AYURVEDA & WOMEN’S HEALTH – CARING FOR FUTURE OF NATION

A woman is compared to Prakruti(Nature). How nature is the cause for universe same way woman is responsible for the birth of creature. A woman plays multiple role in day to day life, from being a daughter, a sister, a wife, a mother, a working woman, a teacher etc are likely to be a prime initiator of outside assistance and plays an important role in facilitating changes in family life. Every woman goes through a series of profound changes during her lifetime. Because of many reasons hormone level vary significantly from age to age, she needs special care in her different stages of life. Women’s health is precious not only for healthy and happy status for her family and also society or even to nation at large.

Women health – Women health described as all aspects related to their reproductive health, including maternal and child health, genital health, breast health including menstruation, birth control and menopause. The WHO considers that reproductive health has been a major barrier to ensure access to good quality health care for all women.

Need of women health in present era –

1. To achieve gender equality.
2. To reduce the mortality and morbidity rates mother and infants.
3. In growth and development of the society
4. Increasing women labor force part participation need to prevent economic under development in country.
5. To ensure total health care and protect back bone of entire family.

Factors which affect women health-

1. Lifestyle changes- improper diet and regimens
2. Hormonal imbalances
3. Physical and Mental stress
4. Lack of nutrition
5. Multiple and frequent pregnancies
6. Poor hygienic and illiteracy.
7. Multiple abortions
8. Violent crime against women.

Women health care through Ayurveda –

Ayurveda – a life science, Traditional System of medicine. Its primary importance is on prevention; providing treatment of disease and also maintenance of health. Women’s life is associated with changes from menarche, pregnancy, motherhood till up to menopause and adapting all that life brings.

Ayurveda helps to stay balanced at every age and stage of life in women through various charyas.

Rajaswalacharya: (changes in female body during menstruation)

1. Intake of laghu ahara prepared by milk and ghee. Avoiding spicy and sour foods.
2. Not to sleep in day time and not to perform strenuous activities.
3. Avoid oil massage, domestic work, religious work, sexual activities as major.

Rutumaticharya : (rituals which prepares females for conception) The best period of conception is after the stoppage of menstruation till next 12 days (ritukala). The cervical gland secrete alkaline mucus with PH is nutritive for spermatozoa and cervical mucus is favoring sperm penetration in proliferative phase (1-13th day).

Garbhniparicharya: (Care to be taken

during her pregnancy with ahara vihara) aims in which one can have complication free antenatal period, safe delivery and healthy puerperium.

1. Masanumasika pathya (Monthly dietary regimen)- milk, milk products, cereals, green leafy vegetables, fish, meat, eggs, nuts, spices, jaggery.
2. General code of conduct- Avoid negative emotions, good conduct, worship deity, wearing clean and light colored cloth.
3. In case of nausea and vomiting- medicated milk with jatamamsi.
4. For hyperacidity – intake of amalaki kalka with honey.

Soothikaparicharya: (Regimens after delivery) – It is mainly done to overcome loss of nourishment and also to prevent mother from other diseases and to help in proper lactation.

1. To relieve pain and vataprakopa proper abhyanga (bala taila),ushna jala snana,wrapping cloth on abdomen and waist area.
2. Vaginal douching daily done with decoction of lodhra,arjuna,daruharidra etc
3. Intake of vatahara kashaya like Dashamula and milk prepared with vidaradgandhadi dravya relieve pain and promote lactation.

Rutubhandha paricharya – (Menopause) Permanent cessation of menstruation.

1. Shatavari, a well-known rejuvenator.
2. Powder of Vacha and Jatamamsi should be taken after meals twice.
3. Decoction of Eramdamula, Punarnava, Gokshura should take three times a day.

Common diseases affect women’s health – menstrual irregularities –

1. Scanty periods (alpartava) –

• Kumaryasava, Yogaraja Guggulu, Phalghrita is Useful.
• Intake Of Hingu, Jaggery, Sesame, Horse Gram, Cinnamon, Garlic, Ginger, Black Grapes, Papaya. Avoid Sour, Spicy, Brinjal Etc.

2. Excessive menstruation (Atyartava) – before starting treatment women should undergo USG and various investigations to rule out Fibroid, Malignancy, Polyps etc.

• Use of Durva Swarasa or Lodhra Churna with rice water.
• Use of Ashoka twak ksheera paka twice daily.
• Intake of Milk and Milk Products, Dry Grapes, Amala, Apple, Pomegranate, Fig Etc.

3. Dysmenorrhea (kastartava) –

• Shatavari powder + twak churna with sugar for pain relief.
• Intake of dashamula ksheera pana.
• Use of tamponing with Dhanvantara taila

4. Leucorrhoea (shweta pradara)-

• Use of amalaki swarasa with honey
• Use of darvyadi gana kashaya
• Local treatment – vaginal irrigation and yoni pichu with lodhra kwata

5. Dryness in vagina (shushka yoni) –

Due to imbalance of sex hormones there will be difficulty in sexual relation, mild pain in vagina and lack of sexual interest. This can be cured by tamponing with bala or guduchi taila or dhatakyadi taila twice a day.

6. Anemia (pandu) –

• Powder of trikatu,amalki,louha bhasma used with honey
• Triphala kwatha with jaggery.
• Diet – pomegranate, dates, papaya, Jaggery, grapes, apples, leafy vegetables.

Conclusion

Women’s health and well-being is not a just personal priority. It is a national priority. By following the above said simple guidance women can avoid the seriousness of diseases and maintain her health status. Proper guidelines, awareness, education to women regarding personal hygiene, malnutrition, menstruation should be provided to rural and remote areas of the country. Preventive health is another area where women can prevent the severity of disease by following ayurvedic medicines, proper diet regimen which support women in every stage of life for restoring and maintaining balance of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha.