Ayurveda Mornington, Australia
Maharishi Ayur-Veda® Health Care for Perfect Health
The Maharishi Vedic Approach to HealthTM is Consciousness-Based Health Care, enlivening the body’s inner intelligence to enliven your bodies self repair and homeostatic balancing mechanisms that promote natural healing from within.
What is the Vedic Approach to Health?
At this very moment, your body is controlling your heartbeat, breathing, temperature, and a thousand other highly detailed processes. This is possible because there is an inner intelligence in the body, at work 24 hours a day. The Vedic Approach to Health enlivens this inner intelligence to restore and maintain health. It is the complete and perfect revival of Ayurveda, the most ancient and comprehensive science of natural medicine in the world.
The Revival of Ancient Knowledge
In the middle of the 1980’s the knowledge of Ayurveda, parts of which had become lost, was re-enlivened in terms of its fundamental principles and integration by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in collaboration with leading Ayurvedic physicians and restored to its completeness. This complete Ayurveda is called ‘Maharishi Ayur-Veda®’. It stands for the highest quality of health care and is enjoying increasing recognition worldwide.
"Maharishi Ayur-Veda represents the tradition of Ayurveda at the highest level of effectiveness and completeness as propounded in the classical texts." - The All India Ayurveda Congress.
The Revival of Ancient Knowledge
In the middle of the 1980’s the knowledge of Ayurveda, parts of which had become lost, was re-enlivened in terms of its fundamental principles and integration by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in collaboration with leading Ayurvedic physicians and restored to its completeness. This complete Ayurveda is called ‘Maharishi Ayur-Veda®’. It stands for the highest quality of health care and is enjoying increasing recognition worldwide.
"Maharishi Ayur-Veda represents the tradition of Ayurveda at the highest level of effectiveness and completeness as propounded in the classical texts." - The All India Ayurveda Congress.
Article: Experience Menopause Naturally
Menopause is often accompanied by debilitating symptoms, hot flushes, mood swings, insomnia, weight gain, lethargy and depression. Fear of osteoporosis and perceived loss of strength are also prevalent in our culture. In our western, youth idealizing society, for many women menopause carries with it the dread of growing old, of loss of respect as they move further from the perceived ideal of superficial perfection and closer to the stereotypical dottery, little old lady. In other cultures, postmenopausal women are revered for their wisdom, intuition and life experience. In the traditional culture of India, they become the teachers of the young and the keepers of knowledge of life.
A woman’s physiology is a finely tuned instrument capable of creating, maintaining and sustaining life. Hormonal cycles maintain a delicate balance preparing for monthly ovulation, menstruation, and then, when the physiology is over child bearing years, menopause.
When balanced, a women’s physiology can experience these changes without discomfort or emotional distress. Pain, moodiness, fluctuations in weight and low energy are just symptomatic of imbalance.
Modern Medicine tends to treat menopause as a disease of estrogen deficiency, offering women the magic bullet approach of Hormone Replacement Therapy. Nature is intelligent. Menopause is a natural change in the physiology and occurs for a good reason. Cessation of periods occurs to prevent childbirth at a time when the body can no longer comfortably cope with it. The loss of iron, blood and protein, associated with menstruation, is curtailed at a time when your body needs to work harder to get adequate nutrition.
The body adjusts its hormone levels accordingly and continues to produce estrogen after menopause. The combination of hormones is different but adequate to support the physiology during the transition. The body produces different types of estrogen to suit the time of life. Estradiol, the most potent, is predominant in our reproductive years. Estriol, produced mainly by the placenta, is highest during pregnancy while estrone is more abundant after menopause. Introducing high levels of estrogen upsets the physiology’s natural hormonal backup system.
Many symptoms attributed to lessoning levels of estrogen can also be found in men of a similar age. Loss of muscle tone, skin firmness, changes in complexion and figure can be better understood as signs of ageing, stress and poor lifestyle. A study of more than 1500 men and women in rural England showed little difference between the genders for midlife symptoms. The only exception was for hot flushes and vaginal dryness.
Cultural differences further highlights the effects of lifestyle on women’s health as opposed to making the estrogen decline the scapegoat. In tribal and rural India, women living low stress, simple lives pass through menopause without the myriad of symptoms experienced by western women. Physical activity and a diet of wholegrains and fresh fruit and have a balancing effect on fluctuating hormone levels. There is no word for hot flushes in the Japanese language as they are so rare due to the Japanese diet of soy and phytoestrogens, which mimics the effects of estrogen in the body. Even in our culture 20% of women do not experience hot flushes and debilitating menopausal symptoms.
How easily a woman passes through menopause is a reflection of her overall state of health. Symptoms are the body’s way of crying out for health. Suppressing them with painkillers does not solve the problem and only serves to create side effects further down the track. To experience a natural, balanced menopause it is necessary to understand and adjust the lifestyle and dietary habits, which are causing the symptoms.
Maharishi Vedic Approach to Health does this by:
*Treating the physiology as a whole
*Treating each woman according to her unique physiology
*Enlivening the physiology’s healing intelligence
Maharishi Vedic Approach to Health (MVAH) utilizes the understanding of the dosha theory. Everything in the universe is made up of the three controlling principles in nature called doshas.
Vata dosha, expressed as space and air, is like the wind and is responsible for all movement in the universe. It is quick, light, dry, cold and changeable by nature. In the physiology, Vata governs thinking, talking, breathing, circulation and the menstrual cycle. Anything that requires movement has a predominance of Vata dosha.
Pitta is like the fire and is found in all transformation and metabolizing processes. It is hot, sharp, intense and exhibits the red, orange, yellow colours of the fire. Pitta governs the processing that takes place in the intellect and visual apparatus as well as digestion, cellular metabolism and body temperature.
Kapha, expressed as earth and water, governs all cohesion and structure in the environment. By nature Kapha is slow, heavy, sweet, stable, cold and sticky. It is responsible for all lubrication and matter in the physiology and therefore governs digestive juices, mucous and tears.
Everything we do, see, hear, feel, touch, taste or smell will increase or decrease the doshas. This effect can either create balance or imbalance depending on the unique state of our physiology.
Walking in the wind, excessive exercise, travel, irregular meals and going with out sleep all increase the windy, spacey qualities of Vata. Hot weather, intense activity, spicy food and skipping meals increase Pitta’s fiery qualities. While heavy food, damp weather and inactivity will increase the slow, sticky qualities of Kapha.
A truly holistic approach provides the knowledge of life not just of diet, or only about exercise. You may have a purely organic, vegetarian diet free of processed foods and additives but if your digestive system is weak or your emotional state unstable, you will not be able to transform the food into the nutrients that you need. Similarly you may religiously follow a strenuous exercise program with the best of intentions only to find that is actually putting you further out of balance.
Maharishi Vedic Approach to Health not only looks at all the aspects of your life, it looks at you as a unique individual. Each of us is made up of a different proportion of doshas. Someone who has a lot of the wind like qualities of Vata tends to have a lighter build, is quick in their speech and actions, enjoys change and travel and when balanced is enthusiastic and full of ideas. Due to their light airy nature their digestion, sleep and menstrual cycle can be easily disturbed by stress, travel and emotional upheaval.
