Menstrual hygiene

Pre-Menstrual and Menstrual care,hygiene & regimen to get rid of PMS

Menstrual care

In the present era, menstrual hygiene is very essential. The large population is unaware of the Dos and Don'ts about menstruation. This increases the chances of complications associated with it.

PMS is a very common problem. About 48% of women of reproductive age have PMS, and about 20 percent of them, the symptoms are so severe that they may affect their normal routine.

What is PMS? 

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) refers to changes in mood and emotions, physical health, and behaviour that develop between ovulation and the start of your period last until a few days after your period begins show up consistently each month have some impact on everyday life and regular activities.

Scientific research hasn’t led to a conclusive cause of PMS, or an explanation for why some people experience it more severely than others.

While there’s no cure for PMS in modern science, there is no need to worry, when Ayurveda comes to rescue. 

Ayurvedic aspect of menstrual care along with Rajaswala paricharya According to Ayurveda

Ayurveda divides the entire monthly cycle into three phases 

1. Rutu-Kala
2. Rutu-Vyateeta-Kala
3. Rutumati Kala 

and each of these phases are predominated by a different Dosha.

Rutu-Kala refers to the proliferative phase during which follicles inside the ovaries develop and mature in preparation for ovulation. 

This phase is considered to be of a duration of 12-16 days and is dominated by Kapha Dosha, which governs regeneration and growth.

Rutu-Vyateeta-Kala refers to the Secretory Phase, wherein various hormones and nutrients are secreted in anticipation of nourishing the embryo, if conception were to take place. 

This phase will exist for duration of 9-13 days and is dominated by Pitta Dosha, which governs all secretion activities in the body.

Rutumati-Kala is the actual phase of menstruation, wherein the menstrual blood along with the endometrium is shed from the body.

This phase exists for a duration of 3-5 days and is predominated by Vata Dosha (Apana vayu), which governs all movement within the body.

Ayurveda has prescribed a lifestyle to be adopted by menstruating women - a series of Do's and Don'ts is called 'Rutumati paricharya' or 'rajaswala paricharya'. 

Rajaswala Paricharya

Rajaswala Paricharya

Aim : The Rajaswala Paricharya helps women to cope up with her physiological changes taking place in the body during the rajaswala period. It will help women to become healthy both physically and mentally during the menstrual cycle.

ऋतौ प्रथमदिवसात् प्रभृति ब्रह्मचारिणी दिवास्वप्नाअनाश्रुपातस्नानानुलेपनाभ्यङ्गनखच्छेदनप्रधावनहसनकथनातिशब्दश्रवणवलेखनानिलायासान् परिहरेत् । सु. शा. 2

Here, acharya sushruta explains that, from the very first day she should follow the Brahmacharya first. 

Brhamacharya : Intercourse during this time only going to worsen the condition for the well-being of the women and infections also may occur.

She should not adorn herself with ornaments to avoid sexual attraction.

Divaswapna :  She should avoid sleeping in the daytime. Sleeping in daytime leads to the production of kapha dosha which further produces Ama.

Divaswapa is responsible for kaphvruddhi, which leads to srotorodha and it hamper menstrual flow or cleaning process.Which may reduce or obstruct normal flow. 

Anjanam : She should avoid the application of Anjana.

avoid the application of Anjana

Anjana not to be applied because whenever anjana applied tears come through the eyes there is water loss from eyes this minute water loss may be responsible for water imbalance in Aartav.

Ashrupata : Avoid shedding of tears during the time of rajaswala.

Snana(Bath) : Do not take bath. Acharyas mentioned that "snanam Dukhasahatvena". 

If she does it, then the stambhana occurs and menstrual bleeding decreases. So, she should avoid snana.

Another reason is Snana involves all body muscle making them active. More blood supply is required for these active muscles. This may result in reductions of blood supply to Uterus leading to lower abdominal pain.

