1 of 19

Woman’s Season

Maintaining Equilibrium & Harmony during the menstrual cycle

Basic Principles of Ayurveda in Women’s Health

By Vd.Berengere, Auroville Institute for Integral Health (Sante Clinic)

2 of 19

Auroville Institute for Integral Health - Sante Clinic

Growth

Puberty

Adult

Menopause

Senior

Andropause

3 of 19

Vata Prakruti� Air element dominant

Irregular or delayed cycles
Scanty menstrual flow, lasts for 2-3 days
Darkish red blood, tendency to be dry
Menstrual cramps especially the day before and the 1st day of period; can be quite painful
Constipation, bloating, gas
Feeling nervous, anxious, anguished
Light or disturbed sleep, insomnia

Auroville Institute for Integral Health - Sante Clinic

4 of 19

Pitta Prakruti� Fire element dominant

Regular or early cycles
Abundant flow, lasts for 4-6 days
Bright red blood
Feeling of warmth or feverish
Tendency to pimples a few days before or sensitive skin
Loose motion
Irritated, short tempered, impatient

Auroville Institute for Integral Health - Sante Clinic

5 of 19

Kapha Prakruti� Water element dominant

Regular or delayed cycles
Moderate flow but continuous, lasts for 5-7 days
Blood is pale, light red colour
Not much appetite but feels greedy
Tender breasts, water retention in limbs
Feeling heavy, apathic, tired
Melo, nostalgic, feels all alone in the world

Auroville Institute for Integral Health - Sante Clinic

6 of 19

A Woman’s Season

New moon:

Time of menstruation

Full moon:

Time of ovulation

Auroville Institute for Integral Health - Sante Clinic

7 of 19

Auroville Institute for Integral Health - Sante Clinic

Kapha Phase

Vata Phase

Pitta Phase

Estrogen

Progesterone

Luteinizing Hormone

8 of 19

A Woman’s Season

Cervical mucus can indicate when the ovulation occurs and becoming pregnant is high

Auroville Institute for Integral Health - Sante Clinic

9 of 19

Phases in the Menstrual Cycle

Auroville Institute for Integral Health - Sante Clinic

10 of 19

Hormones (or Pitta) don’t like

Irregularity in taking meals and going to bed, staying up late at night
Poor diet, junk food, fasting for too long, changing diets
Stress, Hyperactivity, Overwork
Strong emotions, psychological traumas
Excessive physical exercise, exhaustion or not doing any exercise at all
Travelling, changing places regularly

Auroville Institute for Integral Health - Sante Clinic

11 of 19

PMS – Premenstrual Syndrome

Auroville Institute for Integral Health - Sante Clinic

VATA	PITTA	KAPHA
- Nervousness, agitation, feeling spaced out, dizziness, fainting or vertigo, ringing in the ears - Mood shifts rapidly - Very hard to please - Anxiety and feelings of abandonment - Feeling cold - Increased thirst & dry skin - Pain in lower abdomen or back, worsen at Vata time (2-6 am&pm)	- Anger, irritability, prone to argument, temper, easy outbursts - Increased thirst, sweating, body odour - Feeling hot, feverish in upper body - Acne, pimples, skin rashes - Symptoms increasing during Pitta time (10am-2pm and 10pm-2am)	- Tiredness, heavy feeling, crying, feeling sentimental or needing to be loved - Not so much emotional changes - Susceptibility to cold or flu - Lack of appetite or nausea but cravings for sweet - Swelling in breasts, ankles - Symptoms increasing during Kapha time (6-10 am &pm)

12 of 19

PMS Healthy Tips

Auroville Institute for Integral Health - Sante Clinic

VATA	PITTA	KAPHA
- Anti-Vata diet, sweet & spicy tastes: with garlic and cooked onions - Spices: Turmeric, ginger, nutmeg, asafoetida - Herbs: aloe vera, shatavari, ashwagandha, licorice, dill, fennel - Drink warm milk at bedtime - Massage with warm sesame oil (head and lower abdomen) + hot water bottle on abdomen - Yoga, Pranayama, Relaxing - Gems: coral, ruby, bloodstone, pearl, moonstone - Avoid: coffee, tea, tobacco, alcohol, drugs	- Anti-Pitta diet, sweet & cooling tastes - Spices: Turmeric, coriander, fennel, saffron - Herbs: aloe vera, shatavari, turmeric, guduchi, lodhra, manduka parni (Gotu Kola) - Fragrance: Jasmine, rose, sandalwood - Gems: pearl, moonstone, red coral - Avoid: hot spices, deep fried - Yoga, Pranayama, swimming	- Anti-Kapha diet, spicy & bitter tastes, light or skipping dinner - Spices: all except coriander - Herbs: aloe vera, turmeric, cinnamon, black pepper, pippali, ginger - More outdoor activities - Cardio, physical exercise - Avoid: deep fried, heavy, oily food, sweets

13 of 19

Common menstrual disorders �& Healing Herbs

Promote and regulate menstruation: Turmeric, Saffron
Amenorrhea (delay or absence of menstruation): Ashwagandha, Shatavari, Ginger, Black pepper, Turmeric in warm water
Dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation): Fennel, Asafoetida, Ginger, Black pepper, Valerian, Ashoka, Shatavari, Licorice
Menorrhagia (excess menstrual bleeding): Amla, Manjishtha, Ashoka, Lodhra, Shatavari, Aloe Vera
Debility and infertility: Shatavari, Aloe Vera, Trikatu
Leucorrhea (white discharge): Aloe Vera, Turmeric, Licorice for douche

