry skin, to name a
few. To have a smooth transition, it is important to find out which
of these two doshas is out of balance and correct that imbalance with
a proper diet and routine, and herbal supplements as support."
Some tips for balancing Vata:
A Vata balancing diet includes more of the sweet, sour and salty
tastes, and should contain more warm, unctuous foods. Eat three
regular meals every day, with the heaviest meal being lunch. Include
a little Ghee in your diet and cook with Vata balancing spices. Drink
lots of water through the day.
With the too-much-to-do, too-little-time syndrome ruling the lives of
many women these days, going to bed at a reasonable hour each night
appears a luxury. If you are one of those women who habitually stays
up late to catch up on work, you might want to consider the fact that
one of the simplest ways to help keep Vata dosha in balance is to try
to go to bed early: definitely no later than 10 p.m. Between 6 p.m.
and 10 p.m. is the Kapha dominated time of day, which means the body
is settling down and the brain is calming down naturally. So if you
go to sleep during that time you tend to have deeper, more restful
sleep.
Introduce the pleasurable experience of abhyanga, the ayurvedic self-
massage, into your daily routine. The daily warm oil massage is best
done in the morning, before your bath or shower. It pacifies both
Vata and Pitta doshas, helps increase resistance to day-to-day
stress, enhances circulation and lubrication, and recharges you for
the day ahead. For instructions on how to do the abhyanga, please
visit: http://www.gracefultransition.com/learn/l-abhyanga.html
Some tips for balancing Pitta:
In general, a Pitta pacifying diet would be one that is rich in
vegetables--not tomatoes and spinach, which are two very heating
vegetables, but most other vegetables, whole grains, sweet juicy
fruits, especially pears, plums and other non-citrus fruits. Drink
plenty of water through the day.
Eat meals on time. Lunch, the main meal of the day, should ideally be
eaten around mid-day, when the digestive fire is at its natural peak.
To keep Sadhaka Pitta, which governs the emotions, in balance, take
an herbal formula that contains Arjuna, the ayurvedic herb famous for
its positive influence on the heart. In combination with other herbs,
Arjuna in this formula helps promote better mind/body/heart
coordination and nourishes the heart and mind.
Internal cleansing helps flush toxins out of the body gently, helping
to keep the skin clear and healthy. In conjunction with lots of
water, an internal cleansing program can help prevent many Pitta
related problems during the transition.
Note : This ayurvedic information is educational and is not intended
to replace standard medical care or advice.
Copyright MAPI, 2002.
For more information on Ayurveda or to subscribe to free newsletters,
please visit www.mapi.com
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