If you want to transform your monthly cycle naturally using Ayurveda, start with learning about the root cause that is making your period difficult. If you’re looking for a natural approach to manage the ups and downs of your menstrual cycle, you’re in the right place. Ayurveda provides holistic solutions to compassionately guide women, just like you, through the complexities of the monthly cycle and boost overall reproductive wellness. It offers lots of options for you to take the reins of your period and reclaim menstrual wellbeing and peace of mind.
Ayurveda Supports Women’s Monthly Cycle and Reproductive Health
Ayurveda is the holistic system of health and healing with roots of India. It is the sister science to Yoga. Through holistic nutrition, lifestyle practices including yoga and meditation, and herbal remedies, Ayurveda addresses menstrual symptoms and promotes hormonal balance naturally.
It also emphasizes emotional well-being during menstruation, providing tools to address mood swings, reduce stress, and promote relaxation. Ayurvedic self-care practices, including yoga and meditation, further enhance women’s menstrual health. Explore Ayurveda to embrace a holistic approach to managing your menstrual cycle naturally.
Why Ayurveda Believes Women’s Menstrual Health is Important
Ayurveda views the menstrual cycle as a mirror of a woman’s overall health and state of her body and mind. It believes that a woman’s health is directly proportional to the balance of her cycle, which in turn reflects the equilibrium of her hormones.
Symptoms of the menstrual cycle, including PMS, are signs of hormonal imbalances.
The Three Doshas: Discover Your Menstrual Cycle Type
Step 1: Identify the Root Cause of Your Period Symptoms
Let’s take a look at the different types of menstrual problems by the dosha that causes them.
The Vata dosha has qualities that are cold, light, dry, mobile, variable (inconsistent), and rough. It is like the wind. It is drying causing more pain expelling the uterine lining. When Vata becomes imbalanced and flows into the lymph tissue, it can influence our menstrual cycle in these ways.
Vata Menstruation Type
- Painful cramps
- Low back pain
- General stiffness, aches, and pains
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Constipation
- Fatigue
- Irregular periods, shorter cycle
The Pitta dosha, is ruled by the fire and water elements which produces a spreading acid-like quality. It is also hot or burning, sharp, spreading, and oily.
Pitta Menstruation Type
- Sharp cramps
- Inflammation
- Irritability
- Acne
- Diarrhea
- Heavy menstrual flow
- Disrupted sleep
- Regular periods
The Kapha dosha is ruled by the Earth and Water elements. It’s qualities are cool, damp, heavy, slow, and dense.
Kapha Menstruation Type
- Dull, achy pain
- Bloating, swelling
- Sluggishness, sleepiness
- Heavy, longer flow
- Sadness, depression
- Emotional eating
- Longer cycles
The Importance of Flow: The Link between Lymphatic and Healthy Menstrual Flow
Menstrual flow is directly linked to Rasa, the lymph tissue responsible for transporting blood, oxygen, and nutrients throughout the body and brain. When a woman’s diet and lifestyle nurture her well-being, Rasa flows smoothly, resulting in minimal discomfort. However, the three doshas—Vata, Pitta, and Kapha—can affect Rasa, leading to conditions such as dryness (Vata), inflammation (Pitta), or congestion (Kapha). The blood tissue, or Rakta, is what is being expelled.
The most important thing you can do to support Rasa is by drinking enough water especially before your period. Warm water helps to hydrate tissues on a deeper level. You can also enjoy more warm, nourishing meals and eat less cold salads and frozen smoothies, especially right before your period. The theme here is warm, especially if Vata or Kapha, both cold doshas, are influencing your symptoms.
Three Top Holistic Solutions for Your Monthly Cycle
Step 2: Take a Personal Approach for Women’s Menstrual Cycle
Ayurveda believes that soothing your menstrual symptoms is a personal journey. You can start with identifying the type of menstrual cycle you’re experiencing. Then, work with remedies that address the combination of doshas that are causing the discomfort. You have a unique set of doshas that are causing your symptoms. Why take a cookier-cutter approach?
What menstrual type are you? Your menstrual type may be indicative of your imbalanced dosha. It may also align with your body-type. It’s common for Vata body-types to have Vata type menstruation.
It’s also possible to have a combination of two doshas in your menstrual type. For example, both Vata and Pitta may be imbalanced if you have symptoms from both.