Anulepa and Abhyanga : Avoid oil massaging and smearing with chandan leap (sandal paste) in the body.

Hasana and Kadana : Laughing and talking too much is contraindicated.

Don't talk loudly and don't hear louder noise

Hasana leads to vatavrudhi, vitiated vata causes menstrual problems. 

Listening to various loud music it leads to Rasaksyaya, it responsible for Aartavkshyaya because Aartav is upadhatu of Rasadhatu.

Nakhachedana : She should avoid plucking of nails. Nakha are mala of Asthi dhatu paring of nails may causes faster growth initially and once it reaches at certain stages growth will be slow, paring of nails give signals to activate Asthi dhatu that something is lost, asthi is sthana of vata, vata get vitiated in body. It affect the menstrual flow.

During the time of menstruation, the body became week. After the ritucharya shodana, the circulation of blood i.e. the nutritional supply occurs fastly by accepting more nutrients.

Pradhavana and Vyayama : Running and too much of exercise should be avoided. 

Pradhavan increases blood supply of leg muscles, hamper uterine blood supply leads to pain in lower abdomen.

Ativyayama eradicates the body like the lion destroys the elephant which is of bigger size.

Use of Swedana karma, Vamana, Nasya karma are contraindicated because it causes dosha prakopa.

Coitus is contraindicated during the menstruation.

दर्भसंस्तरशायिन करतलशरावपर्णान्यतमभोजिनों हविष्यं.. | सु. शा-2 

Darbhasamstharashayini : Acharya mention that during the time of menstruation, she should sleep on the bed made or darbha spread over the ground. 

Darbhasamstharashayini

From the Vedic time, onwards darbha is having its importance in rituals. The kusha grass protects the body from the negative energies and from toxic radiations. 

Even though it is difficult to practice, in present days the usage of darbha grass by a rajaswala help to protect her from the mobile phone radiations. 

If the woman does not follow the rajaswala paricharya properly, then the dosha vitiation occurs and it further affects the foetus. 

.. त्र्यहं च भर्तुः संरक्षेत् । ततः शुद्ध स्त्रातां चतुर्थे ऽहन्यहतवासां समलङ्कृतां कृतमङ्गल दोष- स्वस्तिवाचनां भर्तारं दर्शयेत् । सू. शा - 2

The menstruating woman has to follow the rajaswala paricharya during the menstruation for the first 3 days and in the 4th day the female should take bath and wear white garments with flowers and ornaments and worship god. 

Then she should indulge in sexual intercourse for achieving a good progeny. 

Indication and Contra-Indication of Diet

Eat rice, ghee and milk

Indication :

Due to increased pressure in the body at the time of menstruation, reduces the bile secretion and thus leading to further complications. So, to increase the agni (digestive fire) proper diet should be used during the rajaswala kala.

Acharyas mentioned that havisya or yava are a good agnivardhaka ahara, keeping the same directly over palm

or in a utensil made of clay or leaves or unbroken utensil hand in hand. 

Yava is guru, sheeta, madhura and sara and

these gunas will increase faeces and vata. 

The vataprakopa can be diminished by adding milk. 

The havisya is the meals made up of ghee, sali rice, and milk. This should be given to the rajaswala stree. Thus, the diet has its own effect on the health. 

The banana leaves are natural antioxidants that fight against free radicals and therefore, help in preventing diseases. 

The utensils made of clay has alkaline properties.

It neutralizes the pH balance of the food by interacting with acids in food. This also enhances the digestion along with the diet.

Contraindication :

She should avoid tikshna (pungent), katu (spicy) and lavana (salty) foods because it increases the menstrual flow and thus results in vataprakopa. 

Brimhana ahara also should be avoided because it causes stambhana.

Following Rutumati paricharya helps women to become healthy mother. 

Healthy mother can give birth to healthy baby. That's why that is said in Indian culture.... 

यत्र नार्यस्तु पूज्यन्ते रमन्ते तत्र देवताः|

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