Someone with more Pitta in their constitution has a medium build. Their intellect is sharp; they make good managers and organizers and tend to be perfectionists. The colours of the fire can be seen in their ruddy complexion or freckly skin, in their red or blonde hair. Pitta brings strength to the digestive system and warmth to the body’s temperature. Balanced Pitta brings passion however if Pitta’s warmth becomes too much it can give rise to hot tempers and frustration.
A predominance of Kapha in one’s nature gives a bigger build. Not necessarily fatter but bigger bone structure, thicker hair, larger eyes and good endurance. People with more Kapha display more earthy, nurturing qualities than the other types. They are good with people and you often find then in the caring or teaching professions. They are slower to speak, act and change, preferring routines and regularity in their lives. The slower, stable sticky qualities of Kapha, when in excess, can create lethargy, weight gain and even depression.
Each of us has a different combination of doshas and therefore needs different advice to suit our unique physiology. A woman with a predominance of Kapha may need to keep up her regular exercise program as she goes through menopause while for a woman with more Vata in her nature, rest may be the key to maintaining balance. Appropriate diet differs also depending on our doshas. Spicy, sour or acidic food will aggravate Pitta dosha increasing the tendency towards hot flushes. The amount of such foods that can be tolerated again depends on your unique constitutional type. Small amounts of spice can be useful in stimulating the sluggishness of Kapha while the sour taste of lemon or yogurt can be quite soothing when Vata is out of balance.
Menopausal symptoms indicate which dosha is out of balance. It is important to note here that anyone can have any dosha out of balance due to the effects of lifestyle and diet, regardless of their nature. Excess Vata gives vaginal dryness, anxiety, mood swings, dry skin, constipation, forgetfulness and insomnia. Too much Pitta results in hot flushes, heavy bleeding, irritability, increased bowel movements and skin problems. Kapha out of balance causes excessive weight gain, fluid retention, breast swelling and lethargy. It is possible to have more than one dosha out of balance and this may change due to the season or even the time of day. Pulse diagnosis is used to determine your constitutional type and which doshas are out of balance.
Knowledge of the doshas brings simplicity to the myriad of menopausal symptoms. By pacifying the dosha that is out of balance, you are treating many of the problems at once and actually getting to the underlying core.
To soothe the dry, spacey qualities of Vata, follow a regular routine, get adequate rest and have an oil massage. Vata is pacified by warm, cooked foods with sweet sour and salty tastes. To cool down Pitta’s fire take time out for relaxation and being in nature. Avoid skipping meals and favour bitter, sweet and astringent tastes. Getting up early, exercising and reducing rich creamy foods offsets the heaviness of Kapha. To balance Kapha eat whole grains and cooked vegetables with a predominance of bitter, astringent and pungent flavours.
Nature has provided a smorgasbord of medicines to balance and maintain our health that exists outside of the pharmaceutical industry. We are surrounded by an abundance naturally occurring foods, herbs and spices, yet many reach towards the synthesised bottled version. In many cases the western medical model of extracting the active ingredient from a plant has been found to both create side effects and also be less effective. Many apparently inactive ingredients have turned out to play significant health giving roles. Researchers initially dismissed Bioflavanoids, a class of molecules found in plants. They have now been found to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, anti-ulcerogenic and hepato-proctective agents.
Phytoestrogen found in vegetables, cereals, grains and legumes, are similar in structure to human estrogen and affect hormonal balance in a woman’s body. When they are naturally occurring in food they do not create side effects. Your body is used to them as your genes have naturally evolved with them over millions of years. In food they occur in a wide variety so no hormonal signal can overwhelm your body’s delicate hormonal balance.
Phytoestrogen is not just a replacement for estrogen. It acts intelligently. In some organs it will act like estrogen while blocking its effect in others. The total effect is one of balancing your hormones and supporting your body rather than over stimulating and causing side effects. Overtime imbalances due to excess can lead to further problems. There is evidence to show that naturally occurring vitamins found in food are a more powerful and safer option.
One study showed a 50-70% reduction in heart attack risk in postmenopausal women taking Vitamin E naturally occurring in their diet while only a 35-40% reduction was found in those taking vitamin E as a supplement. Some members of the group taking the supplement were found to have increases in strokes and bleeding. Another study showed that those with a high Vitamin intake from diet and supplements had less benefit than those with a healthy diet.
Randomly adding hormones and sythesised ingredients to the physiology can upset its natural balance and create problems worse than the one initially being treated. Hormone Replacement Therapy has been found to elevate risks of gall bladder disease and blood clots both in the legs and lungs. The risk of developing breast cancer is shown to increase by up to 40% in women on the HRT program. Taking doses of estrogen alone has been found to increase the possibility of uterine cancer. However estrogen and progestin together nearly doubles the risk of breast cancer after ten years.
MVAH supports your overall health during menopause by strengthening your physiology’s own healing intelligence and balancing mechanisms. A state of relative stability is maintained in the body by homeostatic feedback loops. When the weather is hot our body perspires and our veins and arteries expand to cool us down. This balancing device allows us to maintain a body temperature of about 37 degrees regardless of the surrounding environment.
Homeostatic feedback loops and our internal hormonal production systems are better able to do their job when stress, irregularity of meals, sleep and exercise is limited. If the physiology is constantly trying to adapt to external changes it expends a lot of energy just trying to keep up. Long term irregularities in the internal biorhythms such as cycles of hormones, sleep, digestion, elimination and other cyclical functions can influence the timing of your hormonal secretions. If your body is clogged with impurities due to poor diet and lifestyle, the delivery of hormones to your body’s tissues will be obstructed even if your hormone supply is adequate.
By bringing balance to your internal cycles and clearing away wastes and impurities, your body can best absorb the decreasing estrogen available. Fatigue, weight gain, depression and hot flushes are reduced when your physiology is acting at its most efficient.
Case Study
Judy, a 53 year old consultant in human resources, turned to MVAH when HRT failed to relieve her of her menopausal symptoms. For five years she had experienced hot flushes, sleep disorder depression and a declining libido. She had tried two gynecologists, both of whom had treated her with HRT and then given up when she failed to find improvement. First one and then the other dealt with her continued complaints by increasing her estrogen dose until she was taking nearly four times the usual dosage. Such a high dosage was putting her at a serious risk for side effects yet not providing her with relief.
Her MVAH consultation revealed that accumulated wastes and toxins were blocking the channels in her tissues preventing her hormones from reaching the target sites. She was advised to undergo a series of deep internal cleansing procedures and adjust her diet. On following the procedures and altering her diet, Judy experienced significant relief. Her hot flushes and sleep problems improved and her libido and energy normalised. Over three months she was able to gradually reduce her HRT dose to a low-normal range with no increase in the menopausal symptoms.
Judy’s experience shows that adding excess estrogen to the body is not the answer. When the channels are blocked the hormones cannot get through regardless of the quantities administered. Even if you are taking HRT, cleansing the body and improving the diet can support the absorption of the extra hormones and you may be able to reduce the dosage of estrogen.