Ayurvedic Holistic Solutions for Your Monthly Cycle: How to Soothe Symptoms Naturally
Step 3: Soothe Your Cycle Based on Your Menstrual Type
To balance the doshas, the opposite qualities bring harmony to the dosha/s that are imbalanced. Basically, Earth & Water energy (Kapha) balance Air & Ether energy (Vata) as well as Fire energy (Pitta).
Here are some general suggestions for each of the doshas.
Dietary Tips to Reduce Discomfort for Your Monthly Cycle
For Vata menstrual type, focus on warm, soothing beverages and cooked comforting meals while prioritizing rest and stress management. Use digestion spices that warm and stimulate digestion like cinnamon and ginger.
For Pitta menstrual type, avoid inflammatory foods and beverages prior to your period, such as alcohol and acidic citrus fruits and tomatoes, as well as fried, oily, and salty foods. Add cooling digestive spices to your food like coriander, dill, and fennel.
For Kapha menstrual type, opt for warming foods and beverages, and steer clear of cold, heavy foods like cold dairy like yogurt and smoothies, especially close to your period. Add hot digestive spices to your food like black pepper, ginger, and cinnamon.
Follow these suggestions right before and during your period and you can improve menstrual flow and ease common discomforts.
If you want more guidance on diet and menstrual health, download our Nourish Your Cycle guide.
Yoga and Meditation: Ayurvedic Tips for The Monthly Cycle
A soothing, Vata yoga practice would include grounding floor postures like child’s pose and stretching postures like forward folds to ease the aches and pains. A gentle twist can help stimulate digestion. Don’t forget an extended relaxation so you can get rest. Listen to a relaxing guided meditation to help ease stress and anxiety.
Pitta types need grounding postures as well that are also cooling (meaning not warming). Twists can help to detox the liver and support digestion.
Kapha types need the opposite! They need more energizing postures (think light and warm) to get the circulation going. They can do a more active practice that would involve twists, lunges, and strong standing poses.
Check out my yoga videos on YouTube for more specific guidance about yoga postures.
Lifestyle Practices to Support a Healthy Menstrual Cycle
Ayurveda recommends monitoring your cycle in tandem with the lunar cycle, which is about 30 days long and reflects the monthly cycle. This practice can enhance self-awareness, aiding in self-care during crucial times.
The Full Moon is often linked with ovulation, a period marked by increased energy. Conversely, the New Moon is commonly connected with menstruation, a time best suited for rest and introspection.
Menstruating with the Full Moon and ovulating with the New Moon is a possibility. This occurrence provides two chances each month for rest. It may also indicate an outward expenditure of energy, necessitating the creation of more internal resources.
Either way, aligning with the natural rhythms of the lunar cycle, which reflects the menstrual cycle, may lead to enhanced balance and energy throughout the month.
Ayurveda Herbal Remedies to Support Your Menstrual Cycle
There are many options of herbal medicine depending on your menstrual type. Herbs in particular are a very personal approach so I suggest that you contact an Ayurvedic Practitioner or Herbalist in your area to get more guidance on this.
Please note that it is not generally recommended to take herbs during your period. However, taking herbs right up until your period begins can be very helpful. Otherwise, you can use digestive spices in your food during your period.
Schedule a Free Discover Call with me to discuss a personal approach to herbal medicine for your menstrual cycle.
Book a Free Call with Heather
In general, I suggest taking herbs for digestion right before your period (not during your period).
Herbs like Triphala, a well-known digestive herb, is good for all body-types and menstrual types. Triphala, may ease indigestion that you might experience right before your period.
Also, Aloe juice can be really helpful for Pitta types or if there are signs that the Pitta dosha is out of balance.
If you want to purchase herbal products from brands I trust, you can buy them from my online dispensary.
Again, I suggest that we first hop on a quick call to make sure these herbs are right for you.
Book a Free Discovery Call with me to discuss your options.
If you want to keep learning about the Ayurvedic approach to menstrual health, check out my blog posts and podcasts about that subject.
Heather R. Burkart
Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner
Founder, Her Well Being Ayurveda & Yoga
Please be advised that the content on this website is for education and information purposes only and does not replace advice from a medical professional.
Learn more about me on my website.
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