Women go through many psychological and physiological changes in their lives that impact their physical and emotional well-being. These changes start from their first menstruation and continue until their old age (1). If women do not maintain their health properly, these changes may result in disorders and even cause many severe health issues. Therefore, Ayurveda suggests certain self-care tips and guidelines to aid women in balancing their health.
Vata Dosha and Women’s Health (2)
According to Ayurveda, an imbalance in the Vata Dosha is the main cause of most women’s health problems. Poor lifestyle habits like irregular sleeping habits, an unbalanced diet, etc., can cause Vata imbalance in women. Stress and anxiety are also some of the leading causes of Vata aggravation. Therefore, Ayurveda recommends women balance their Vata Dosha through lifestyle and dietary regulations.
Self-Care Tips For Women in Ayurveda
Manage Stress and Anxiety (2) (3)
Stress, anxiety, fear and depression can aggravate Vata and affect the menstruation cycle of
women. Therefore, it is essential to manage stress properly. Yoga and meditation are known as some of the best practices to relieve anxiety, stress and depression.
Eat a Healthy Diet (2)
According to Ayurveda, diet is one of the three main pillars of health. Therefore, you must eat a Dosha-specific diet to help balance the Doshas and promote your overall health. You must also avoid foods that can aggravate Vata Dosha, such as excessively spicy foods, cold water, processed and refrigerated foods, sour foods, canned products, uncooked and raw foods, etc.
Practice Abhyanga (2)
According to Ayurveda, Abhyanga or self-body massage helps balance Doshas, improve skin health, prevent dryness, lubricate joints, relax muscles and treat joint pain. You can use warm herbal oils for Abhyanga. Sesame oil is highly recommended as it helps balance Vata Dosha.
Exercise Every Day (2)
Do some exercises or practice yoga for at least 30 minutes every day. It will help regulate body weight, manage obesity, improve bone and muscle health and relieve stress and depression.
Keep Yourself Hydrated (2)
Drinking an adequate amount of water is extremely important, especially if you are a woman. It helps improve digestion, boost metabolism, regulate body temperature, enhance circulation, aid in weight loss and prevent muscle cramping.
Eat Soaked Raisins (2)
If you have constipation, you may soak a few raisins overnight and eat them on an empty stomach in the morning. It is one of the best home remedies in Ayurveda for controlling Vata Dosha.
Include Herbs in Your Diet (1) (2) (4)
Certain herbs in Ayurveda, such as Shatavari, Ashoka, Methi, Ashwagandha, Guduchi and Yashtimadhu, help boost women’s health. They help balance Doshas, regulate the menstruation cycle, rejuvenate the reproductive system, promote digestion, nourish the body tissues and calm the nervous system.
Ayurvedic Self-Care Tips for Different Phases of Women
Menstruation (2)
Eat light to digest foods like green gram (Moong), wheat, barley, etc., and avoid eating heavy foods such as meat and junk foods. In addition, you should also restrict the consumption of spicy, salty and sour foods in your diet.
Ayurveda recommends eating warm food and drinking warm water during menstruation and avoiding any physical strain through activities like excessive walking, travelling, etc.
Pregnancy (2)
During pregnancy, you must eat freshly prepared, home-cooked and wholesome foods that are light to digest. You should also include ghee, turmeric milk, leafy vegetables, sweet potatoes, pomegranate, walnuts, almonds, fennel seeds, cumin seeds, coconut water, etc., in your diet.
According to Ayurveda, you should restrict the consumption of raw papaya, raw pineapple, castor oil, tea, coffee, alcohol, raw meat, etc. during this phase, and avoid eating any uncooked or raw foods.
You should also prevent doing activities that can cause strain on the body, such as lifting heavy objects, travelling, etc.
Menopause (2)
During menopause, all three Doshas can get imbalanced and therefore, you should maintain your diet and lifestyle according to the Dosha imbalance.
If you have Vata imbalance, you should avoid eating dry and cold food and prevent excessive physical activities such as travelling.
In case of Pitta imbalance, Ayurveda recommends eating bitter and sweet-tasting foods such as green gram, barley, coconut water, etc., and avoiding spicy, salty and sour foods such as pickles and chillies.
Lastly, if you have Kapha imbalance, you should avoid taking excessive sweet, oily, heavy and raw foods. Furthermore, you must prevent sleeping during the day if your Kapha is aggravated.
In Summary
By following Ayurvedic guidelines and self-care tips, you can easily manage your health and reduce the risk of developing many disorders related to menstruation, menopause, pregnancy, etc.
These tips can be easily followed at home as they include only lifestyle and dietary changes that add a more holistic and herbal approach to women’s lives.