Menopause need not be a time of fear and discomfort. By taking a holistic look at your life and making some health promoting adjustments it can be a time to purify and balance your self. Doshic imbalances are just a result of inappropriate diet and lifestyle choices and can be rectified as easily as they were created. Drinking warm water that has been boiled first and getting regular gentle exercise helps to eliminating blockages in the physiology. Support your physiology’s healing mechanisms by regular routines and stress reduction. Indulge in nature’s supermarket of phytoestrogens and vitamins naturally occurring in food. Most importantly enjoy menopause as a transition to an era of greater wisdom, respect and good health.
The author, Wendy Rosenfeldt BA DipHealth(MAVHEC), is a Maharishi Vedic Health educator. She is based in Melbourne but travels regularly to the Gold Coast.
A woman’s physiology is a finely tuned instrument capable of creating, maintaining and sustaining life. Hormonal cycles maintain a delicate balance preparing for monthly ovulation, menstruation, and then, when the physiology is over child bearing years, menopause.
When balanced, a women’s physiology can experience these changes without discomfort or emotional distress. Pain, moodiness, fluctuations in weight and low energy are just symptomatic of imbalance.
Modern Medicine tends to treat menopause as a disease of estrogen deficiency, offering women the magic bullet approach of Hormone Replacement Therapy. Nature is intelligent. Menopause is a natural change in the physiology and occurs for a good reason. Cessation of periods occurs to prevent childbirth at a time when the body can no longer comfortably cope with it. The loss of iron, blood and protein, associated with menstruation, is curtailed at a time when your body needs to work harder to get adequate nutrition.
The body adjusts its hormone levels accordingly and continues to produce estrogen after menopause. The combination of hormones is different but adequate to support the physiology during the transition. The body produces different types of estrogen to suit the time of life. Estradiol, the most potent, is predominant in our reproductive years. Estriol, produced mainly by the placenta, is highest during pregnancy while estrone is more abundant after menopause. Introducing high levels of estrogen upsets the physiology’s natural hormonal backup system.
Many symptoms attributed to lessoning levels of estrogen can also be found in men of a similar age. Loss of muscle tone, skin firmness, changes in complexion and figure can be better understood as signs of ageing, stress and poor lifestyle. A study of more than 1500 men and women in rural England showed little difference between the genders for midlife symptoms. The only exception was for hot flushes and vaginal dryness.
Cultural differences further highlights the effects of lifestyle on women’s health as opposed to making the estrogen decline the scapegoat. In tribal and rural India, women living low stress, simple lives pass through menopause without the myriad of symptoms experienced by western women. Physical activity and a diet of wholegrains and fresh fruit and have a balancing effect on fluctuating hormone levels. There is no word for hot flushes in the Japanese language as they are so rare due to the Japanese diet of soy and phytoestrogens, which mimics the effects of estrogen in the body. Even in our culture 20% of women do not experience hot flushes and debilitating menopausal symptoms.
How easily a woman passes through menopause is a reflection of her overall state of health. Symptoms are the body’s way of crying out for health. Suppressing them with painkillers does not solve the problem and only serves to create side effects further down the track. To experience a natural, balanced menopause it is necessary to understand and adjust the lifestyle and dietary habits, which are causing the symptoms.
Maharishi Vedic Approach to Health does this by:
*Treating the physiology as a whole
*Treating each woman according to her unique physiology
*Enlivening the physiology’s healing intelligence
Maharishi Vedic Approach to Health (MVAH) utilizes the understanding of the dosha theory. Everything in the universe is made up of the three controlling principles in nature called doshas.
Vata dosha, expressed as space and air, is like the wind and is responsible for all movement in the universe. It is quick, light, dry, cold and changeable by nature. In the physiology, Vata governs thinking, talking, breathing, circulation and the menstrual cycle. Anything that requires movement has a predominance of Vata dosha.
Pitta is like the fire and is found in all transformation and metabolizing processes. It is hot, sharp, intense and exhibits the red, orange, yellow colours of the fire. Pitta governs the processing that takes place in the intellect and visual apparatus as well as digestion, cellular metabolism and body temperature.
Kapha, expressed as earth and water, governs all cohesion and structure in the environment. By nature Kapha is slow, heavy, sweet, stable, cold and sticky. It is responsible for all lubrication and matter in the physiology and therefore governs digestive juices, mucous and tears.
Everything we do, see, hear, feel, touch, taste or smell will increase or decrease the doshas. This effect can either create balance or imbalance depending on the unique state of our physiology.
Walking in the wind, excessive exercise, travel, irregular meals and going with out sleep all increase the windy, spacey qualities of Vata. Hot weather, intense activity, spicy food and skipping meals increase Pitta’s fiery qualities. While heavy food, damp weather and inactivity will increase the slow, sticky qualities of Kapha.
A truly holistic approach provides the knowledge of life not just of diet, or only about exercise. You may have a purely organic, vegetarian diet free of processed foods and additives but if your digestive system is weak or your emotional state unstable, you will not be able to transform the food into the nutrients that you need. Similarly you may religiously follow a strenuous exercise program with the best of intentions only to find that is actually putting you further out of balance.
Maharishi Vedic Approach to Health not only looks at all the aspects of your life, it looks at you as a unique individual. Each of us is made up of a different proportion of doshas. Someone who has a lot of the wind like qualities of Vata tends to have a lighter build, is quick in their speech and actions, enjoys change and travel and when balanced is enthusiastic and full of ideas. Due to their light airy nature their digestion, sleep and menstrual cycle can be easily disturbed by stress, travel and emotional upheaval.
Someone with more Pitta in their constitution has a medium build. Their intellect is sharp; they make good managers and organizers and tend to be perfectionists. The colours of the fire can be seen in their ruddy complexion or freckly skin, in their red or blonde hair. Pitta brings strength to the digestive system and warmth to the body’s temperature. Balanced Pitta brings passion however if Pitta’s warmth becomes too much it can give rise to hot tempers and frustration.
A predominance of Kapha in one’s nature gives a bigger build. Not necessarily fatter but bigger bone structure, thicker hair, larger eyes and good endurance. People with more Kapha display more earthy, nurturing qualities than the other types. They are good with people and you often find then in the caring or teaching professions. They are slower to speak, act and change, preferring routines and regularity in their lives. The slower, stable sticky qualities of Kapha, when in excess, can create lethargy, weight gain and even depression.
Each of us has a different combination of doshas and therefore needs different advice to suit our unique physiology. A woman with a predominance of Kapha may need to keep up her regular exercise program as she goes through menopause while for a woman with more Vata in her nature, rest may be the key to maintaining balance. Appropriate diet differs also depending on our doshas. Spicy, sour or acidic food will aggravate Pitta dosha increasing the tendency towards hot flushes. The amount of such foods that can be tolerated again depends on your unique constitutional type. Small amounts of spice can be useful in stimulating the sluggishness of Kapha while the sour taste of lemon or yogurt can be quite soothing when Vata is out of balance.