Auroville Institute for Integral Health - Sante Clinic

14 of 19

Best friends for women

Auroville Institute for Integral Health - Sante Clinic

GUDUCHI (Tinospora Cordifolia): Good for 3 Doshas, treats decreased libido, has a calming effect on the nervous system, kindles Agni (digestive power), rejuvenativing, anti-inflammatory

SHATAVARI (Asparagus Racemosus): Perfect for Vata and Pitta, the best plant for women’s disorders (menstruation symptoms, hormonal imbalance, menopause, lactation)

YASHTIMADHU (Licorice, Glycyrrhiza Glabra): Good for Vata and Pitta imbalance, balances hormones, tonic to stimulate the adrenal glands during menopause

AMALAKI (Amla, Phyllanthus Emblica): Good for Vata, Pitta, Kapha imbalance, general tonic, rich in Vitamin C, rejuvenativing, used in bleeding disorders, osteoporosis, anaemia, weakness of liver and spleen

KUMARI (Aloe Vera): Good for Vata, Pitta, Kapha imbalance, general tonic and for the liver, spleen, blood, female reproductive system, improves Agni (digestive fire)

15 of 19

Healing Gems

Auroville Institute for Integral Health - Sante Clinic

Menstrual phases	Gem (related Planet)	Actions	Doshas
	Pearl (Moon)	Sweet; Cooling; Sweet Calms the mind, strengthens reprod.syst	Tridoshic Regulates Vata, Pitta, Kapha
Post-menstruation (Vata phase)	Emerald (Mercury)	Sweet; Cooling; Sweet Removes nervousness, gives intelligence	Calms Vata, Pitta May stimulate Kapha
	Diamond (Venus)	Pungent, Astringent; Heating; Pungent Brings prosperity, strengthens reproductive syst., improves romantic qualities, digestion and slow ageing	Tridoshic Regulates Vata, Pitta, Kapha
	Bloodstone (Mars and Sun like energy)	Sour, Pungent; Heating; Pungent Good for anaemia, improves Agni (digestive power), improves memory, gives energy, warmth, blood circulation and builds liver and gallbladder energy	Stimulates Vata Calms Pitta Cools Kapha

16 of 19

Healing Gems

Auroville Institute for Integral Health - Sante Clinic

Menstrual phases	Gem (related Planet)	Actions	Doshas
Maturing follicle (Vata to Pitta phase)	Quartz Crystals (Venus like energy)	Pungent, Sweet; Cooling; Sweet Improves communication, enhances intuition	Calms Vata Stimulates Pitta, Kapha
	Lapis Lazuli (Saturn like energy)	Bitter; Cooling; Sweet Good for liver, gallbladder, good for skin diseases (pimples, acne etc)	Calms Vata, Pitta Stimulates Kapha
	Blue Sapphire (Saturn)	Pungent; Heating; Pungent Gives energy to nerves, bones, joints, muscles	Regulates Vata Stimulates Pitta, Kapha

17 of 19

Healing Gems

Auroville Institute for Integral Health - Sante Clinic

Menstrual phases	Gem (related Planet)	Actions	Doshas
Ovulation (Pitta phase)	Jade	Sour, Pungent; Slightly heating; Pungent Enhances the power of inner transformation	Calms Vata, Kapha Stimulates Pitta
Post-ovulation (Pitta to Kapha phase)	Red Coral (Mars)	Sweet; Cooling; Sweet Gives strength, improves colour complexion, imparts gracefulness to the person	Neutral for Vata Regulates Pitta, Kapha
Premenstrual (Kapha phase)	Onyx (Sun and Jupiter like energy)	Pungent; Heating; Pungent Improves love and positive thinking	Calms Vata, Kapha Stimulates Pitta
	Aquamarine (Venus like energy)	Sweet, Astringent; Cooling; Sweet Eliminates dullness of mind, brings mental happiness and intelligence, enhances love in relationship	Tridoshic Regulates Vata, Pitta, Kapha

18 of 19

Menopause

Auroville Institute for Integral Health - Sante Clinic

VATA	PITTA	KAPHA
- Dryness in skin, mucosa, eyes - Skin becomes thinner - Pain in lower back, sacrum, in bones - Increased nervousness, anxiety - Disturbed sleep, insomnia - Depression, emptiness DO: - Massage with sesame oil + hot water bottle - Tonic herbs: Shatavari, Aloe Vera, Saffron, Ashwagandha	- Hot flashes - Increased body heat - More sweating - Skin reactions, rashes - Feeling more hungry - Anger, irritability, impatience, short temper - Light sleep DO: - Massage with coconut oil - Cooling therapies - Tonic herbs: Shatavari, Aloe Vera, Saffron	- Quiet smooth and not much disturbance - Feeling of heaviness, weight gain around belly and hips - Water retention DO: - Eat food with bitter/ astringent/spicy tastes - Physical exercise - Tonic herbs: Ginger, black pepper, pippali

19 of 19

Hormonal changes

Estrogen reduces : Kapha Aggravation

Headaches, tiredness, joint inflammation and pain, weight increases

Progesterone reduces : Vata Aggravation

Nervousness, migraines, cracking of joints, mood swings, dryness

Testosterone reduces : Kapha Aggravation

SOME PLANTS WILL HELP:

Auroville Institute for Integral Health - Sante Clinic