Ayurveda knowledge

Quality of life for the best years - Kerstin Rosenberg and Dr. Ludwig Kronpass write about the menopause from an Ayurvedic perspective.

This article appeared in Yoga Aktuell Feb/March 2010

From an Ayurvedic perspective, our lives consist of the complex interplay of different energies and cycles that shape our health on a physical and psychological level. According to our own bio-energetic qualities of doshas (functional principles), shrotas (circulation channels) and gunas (mental qualities), we respond to the influences of our environment in an individual and constitutionally appropriate way. We are in contact with nature and react physically, energetically and emotionally to external and internal changes such as seasons, moon phases, puberty and menopause.

The menopause in particular represents a major change in a woman's life. The lowering of specific hormone levels and a climacteric dosha shift not only changes the female monthly cycle, but also gives the entire personality and appearance new, previously unknown qualities. In every second woman in our culture, this process of change is accompanied by menopausal symptoms or serious illnesses.

"The lowering of specific hormone levels and a climacteric dosha shift not only changes the female menstrual cycle, but also gives the entire personality and appearance new, previously unknown qualities."

Even if men and women are not assigned to Mars and Venus from an Ayurvedic perspective, the different nature of the sexes is undisputed. Ayurveda describes the woman as a being that is subtly associated with Agni, the attribute of fire and energy. Through the inner power of fire, the woman is connected to the energy of life (shakti): She can conceive life, enable the development of a child in her womb, bear and nourish children. Physically, on the other hand, the female organism is more strongly characterized by water dominance, which manifests itself through cool, stable and nourishing qualities in "typically female" characteristics such as round, soft body shapes, motherliness and endurance. In addition to the monthly menstrual bleeding, the sexual exchange between the female Shakti fire and the male reproductive juices (shiva) also serves to complete the transformation from inner heat to outer coolness. During the sexual encounter, the man transfers the water element to the woman through the seminal fluid, whereas the female fire passes to him. As a result, the male personality loses its soft, grounding effect and becomes active and strong in nature. On the other hand, the female personality loses the intensity and sharpness of the fire element and transforms into a soft and gentle being. In this sense, the intimate relationship between man and woman not only has the purpose of sexual reproduction, but also serves the mutual fertilization and redemption of the polar energies. During menopause and andropause, men and women experience fundamental changes in the energetic interplay of their inner and outer forces. The menopause, often characterized by crises, in which illnesses, relationship problems and self-doubt are the order of the day, represents a comprehensive reorientation of our physical, mental and spiritual nature. This hormonally anchored transformation conceals great potential for spiritual development and personal self-development. If we make use of this potential, we experience the menopause as a release from materialistic responsibility and entanglement. If, on the other hand, we are stuck in our old ways - as is usually the case in our society, which is characterized by hormone therapy and cosmetic surgery - this not only disturbs a woman's holistic spiritual development, but also promotes physical illnesses.

Physical and psychological changes in the female balance

Ayurvedic medicine considers each person according to their individual constitution. Our natural characteristics of Vata, Pitta and Kapha manifest themselves in our appearance, digestion and constitutionally typical character traits and behaviors, among other things. But our "feminine" qualities such as menstrual bleeding, receptivity and libido also have different forms of expression depending on our individual constitution. So we all react differently to the changes during the menopause.

"During the menopause and andropause, men and women experience fundamental changes in the energetic interplay of their inner and outer forces."

And yet there are very interesting similarities in female development that become apparent when looking at the three major phases of life, even if physical and mental forces manifest themselves in different ways. We refer to the menopause as the stage in a woman's life when she moves from the second, middle phase of life to the third, final phase. Our second phase comprises the active phase of life from 20-45 years. Here the "Pitta" quality is particularly strongly emphasized in a woman's life. The fiery Pitta Dosha is the physical manifestation of the energetic Shakti energy and gives us performance, assertiveness and fertility. If we look at the life of a woman at this age, it is characterized by a lot of work and perseverance: children, job, husband, social obligations - everything has to be done, everything has to be taken care of. In order to master the daily challenges of everyday life, a woman needs all her Pitta power. The monthly menstrual period serves to cleanse the female organism and balances the fiery forces (pitta and agni).

If our female balance is disturbed, pitta-induced skin diseases, inflammation, migraines, irritability and aggression develop. The other doshas - vata and kapha - are also affected. A combination of Vata and Pitta disorders is particularly common, with the increased Vata now also causing exhaustion, immune deficiency, hormonal fluctuations and musculoskeletal disorders. Many typical female ailments such as osteoporosis, menstrual pain or sterility are caused by a disturbed Vata dosha. This shows us that many women already suffer from too much Vata in the Pitta phase!

This is fatal when we look at the quality of the third phase of life, which is initiated by the menopause - usually from the age of 50. Vata dosha predominates here: The active Pitta forces are replaced by the airy and ethereal quality of Vata, shifting the focus of life from the physical presence to the spiritual dimension. With the help of the hot flushes we burn off excess Pitta and the body gains a new sensitivity and maturity. The menopause opens up a new, spiritual dimension to the female nature and the intuitive, healing and spiritual abilities are strengthened. However, if we start this transformation process with a Vata-Pitta imbalance, the well-known menopausal diseases are pre-programmed. Regardless of the constitutional type, the ageing process is accompanied by Vata, which is associated with an increased susceptibility to illness and a significant loss of energy. The aim of Ayurvedic gynaecology is to stabilize the harmonious balance of Vata and Pitta so that the energetic and physical exchange of forces can take place without discomfort.