Menopausal symptoms indicate which dosha is out of balance. It is important to note here that anyone can have any dosha out of balance due to the effects of lifestyle and diet, regardless of their nature. Excess Vata gives vaginal dryness, anxiety, mood swings, dry skin, constipation, forgetfulness and insomnia. Too much Pitta results in hot flushes, heavy bleeding, irritability, increased bowel movements and skin problems. Kapha out of balance causes excessive weight gain, fluid retention, breast swelling and lethargy. It is possible to have more than one dosha out of balance and this may change due to the season or even the time of day. Pulse diagnosis is used to determine your constitutional type and which doshas are out of balance.
Knowledge of the doshas brings simplicity to the myriad of menopausal symptoms. By pacifying the dosha that is out of balance, you are treating many of the problems at once and actually getting to the underlying core.
To soothe the dry, spacey qualities of Vata, follow a regular routine, get adequate rest and have an oil massage. Vata is pacified by warm, cooked foods with sweet sour and salty tastes. To cool down Pitta’s fire take time out for relaxation and being in nature. Avoid skipping meals and favour bitter, sweet and astringent tastes. Getting up early, exercising and reducing rich creamy foods offsets the heaviness of Kapha. To balance Kapha eat whole grains and cooked vegetables with a predominance of bitter, astringent and pungent flavours.
Nature has provided a smorgasbord of medicines to balance and maintain our health that exists outside of the pharmaceutical industry. We are surrounded by an abundance naturally occurring foods, herbs and spices, yet many reach towards the synthesised bottled version. In many cases the western medical model of extracting the active ingredient from a plant has been found to both create side effects and also be less effective. Many apparently inactive ingredients have turned out to play significant health giving roles. Researchers initially dismissed Bioflavanoids, a class of molecules found in plants. They have now been found to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, anti-ulcerogenic and hepato-proctective agents.
Phytoestrogen found in vegetables, cereals, grains and legumes, are similar in structure to human estrogen and affect hormonal balance in a woman’s body. When they are naturally occurring in food they do not create side effects. Your body is used to them as your genes have naturally evolved with them over millions of years. In food they occur in a wide variety so no hormonal signal can overwhelm your body’s delicate hormonal balance.
Phytoestrogen is not just a replacement for estrogen. It acts intelligently. In some organs it will act like estrogen while blocking its effect in others. The total effect is one of balancing your hormones and supporting your body rather than over stimulating and causing side effects. Overtime imbalances due to excess can lead to further problems. There is evidence to show that naturally occurring vitamins found in food are a more powerful and safer option.
One study showed a 50-70% reduction in heart attack risk in postmenopausal women taking Vitamin E naturally occurring in their diet while only a 35-40% reduction was found in those taking vitamin E as a supplement. Some members of the group taking the supplement were found to have increases in strokes and bleeding. Another study showed that those with a high Vitamin intake from diet and supplements had less benefit than those with a healthy diet.
Randomly adding hormones and sythesised ingredients to the physiology can upset its natural balance and create problems worse than the one initially being treated. Hormone Replacement Therapy has been found to elevate risks of gall bladder disease and blood clots both in the legs and lungs. The risk of developing breast cancer is shown to increase by up to 40% in women on the HRT program. Taking doses of estrogen alone has been found to increase the possibility of uterine cancer. However estrogen and progestin together nearly doubles the risk of breast cancer after ten years.
MVAH supports your overall health during menopause by strengthening your physiology’s own healing intelligence and balancing mechanisms. A state of relative stability is maintained in the body by homeostatic feedback loops. When the weather is hot our body perspires and our veins and arteries expand to cool us down. This balancing device allows us to maintain a body temperature of about 37 degrees regardless of the surrounding environment.
Homeostatic feedback loops and our internal hormonal production systems are better able to do their job when stress, irregularity of meals, sleep and exercise is limited. If the physiology is constantly trying to adapt to external changes it expends a lot of energy just trying to keep up. Long term irregularities in the internal biorhythms such as cycles of hormones, sleep, digestion, elimination and other cyclical functions can influence the timing of your hormonal secretions. If your body is clogged with impurities due to poor diet and lifestyle, the delivery of hormones to your body’s tissues will be obstructed even if your hormone supply is adequate.
By bringing balance to your internal cycles and clearing away wastes and impurities, your body can best absorb the decreasing estrogen available. Fatigue, weight gain, depression and hot flushes are reduced when your physiology is acting at its most efficient.
Case Study
Judy, a 53 year old consultant in human resources, turned to MVAH when HRT failed to relieve her of her menopausal symptoms. For five years she had experienced hot flushes, sleep disorder depression and a declining libido. She had tried two gynecologists, both of whom had treated her with HRT and then given up when she failed to find improvement. First one and then the other dealt with her continued complaints by increasing her estrogen dose until she was taking nearly four times the usual dosage. Such a high dosage was putting her at a serious risk for side effects yet not providing her with relief.
Her MVAH consultation revealed that accumulated wastes and toxins were blocking the channels in her tissues preventing her hormones from reaching the target sites. She was advised to undergo a series of deep internal cleansing procedures and adjust her diet. On following the procedures and altering her diet, Judy experienced significant relief. Her hot flushes and sleep problems improved and her libido and energy normalised. Over three months she was able to gradually reduce her HRT dose to a low-normal range with no increase in the menopausal symptoms.
Judy’s experience shows that adding excess estrogen to the body is not the answer. When the channels are blocked the hormones cannot get through regardless of the quantities administered. Even if you are taking HRT, cleansing the body and improving the diet can support the absorption of the extra hormones and you may be able to reduce the dosage of estrogen.
Menopause need not be a time of fear and discomfort. By taking a holistic look at your life and making some health promoting adjustments it can be a time to purify and balance your self. Doshic imbalances are just a result of inappropriate diet and lifestyle choices and can be rectified as easily as they were created. Drinking warm water that has been boiled first and getting regular gentle exercise helps to eliminating blockages in the physiology. Support your physiology’s healing mechanisms by regular routines and stress reduction. Indulge in nature’s supermarket of phytoestrogens and vitamins naturally occurring in food. Most importantly enjoy menopause as a transition to an era of greater wisdom, respect and good health.
The author, Wendy Rosenfeldt BA DipHealth(MAVHEC), is a Maharishi Vedic Health educator. She is based in Melbourne but travels regularly to the Gold Coast.
To book a personal consultation with an Ayurvedic expert contact the centre on MAV@MorningtonMeditation.com.au
Keeping yourself happy and healthy with Maharishi Ayurveda is the best way to care for your family.
An Ayurvedic Approach to Parenting - Click here for article and info >
Like everyone, babies and children have a unique constitutional type. According to the Ayurvedic theory of doshas everything in the universe is comprised of different proportions of space, air, fire, water and earth. In our physiologies we also have a combination of these elements called Doshas. Comprehension of the variations in doshas enables us to understand our children’s likes and dislikes, reactions to certain food, behavioral problems and most importantly ways to maintain their health and happiness.
What are the doshas?
Doshas are governing principals found all throughout nature.
Vata Dosha - Space & Air
Vata dosha is expressed as space and air and is responsible for all movement in the universe. It has the light, dry, changeable, quick qualities associated with the wind.
Pitta Dosha - Fire & WaterVata Dosha - Space & Air
Vata dosha is expressed as space and air and is responsible for all movement in the universe. It has the light, dry, changeable, quick qualities associated with the wind.
