Menstrual cycles can tell you a lot about what is going on in your bodies in general. Irregularities or absence of periods is a sure sign that something in your body is not working as it should. Amenorrhea is one such condition where there is an absence of menstruation. Amenorrhea finds mention in the ancient Ayurvedic texts and the Sanskrit term for amenorrhea is nashta-rakta, with nashta meaning lost, destroyed or missing, and rakta meaning blood.
While it’s normal to not have your periods before puberty, after menopause, and during pregnancy, the absence of menstruation during your reproductive age is a cause for concern. Amenorrhea has been classified into two types:
Primary Amenorrhea
Primary amenorrhea occurs when a woman reaches the age of 18 and has never had a period. It is usually caused by a problem in the endocrine system that regulates hormones. Some of the causes could be:
- Ovarian failure
- Problems in the nervous system
- Problems with pituitary gland in the endocrine system that affect maturation at puberty
- Birth defects in which the reproductive structures do not develop properly.
Secondary Amenorrhea
Secondary amenorrhea is an absence of menstruation for greater than or equal to a period of three months. This condition is caused by:
- Problems that affect estrogen levels, such as stress, weight loss, exercise, or illness
- Problems affecting the pituitary, thyroid, or adrenal gland
- Ovarian tumors or surgical removal of the ovaries.
Another common cause is coming off of birth control. Many women may have to wait for months or even years for their menstrual cycle to return after having been on birth control pills for an extended period of time. While Ayurvedic cures can help get your menstrual cycle back to normal, don’t avoid meeting your doctor if your periods have stopped. The below mentioned Ayurvedic cures are meant to help your body align better with the menstrual cycles:
1. Shatavari
Shatavari or asparagus racemosus is the type of asparagus root used in Ayurveda. Many Ayurvedic medicines are named after the cure they provide. The word shatavari means ‘one who possesses a hundred husbands’, since it’s a tonic which rejuvenates the female reproductive organs. Shatavari is an heavy and oily tonic used often in Ayurveda for gynecological purposes and to strengthen female hormones. It helps to nurture the mucous membranes and is known to both nourish and cleanse the female reproductive organs.
2. Vidari Kand
Vidari Kand, or ipomea digitati is a sweet root that is related to the sweet potato. This root has been proven to have significant estrogenic and progesteronogenic effects with no toxicity. It has also been used on patients as a natural replacement for routine hormonal therapies.
3. Wild Yam
Also called deioscorea villosa, wild yam is a sweet herb that contains hormones and is considered by Ayurveda as an effective tonic for the female reproductive system. The phytoprogesterones contained in wild yam help to regulate the ratio of progesterone to estrogen in the system. This makes wild yam beneficial to both the herbal and scientific communities.
When treating disorders of women’s reproductive system one must consider the liver. The liver acts as a detoxifier, filtering toxins from the bloodstream and plays a major role in the balance of hormones. Wild yam also helps activate and stimulate liver activity along with your reproductive systems.
4. Dong Quai
Dong quai, or Angelica sinensis is also a sweet root that can be used to treat almost every gynecological imbalance because of its strengthening and building qualities. However, dong quai has no specific hormonal action. Instead, it exerts a regulating and normalizing influence on hormonal production through its action on the liver and endocrine system. This root is universally recommended for all problems relating to the female reproductive system. Don quai is also a mild nervine tonic that can help lower stress by calming and relaxing the nervous system.
5. Chyawanprash
Chyawanprash is not one herb or root but a concoction of close to fifty herbs. It is an herbal supplement recommended for its nutritional value and streamlining menstrual cycles in women. Ayurvedic medicines need a carrier and the honey in chyawanprash helps drive the herbs deep into the body’s tissues. As a daily tonic, you can take 1-‐2 teaspoons of chyawanprash in the morning and evening with a glass of warm milk.