Understanding and treating menopausal symptoms ayurvedically

As almost half of all women suffer from psychological and physical disorders during the menopause, the quality of life of many women is considerably impaired. Depressive moods, irritability, nervousness, pain in the abdomen and breasts, weight gain, water retention and bleeding disorders of all kinds put us in a state of emergency that is often difficult to reconcile with the many demands of an active family and professional life. As a rule, the medical advice that this is a "normal" transitional phase in a woman's life is not really helpful in dealing with these problems. Conventional medicine also only offers the affected woman a very narrow range of options: hormone therapy, which has come under considerable discussion in recent years due to an increase in cases of breast cancer and vascular occlusion, as well as surgical interventions such as scraping and hysterectomy. Our western medicine therefore has little to offer in the way of a genuine causal treatment that does not potentially endanger the woman. This is where Ayurvedic medicine can complement or even replace conventional medicine effectively and, above all, without side effects: As already described, the continuous release of energy and heat leads to a compensatory "moisturizing" of the female body and mind. One of the physical expressions of this energy drain is menstruation. During the menopause, this valve slowly begins to dry up. Women with a pronounced Pitta constitution, i.e. people with a fiery-energetic approach to life, suffer more from the described build-up of heat in their bodies. In order to prevent or counteract the typical diseases of the menopause, Ayurvedic therapies are used which serve to reduce and attenuate Pitta without generating further problems for women in the second half of life by provoking the Vata principle - movement, wind, lack of stability. It makes sense for women over the age of 40 to monitor their emotional and physical state very closely and react to any fluctuations that occur at an early stage. All vata-increasing forms of behavior and food, such as excessive stress and travel, an irregular lifestyle, fast food and raw food, should be avoided. The consumption of coffee, alcohol, black tea and tobacco also aggravates the symptoms of the menopause. Particularly good are all cooling foods such as melon, cucumber and spices such as coriander, cumin, cinnamon and saffron, wearing jewelry made of pearls, coral and moonstone as well as mentally effective strategies of yoga and meditation. Ayurvedic massage therapy with its diverse psycho-physical effects is also a component of the treatment that should not be underestimated. In particular, cooling medicated oils such as Kshirabala-Thaila are used.

"To prevent or counteract the typical diseases of the menopause, Ayurvedic therapies are used that serve to lower and dampen Pitta without generating further problems for women in the second half of life by provoking the Vata principle - movement, wind, lack of stability."

Regular purification measures also lead to the stabilization of the physical constitution. Ayurveda believes that a regular cleansing process takes place through menstrual bleeding. During the menopause, the loss of this process leads to an increased accumulation of ama (toxic metabolic build-up). In order to reduce the accumulated ama and the associated symptoms, it is recommended to take regular cleansing cures in the form of fasting and laxative days instead of menstruation.

In addition, dedicated Ayurvedic therapists also have a wealth of herbal preparations at their disposal, which can be used to implement a balanced, holistic therapy concept for all types of menopausal problems: Cooling, astringent and hemostatic drugs can bring about a rapid improvement in cases of increased bleeding or bleeding that lasts too long. Amalaki (Emblica officinalis or Amla berry), Nagakeshara (Mesua ferrea or ironwood) and above all Ashoka (Saraca indica or Jonesia Ashok) form an effective medicinal basis here. For very irregular or weak and painful bleeding, on the other hand, a fermented liquid preparation of aloe vera called kumari asava can be helpful. In general and for almost all problem situations during the menopause, the rootstock of the Indian asparagus, shatavari, can be used, which, due to its content of hormone-like substances, can eliminate the deficiency without any undesirable side effects. The psycho-mental imbalance in this transitional phase in a woman's life can also be harmonized by highly effective plants from Indian medicine, in order to enable the woman to focus on new fulfilling tasks in emotional balance. In this context, Brahmi and - for women who are more prone to depression - Jatamansi play a leading role in the spectrum of holistic management of this phase.

Irrespective of the individual symptoms and clinical pictures, Ayurveda recommends the rejuvenating Rasayana therapies in order to balance non-specific and specific menopausal symptoms through their vitalizing effect. In addition to the classic dietary, phytotherapeutic and manual therapeutic measures, "modern" anti-ageing therapies such as the administration of antioxidants and spiritual therapies such as wearing astrological bracelets or gemstones are also recommended. The holistic therapeutic approaches of Ayurveda provide effective help and support for women in a phase of life that is associated with a wealth of problems and symptoms without being a real illness in the sense of conventional medicine. In situations of this kind, complementary and alternative treatment concepts to supplement Western medicine are particularly useful, which those affected can apply themselves to counteract further damage or the need for more interventional measures.

Self-help tips for frequent menopausal symptoms

Hot flushes

Pitta constitutions are particularly susceptible to this problem.

Prefer bitter and cooling foods: green leafy vegetables, raw vegetables, artichokes, melons, cucumbers and bananas.
Avoid heating foods such as hot spices, yoghurt, honey and coffee.
Drink 3-4 cups of herbal tea made from 1/2 tablespoon of coriander, cumin and fennel seeds every day. Sage, lady's mantle and horsetail also have a balancing effect.
For hot flushes, suck cardamom seeds and drink cold water with rose water.

Osteoporosis

Vata constitutions are particularly susceptible to this problem.

As a preventative measure, avoid all vata- and pitta-increasing behavior and the consumption of sugar, meat, alcohol, coffee and white flour products.
A regular body care program with self-oiling, followed by sunbathing and an exercise program.
Regular intake of milk, almonds, sunflower seeds, walnuts, coconuts, mung beans and green leafy vegetables.

Dry mucous membranes/lack of vaginal secretion