Pitta dosha is expressed mainly as fire (with just a touch of water) and governs all metabolism and transformation. It has the qualities of the fire being hot, intense, sour, red, orange and yellow.
Kapha Dosha - Earth & Water
Kapha, expressed as water and earth, is responsible for all cohesion and structure in the universe. It is almost opposite to Vata, being heavy, slow, steady, sweet and moist
Prakriti - Our Ayurvedic Mind/Body Type
Each of us has a different proportion of doshas called Prakriti. Prakriti refers to our basic nature.
Vata Ayurvedic Mind/Body Types
A predominance of Vata dosha brings a light build. By nature Vata types are quick, enthusiastic and creative. They have a tendency towards dry hair and skin and their sleep and appetite are often light and easily disturbed. They love change and travel, get excited about new ideas but find it hard to stick to one thing and are notorious for changing their minds.
Babies with a predominance of Vata find it hard to gain weight. Their sleep and digestion are easily disturbed and they have a tendency towards wind and colic. They dislike the cold or being exposed to windy conditions. On the whole they have low, delicate appetites and love sweet, warm food.
Pitta Ayurvedic Mind/Body Types
Someone with more Pitta in his or her Prakriti has a medium build. They tend to have the colours of the fire in their hair and skin. Their skin is generally more sensitive and burns easily. Pitta predominates have good appetites and strong digestive systems. They love food and get irritable if they miss a meal. Their dynamic, passionate natures give them good organization skills and they make excellent managers. They are efficient, punctual and orderly but are sometimes lacking in patience
Babies displaying a lot of Pitta in their nature will be dynamic and active. They love to explore the environment around them and can get bored easily if left with nothing to do. Their skin is soft and sensitive and they have a tendency towards skin rashes. Infants with a Pitta Prakriti have strong digestive systems and tend to move on to solid foods earlier than other babies
Kapha Ayurvedic Mind/Body Types
Someone with a lot of Kapha in his or her constitution has a large build. Their bones are bigger and they have large lustrous eyes and thick hair. Their skin is generally moist and soft. By nature they are slower than their Vata or Pitta counterparts, preferring to act in a steady, methodical way. Their digestion is also slower and they have a tendency to gain weight easily. They have good stamina and when balanced are sweet and emotionally stable. They like a regular lifestyle and a steady pace of life.
Kapha predominant babies are generally placid and happy. They are on the chubbier side and have big lustrous eyes. They tend to be more resilient than other babies but have a tendency towards excess mucous and congestion
We are all a combination of these three Doshas
No one is purely one dosha but a combination of all three. We can be predominately one or two or even have amounts of all three equally. Our Prakriti or basic nature can be obscured by imbalance. Through lifestyle, diet and seasonal influences we can experience too much or too little of the doshas. This imbalance is called Vikriti.
(End Part One-(reprinted with permission)
Any Prakriti can develop any Vikriti. For example you may have a predominance of Kapha in your nature but due to lack of sleep, irregular meals and dry, windy weather you can develop too much Vata.
Your methodical, calm, easygoing nature is then obscured by feeling spaced out and indecisive. You may start to crave sweet food and find that it is taking you longer to fall asleep at night. You do not feel yourself because you are experiencing an imbalance
Keeping a Vata Bodytype in Balance
When Vata is too strong we can feel anxious, indecisive and forgetful. Digestion and sleep can be erratic and we can feel fluctuations in our energy levels. Too much Vata can also cause dry skin and eczema as well as wind and bloating in the digestive system. Vata is increased by cold, dry, windy weather, lack of food and sleep, cold food and eating at irregular times. Vata is balanced by bringing in the qualities opposite to the airy, light characteristics of Vata.
Too much Vata in a baby or toddler can create
colic and weak digestion
trouble settling and poor sleep
tendency towards constipation
dry or flaky skin
a tendency to be fearful
To balance Vata
a warm oil massage
warm food and drinks
avoid exposure to wind and cold
regular sleep and eating routines
gentle, soothing music
Keeping a Pitta Bodytype in Balance
Pitta out of balance can cause anger, irritability and impatience. Stomach ulcers and food being digested too quickly are due to the intensity of Pitta’s fire. Fevers, sweats, rashes and itchy irritable skin are also due to an excess of Pitta. Pitta is aggravated by spicy, acidic and sour food, hot weather, stimulants and missing meals. Pitta is pacified by cooling activities like swimming or being in nature, sweet taste in the diet and also sweet words, and regular meals times.
Too much Pitta in a baby or toddler can create
temper tantrums
skin rashes
diahorrea
feeling hungry all the time
To balance Pitta
avoid spicy, sour or acidic foods
favour sweet food such as fresh fruit or milk
bathing (but be careful that the water is not too hot)
keeping cool and being in nature
regular meals
Keeping a Kapha Bodytype in Balance
Kapha in excess can result in lethargy, depression and resistance to change. Congestion, coughs and colds, and sinus problems are all due to increased Kapha. Weight gain and slow digestion also displays too much of Kapha’s slow, heavy qualities. The heavy, stable, cold qualities of Kapha can be offset by warmth, stimulation and activity
Too much Kapha in a baby or toddler can create
excessive mucous
lethargy
excessive weight gain
coughs and colds
To balance Kapha
avoid excess sweet, heavy food
give plenty of opportunities to play or crawl around
avoid cold, wet environments
favour stimulating activities, fresh air and rides in the pram
Living in Step With the Seasons
The basic nature of our child can give a clue as to which dosha is most likely to go out of balance. However any type can experience too much Vata, Pitta or Kapha. As well as diet and lifestyle the seasons also create an influence on our doshic balance.
Late autumn and winter display the changeable, dry, cold, windy qualities of Vata. Summer and early autumn have the warmer, intense qualities of Pitta. Deciduous trees take on the fiery colours of Pitta at the beginning of autumn. Spring brings the more stable, heavier qualities of Kapha and exhibits kapha’s governing principal of growth and structure evident in the blossoming flowers and ripening fruit.
We naturally balance the seasonal cycles by adjusting our diet and activities. For example in winter, we favour warm soups and cover up against the dry, windy Vata weather. In summer we pacify the intense, hot qualities of Pitta by eating more salads and fresh fruit, taking holidays and swimming in cool water. In spring we offset the increase in heaviness by spring cleaning our house, going on a diet or starting an exercise program.
The health or temperament of our baby or child is also influenced by that of the parents. Balancing a mother’s Vata can often soothe her child without any actually adjustment to the infant’s routine or diet. This is especially important in the early days of breast-feeding as the baby is relying solely on the mother for sustenance
Want an insight into your current state of balance?
Get In-Depth Advice from an Expert
Our basic nature (Prakriti) and imbalance (Vikriti) can be determined by pulse reading. The Ayurvedic practitioner determines what is occurring in the physiology by detecting impulses in the pulse. This diagnostic tool is both non intrusive and prevention orientated as subtle imbalances can be felt before they manifest into disorders. Dietary and lifestyle advice tailored to the individuals needs is then given. Knowledge of the doshas can provide a way of keeping your family happy and healthy simply by balancing the physiology with the environmental influences and adjusting dietary and lifestyle habits
The Author of this article, Wendy Rosenfeldt, BA Dip.Health MVHEC, is a Maharishi Vedic Health Educator and Teacher of Transcendental Meditation based in Maleny, Qld. Contact us for more information or to book a personal consultation in Mornington.
