Amenorrhea Restore Your Absent, Late, or Irregular Menstrual Cycle with Ayurveda

Amenorrhea is the absence of a woman’s menstruation. This can occur during puberty when the first period is belated (primary amenorrhea), but it can even occur later on in a woman’s life (secondary amenorrhea) for a host of reasons. During menopause, it is normal to have little to no menstruation until the flow ceases overall. But this article is centred around the lack of menstruation during the productive, pre-menopausal years and the multiple factors and causes that may be contributing to it.

There are many reasons why a woman’s period may be chronically irregular or entirely absent. In Ayurveda, the individual is examined thoroughly and assessed holistically, their dosha or body type taken into account before any kind of treatment can be prescribed.

But how exactly can Ayurveda help a woman reclaim and normalise her menstrual cycle during her productive years? It all starts with identifying the root cause.

The Causes of Amenorrhea

The causes of amenorrhea depend on multiple factors, such as the woman’s:

• Lifestyle
• Eating habits
• Sleeping habits
• Emotional and mental landscape
• Medication, if taken
• Genetics
• Health history (particularly if a certain illness “runs in the family”)
• Organic functions (particularly the liver, pancreas, and kidneys)
• Any hormonal imbalance she might be dealing with

The most common causes of amenorrhea, therefore, with the omission of pregnancy, are:

• Nutritional deficiencies
• Genetic defects
• Anxiety and/or stress
• Depression
• Iron Deficiency Anemia
• Eating disorders (such as anorexia)
• Low body weight
• Pituitary gland dysfunction
• Hormonal imbalances (excess testosterone for example due to excessive workouts)
• Hormonal disorders such as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
• Diabetes and/or insulin resistance (or any disorder that may affect pancreatic function)
• Certain medications
• Cancer or cancerous growths within the uterus or ovaries

You should not aim to identify the cause of your amenorrhea on your own. Testing must be sought after first, and your gynecologist can guide you further as to what tests may be needed.

How you decide to treat amenorrhea, however, is ultimately up to you.

Symptoms of Amenorrhea

Amenorrhea is a symptom in and of itself. However, there may be further symptoms that you may be presented with depending on the type of amenorrhea you have and which relate directly to amenorrhea’s root cause:

With each person being unique, symptoms may vary, and be more than one. This does not necessarily mean that you are dealing with multiple disorders; one disorder alone can present itself through multiple signs and symptoms. Ayurveda will view these symptoms as signs of a certain aggravated dosha, which is usually Vata in this case.

Treating Amenorrhea with Ayurveda

If you choose to treat your amenorrhea through a drugless, side-effect-free, and all-natural route like Ayurveda,you can expect benefits on multiple levels as well as an array of holistic treatment options.

First of all, a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner will assess you based on your symptoms, body type, pulse, eyes, and overall energy. You will then be prescribed one or more of the following amenorrhea treatment options:

• Ayurvedic Herbal Medicine

You will receive your own customised herbal medicine that will be decocted for you by your Ayurvedic practitioner. This medicinal preparation will target any affected organs and aim to directly tackle the root cause of your amenorrhea while balancing any affected dosha(s).

The most commonly used Ayurvedic herbs for amenorrhea are: Vidari Kanda, Liquorice and Shatavari but you should always consult an Ayurvedic practitioner for the safest and most suitable dosage options.

• Diet

Bad eating habits may be the culprit behind your amenorrhea, in which case a customised dietary plan will be given to you to balance out your affected dosha and up your nutritional intake (especially if you are nutrient deficient or suffer anemia).

In the case of amenorrhea, you might be prompted to eat more estrogen-boosting foods like red lentils, asparagus, soy, milk, as well as blood-purifying foods like beetroots, spinach, and carrots. It’s important to find a balance though and not overdo it when it comes to eating hormone-boosting foods as well as fats.

• Yoga

Yoga may be prescribed as a complementary form of therapy to nourish and stimulate your reproductive organs and, ultimately, restore your menstrual flow. But the asanas you will be recommended will depend on the root cause of your amenorrhea. For example, the Boat posture may be recommended for regulating the period, but it is contra-indicated in the case of PCOS. This is why consulting an Ayurvedic practitioner is key to finding the asanas that work for you specifically.

Some recommended asanas which most women can practice are: Cobra pose, Locust pose, Yogamudra, and the Butterfly pose. Yogic breathing techniques, such as Uddiyana pranayama, are also highly recommended.

• Lifestyle Changes

A lifestyle based on bad habits can lead to disease. This is why you may be prescribed the following lifestyle changes by means of regulating your monthly cycle:

• Reset your Circadian Rhythm by waking up early (at or shortly after dawn) and sleeping early (by 10 pm)
• Avoid fasting and going on “fad diets”
• Eat multiple small meals and healthy snacks throughout the day rather than 2-3 large meals
• Eat at the same times each day
• Cut down on sugar and processed foods
• Cut down on bread and gluten if you are overweight or chronically bloated
• Avoid rigorous exercise
• Avoid using harsh chemicals on your skin (parabens, for instance, are hormone disrupters)

Conclusion

Amenorrhea is not a disease, but rather a symptom of some kind of internal dysfunction or disease. Identifying the root cause behind this symptom is key to finding the right cure and restoring your menstrual cycle.

At the Yatan Holistic Ayurvedic Centre in Sydney, we can help you balance your hormones and regulate your menstruation via 100% natural, side-effect-free means. It may take as little as one to two months to reclaim your period, or over three months for more complex cases.

Are you looking for an all-natural way to restore and regulate your menstrual cycle? Contact us today for a phone consultation or book an appointment online.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to substitute medical advice. All information and resources referenced, including medicinal preparations, fitness, dietary and lifestyle recommendations, are based on the opinion of the author. Please consult a medical practitioner if you require advice or are experiencing any worrisome symptoms.