The Maharishi Ayurveda approach focuses in identifying imbalances in the body and mind, and restoring balance to support the innate healing and self repair process within the body. The vaidya (Maharishi Ayurveda Consultant) will employ the Ayurvedic technique of nadivigyan (pulse assessment) to detect imbalances before they develop into more significant concerns. With three fingers on the pulse, the Ayurvedic expert can read a detailed story of your physiology.
Acknowledged by the World Health Organization, this technique has been used as a vehicle for early detection of imbalance and plays an important role in the prevention of disease.
Your personal Vedic Health Assessment will include the following recommendations from our highly trained experts in Maharishi Ayurveda:
Dietary Information Herbal food supplements recommended for nourishing and balancing your personal body’s system.
Lifestyle recommendations (if needed)
Detox programs (when needed)
Educational follow-up to help you gain the benefits
Side benefits rather than side effects
You will leave the appointment with easy to follow guidelines to help restore balance and enhance your body’s own healing process. Benefits generally noticed in the first few weeks.
Contact the centre to arrange your consultation on 5976 2577 or
MAV@morningtonmeditation.com.au
What are Maharishi Vedic Health Consultations?
Maharishi Ayur-Veda recognizes that everyone is unique. It is able to identify imbalances in the Doshas - the operating principles found everywhere in nature at different times of day and during the yearly cycle of seasons. These principles are called Vata, Pitta and Kapha.
For the human physiology, we can think of these three doshas as different aspects of inner intelligence functioning silently behind the scenes to maintain all the functions and structures of our body in a balanced and healthy state. When we handle disease at this fundamental level, symptoms often disappear spontaneously.
Consultations The Maharishi Ayurveda approach focuses in identifying imbalances in the body and mind, and restoring balance to support the innate healing and self repair process within the body. The vaidya (Maharishi Ayurveda Consultant) will employ the Ayurvedic technique of nadivigyan (pulse assessment) to detect imbalances before they develop into more significant concerns. With three fingers on the pulse, the Ayurvedic expert can read a detailed story of your physiology.
Acknowledged by the World Health Organization, this technique has been used as a vehicle for early detection of imbalance and plays an important role in the prevention of disease.
Your personal Vedic Health Assessment will include the following recommendations from our highly trained experts in Maharishi Ayurveda:
Individualised Dietary Information Herbal food supplements recommended for nourishing and balancing your unique body’s system.
Lifestyle recommendations (if needed)
Detox programs (when needed)
Educational follow-up to help you gain the benefits
Side benefits rather than side effects
You will leave the appointment with easy to follow guidelines to help restore balance and enhance your body’s own healing process. Benefits generally noticed in the first few weeks.The consultant may also recommend the Maharishi Vedic Vibration TechnologyTM for chronic disorders. Assess your home, its orientation, your sleeping direction etc. and instruct you in simple breathing exercises and yoga postures. Consultations are ideal for young children, pregnant women and undiagnosed problems as pulse diagnosis pin points imbalances at their root cause.
For the human physiology, we can think of these three doshas as different aspects of inner intelligence functioning silently behind the scenes to maintain all the functions and structures of our body in a balanced and healthy state. When we handle disease at this fundamental level, symptoms often disappear spontaneously.
Consultations The Maharishi Ayurveda approach focuses in identifying imbalances in the body and mind, and restoring balance to support the innate healing and self repair process within the body. The vaidya (Maharishi Ayurveda Consultant) will employ the Ayurvedic technique of nadivigyan (pulse assessment) to detect imbalances before they develop into more significant concerns. With three fingers on the pulse, the Ayurvedic expert can read a detailed story of your physiology.
Acknowledged by the World Health Organization, this technique has been used as a vehicle for early detection of imbalance and plays an important role in the prevention of disease.
Your personal Vedic Health Assessment will include the following recommendations from our highly trained experts in Maharishi Ayurveda:
Individualised Dietary Information Herbal food supplements recommended for nourishing and balancing your unique body’s system.
Lifestyle recommendations (if needed)
Detox programs (when needed)
Educational follow-up to help you gain the benefits
Side benefits rather than side effects
You will leave the appointment with easy to follow guidelines to help restore balance and enhance your body’s own healing process. Benefits generally noticed in the first few weeks.The consultant may also recommend the Maharishi Vedic Vibration TechnologyTM for chronic disorders. Assess your home, its orientation, your sleeping direction etc. and instruct you in simple breathing exercises and yoga postures. Consultations are ideal for young children, pregnant women and undiagnosed problems as pulse diagnosis pin points imbalances at their root cause.
For an appointment with a Maharishi Ayur-Veda health professional,
contact the Mornington Centre (b/h)
03 5976 2577
or email us now
Menstration: The menstral cycle as a womans health advantage
A woman experiences many physiological changes in her lifetime: puberty, menstruation, pregnancy and menopause. These are natural cycles for a woman yet they are often accompanied by physical discomfort and emotional turbulence. Knowledge of how to experience these cycles naturally and without pain is secret even to most women.
Far from being the “curse”, menstruation is actually a woman’s health advantage. It is a time of purification for the physiology and, when occurring in a balanced way, contributes towards a woman’s overall health and longevity. Typically in our western time pressured culture, menstruation is considered a nuisance and the tendency of most women is to ignore it, take painkillers and get on with it. This mindset accounts for the prevalence of gynecological disorders in the western world.
Understanding a woman’s physiology as a whole is a key ingredient in the success of any approaches to woman’s health. This involves both understanding the individual as whole, i.e. that their mind, body and emotions are all connected, and recognizing the wholeness of life’s influences. Everything that we do, see, hear, feel, taste or touch influences our health. Watching a violent movie, having an argument, eating lifeless food, all have a detrimental effect on our health. Likewise cuddles from a loved one, a moonlit walk on the beach or a meal cooked with love have a positive, life supporting effect.
Maharishi Vedic Approach to Health (MVAH) is a holistic system that takes into account all the influences in a women’s life. In investigating the cause of imbalance MVAH looks at the effects of diet and daily routines, lifestyle, seasonal cycles, time of life and the mental and emotional state of the individual. Both the exterior forces on us and interior cycles of our physiology are constantly changing; therefore it is necessary to adjust our lifestyle to maintain a balanced physiology. 'A Womens Best Medicine', pictured above is a wonderful reference book packed with tips.
Impurities, poor diet, stress and over work can create havoc with our biological rhythms. We experience that jet lag and staying up all night can mess up our sleep cycles. The menstrual cycle is also affected by changes and stress in our daily life. Having a period indicates that the body is in a fit state to have a baby. When our period is late or we go with out having one, it is nature’s way of saying you are not healthy and rested enough to carry a child.
Before you start thinking that it is preferable to go without menstruating because you don’t want to conceive a child or it is an inconvenience, it is important to understand that the menstrual cycle has another function. It is a time when the physiology removes impurities and tries to regain the balance disturbed by our erratic and busy lifestyles.
For many healthy women, the menstrual cycle is a normal, easy process while for others it is a time of pain, emotional distress and debility. The degree of discomfort indicates the amount of purification and rebalancing that needs to take place. We may experience that our monthly cycles are much smoother and more comfortable if we are relaxed or have had a holiday while times of intense stress or an overload of toxins in the body results in cramps and moodiness accompanying our periods.
Our physiologies are highly intelligent, the experience of imbalance or discomfort it is just a cry for help. However many women just accept that taking something when they get their period is a normal part of life. By introducing chemicals to suppress or alter our natural mechanisms, the hormonal balance is further disturbed resulting in more severe problems later down the track. Instead of creating artificial cycles by going on the pill or suppressing the symptoms with painkillers, it is possible to remove the cause of the problem.
PMS (premenstrual syndrome) is an umbrella term for a wide range of symptoms, from headaches and tiredness to breast swelling and constipation. From the perspective of Maharishi Vedic Approach to Health, PMS and menstrual problems occur if:
Our biological rhythms are off
Doshas or controlling principles are out of balance
There is a build of impurities
Biological Rhythms
Throughout nature there are many cycles maintaining growth and renewal in life. The changing seasonal cycles support the development of plants and animal life. The 24-hour circadian rhythm allows for daily rest and activity. The menstrual cycle in women allows for monthly revitalization and renewal.
Changes in the physiology are orchestrated by hormones. In the menstrual cycle the rhythms of hormonal activity are highly significant. The time of the month chosen for breast cancer surgery dramatically influences the survival outcome. Researchers found that women treated on day 3 to day 12 of their cycle, when estrogen output is higher, had a 54% survival rate whereas those treated on the first two days or after day 13 had an 84% survival rate.
These cycles are part of the overall larger cycles in nature. Being in tune with nature allows us to experience our inner cycles more smoothly and thus get the maximum benefit from the renewal process. Getting up with the sun when the world is waking up enables the body to wake up feeling more lively in comparison to struggling out or bed at 10 am feeling groggy and lethargic.
If we are living out of sync with nature or constantly changing our daily routine, our physiology is forced to exert a lot of energy just to maintain our digestion, elimination and energy levels. Our body works more efficiently if we get up and go to bed at about the same time each day, eat regular meals and get enough rest.
During menstruation the body naturally wants to rest and we may feel more sensitive or inward. This is a subtle message to slow down and rest. Taking it easy on the first few days of your period, reducing exercise and eating easy to digest food will allow your physiology to maximize the revitalizing effects of the menstrual cycle. Having a more balanced lifestyle during the rest of the month will also assist with a smoother cycle and more comfortable period.
The Dosha Theory
While there are some influences from nature that create the same effect in everyone there are many aspects of life that produce variable results. The spectrum of possible influences and their effects can be simplified by the theory of doshas. Doshas are governing principles found all throughout nature. They are present in the food we eat, the weather, our emotions and in the people we meet.
Vata dosha is like the wind, it is light, dry, rough, changeable, quick and cold. It is responsible for all movement in the universe. It can be experienced in the breeze, in the circulation systems in the body, in our feelings of enthusiasm and in the light dry nature of a cracker biscuit.
Pitta is like the fire, exhibiting qualities of heat, intensity, sharpness, acidity and is red, orange and yellow in colour. It is responsible for all metabolism and energy in the universe, from digestion of food in our bodies, to chemical reactions. Anything that involves transformation requires Pitta. Pitta is found in heating or sour foods like chilli, ginger, yoghurt or oranges. Hot weather and intense activity also increases the qualities of Pitta.
Kapha dosha is slow, stable, sweet, sticky and heavy, kind of like chocolate mud cake or the feeling you get after you have eaten it. Kapha is expressed as earth and water and is responsible for all lubrication, cohesion and structure. Damp weather, a sedentary lifestyle and heavy food can increase this dosha.
By understanding the doshas and their influences, balance can be can be created and maintained by changes in diet, exercise and routine. Our unique constitutional type also plays a part in the effects of the doshas. We each have a different proportion of the doshas. We can also develop what is called Vikriti, which means imbalance of the doshas. We experience too much or too little of a particular dosha for our unique physiology. Pulse reading is used to assess our nature and our imbalances.
The theory of the doshas helps in understanding and treating the myriad of symptoms collectively termed premenstrual syndrome or PMS. Over 150 symptoms in nearly every organ system have been attributed to PMS, and as a result treatments have had limited success. MVAH understands PMS in terms of imbalance and treats it by balancing a particular dosha. This tends to fix a number of problems at once rather than trying to attend to each one individually.
Vata out of balance gives rise to mood swings, anxiety, insomnia, constipation, abdominal bloating and irregular periods. During the period it can cause cramping, backache and irregular flow. Pitta can create premenstrual irritability, increased appetite, migraines, excessive heat and diarrhoea. Excessive bleeding during menstruation indicates an imbalance of Pitta. Weight gain, fluid retention, breast enlargement and sluggish digestion premenstrually is due to too much Kapha. While during the period it can cause back stiffness and menstrual clots.
Sally had experienced menstrual cramping and lower back pain ever since she began her periods. About five days prior she would have trouble sleeping, intense anxiety and bloating. She rarely got through he periods with out pills to ease the cramping but they left her feeling “foggy and dull”. At 32 she was eager to try a more natural approach to her long-term problems.
In her Maharishi Vedic Approach to Health consultation, her pulse assessment revealed a Vata imbalance. On the advice of her MVAH practitioner she adjusted her diet, favouring warm easily digestible food and reducing salads. She made sure that she ate regular meals and reduced her consumption of coffee. She began a daily oil massage and cut back on her vigorous exercise program. Her new routine also included taking it easy during the first few days of her period. In less than two months she experienced a marked improvement in her over all health. She was sleeping better and feeling emotionally more stable. The premenstrual bloating and cramps virtually disappeared and she felt more energetic and enthusiastic about life.
In a Maharishi Vedic Approach to Health consultation your pulse is assessed and diet and lifestyle recommendations given. There is an emphasis placed on education, so that you have the knowledge to create and maintain your own good health. Just knowing about the doshas can steer you away from a hot curry when you know that you are already feeling angry or inspire you to get out and exercise when you feeling depressed and weighed down by life. To book your personal consultation email MAV@MorningtonMeditation.com.au
Impurities
Weak digestion, poor diet, excessive alcohol and caffeine consumption and no exercise all contribute to a build up of toxins in the body. The physiology attempts to clean them out during the period. Its effectiveness and level of cramping or discomfort depends on the amount of impurities present. Taking more rest, sipping boiled warm water and avoiding heavy foods such as cheese, chocolate and meat will aid in the menstrual purification process.
The easiest way to ensure a healthy period is to not accumulate toxins, stress and fatigue during the month. This can be done by living a more regular lifestyle, following dosha balancing recommendations according to your nature, the seasons and time of life and limiting your intake of junk food, alcohol and caffeine.
Maharishi Vedic Approach to Health gives you the key to create a more balanced, happier, healthier life. However this knowledge should not be a secret, it is contained with in you. It is about you understanding your body, your needs. By reducing foods that aggravate your doshas, clearing stresses and impurities and bringing your lifestyle more in tune with nature’s cycles you begin to experience greater self awareness. As your awareness starts to grow you are better able to feel the effects of food, the seasons and any activities that you undertake. Your physiology knows what it needs; everyday it is sending impulses to rest, to eat certain foods, to do some exercise. The real secret to women’s health is acknowledging the self and listening to your desires.
To book your personal consultation or ask further questions email MAV@MorningtonMeditation.com.au
The author, Wendy Rosenfeldt BA DipHealth(MAVHEC), is a Maharishi Vedic Health educator. She is based in Melany but travels regularly to the Gold Coast. For further information on seminars, consultations or any aspect of Maharishi Vedic Approach to Health in Qld call 03 9846 5294 or 0438 507 188.
Far from being the “curse”, menstruation is actually a woman’s health advantage. It is a time of purification for the physiology and, when occurring in a balanced way, contributes towards a woman’s overall health and longevity. Typically in our western time pressured culture, menstruation is considered a nuisance and the tendency of most women is to ignore it, take painkillers and get on with it. This mindset accounts for the prevalence of gynecological disorders in the western world.
Understanding a woman’s physiology as a whole is a key ingredient in the success of any approaches to woman’s health. This involves both understanding the individual as whole, i.e. that their mind, body and emotions are all connected, and recognizing the wholeness of life’s influences. Everything that we do, see, hear, feel, taste or touch influences our health. Watching a violent movie, having an argument, eating lifeless food, all have a detrimental effect on our health. Likewise cuddles from a loved one, a moonlit walk on the beach or a meal cooked with love have a positive, life supporting effect.
Maharishi Vedic Approach to Health (MVAH) is a holistic system that takes into account all the influences in a women’s life. In investigating the cause of imbalance MVAH looks at the effects of diet and daily routines, lifestyle, seasonal cycles, time of life and the mental and emotional state of the individual. Both the exterior forces on us and interior cycles of our physiology are constantly changing; therefore it is necessary to adjust our lifestyle to maintain a balanced physiology. 'A Womens Best Medicine', pictured above is a wonderful reference book packed with tips.
Impurities, poor diet, stress and over work can create havoc with our biological rhythms. We experience that jet lag and staying up all night can mess up our sleep cycles. The menstrual cycle is also affected by changes and stress in our daily life. Having a period indicates that the body is in a fit state to have a baby. When our period is late or we go with out having one, it is nature’s way of saying you are not healthy and rested enough to carry a child.
Before you start thinking that it is preferable to go without menstruating because you don’t want to conceive a child or it is an inconvenience, it is important to understand that the menstrual cycle has another function. It is a time when the physiology removes impurities and tries to regain the balance disturbed by our erratic and busy lifestyles.
For many healthy women, the menstrual cycle is a normal, easy process while for others it is a time of pain, emotional distress and debility. The degree of discomfort indicates the amount of purification and rebalancing that needs to take place. We may experience that our monthly cycles are much smoother and more comfortable if we are relaxed or have had a holiday while times of intense stress or an overload of toxins in the body results in cramps and moodiness accompanying our periods.
Our physiologies are highly intelligent, the experience of imbalance or discomfort it is just a cry for help. However many women just accept that taking something when they get their period is a normal part of life. By introducing chemicals to suppress or alter our natural mechanisms, the hormonal balance is further disturbed resulting in more severe problems later down the track. Instead of creating artificial cycles by going on the pill or suppressing the symptoms with painkillers, it is possible to remove the cause of the problem.
PMS (premenstrual syndrome) is an umbrella term for a wide range of symptoms, from headaches and tiredness to breast swelling and constipation. From the perspective of Maharishi Vedic Approach to Health, PMS and menstrual problems occur if:
Our biological rhythms are off
Doshas or controlling principles are out of balance
There is a build of impurities
Biological Rhythms
Throughout nature there are many cycles maintaining growth and renewal in life. The changing seasonal cycles support the development of plants and animal life. The 24-hour circadian rhythm allows for daily rest and activity. The menstrual cycle in women allows for monthly revitalization and renewal.
Changes in the physiology are orchestrated by hormones. In the menstrual cycle the rhythms of hormonal activity are highly significant. The time of the month chosen for breast cancer surgery dramatically influences the survival outcome. Researchers found that women treated on day 3 to day 12 of their cycle, when estrogen output is higher, had a 54% survival rate whereas those treated on the first two days or after day 13 had an 84% survival rate.
These cycles are part of the overall larger cycles in nature. Being in tune with nature allows us to experience our inner cycles more smoothly and thus get the maximum benefit from the renewal process. Getting up with the sun when the world is waking up enables the body to wake up feeling more lively in comparison to struggling out or bed at 10 am feeling groggy and lethargic.
If we are living out of sync with nature or constantly changing our daily routine, our physiology is forced to exert a lot of energy just to maintain our digestion, elimination and energy levels. Our body works more efficiently if we get up and go to bed at about the same time each day, eat regular meals and get enough rest.
During menstruation the body naturally wants to rest and we may feel more sensitive or inward. This is a subtle message to slow down and rest. Taking it easy on the first few days of your period, reducing exercise and eating easy to digest food will allow your physiology to maximize the revitalizing effects of the menstrual cycle. Having a more balanced lifestyle during the rest of the month will also assist with a smoother cycle and more comfortable period.
The Dosha Theory
While there are some influences from nature that create the same effect in everyone there are many aspects of life that produce variable results. The spectrum of possible influences and their effects can be simplified by the theory of doshas. Doshas are governing principles found all throughout nature. They are present in the food we eat, the weather, our emotions and in the people we meet.
Vata dosha is like the wind, it is light, dry, rough, changeable, quick and cold. It is responsible for all movement in the universe. It can be experienced in the breeze, in the circulation systems in the body, in our feelings of enthusiasm and in the light dry nature of a cracker biscuit.
Pitta is like the fire, exhibiting qualities of heat, intensity, sharpness, acidity and is red, orange and yellow in colour. It is responsible for all metabolism and energy in the universe, from digestion of food in our bodies, to chemical reactions. Anything that involves transformation requires Pitta. Pitta is found in heating or sour foods like chilli, ginger, yoghurt or oranges. Hot weather and intense activity also increases the qualities of Pitta.
Kapha dosha is slow, stable, sweet, sticky and heavy, kind of like chocolate mud cake or the feeling you get after you have eaten it. Kapha is expressed as earth and water and is responsible for all lubrication, cohesion and structure. Damp weather, a sedentary lifestyle and heavy food can increase this dosha.
By understanding the doshas and their influences, balance can be can be created and maintained by changes in diet, exercise and routine. Our unique constitutional type also plays a part in the effects of the doshas. We each have a different proportion of the doshas. We can also develop what is called Vikriti, which means imbalance of the doshas. We experience too much or too little of a particular dosha for our unique physiology. Pulse reading is used to assess our nature and our imbalances.
The theory of the doshas helps in understanding and treating the myriad of symptoms collectively termed premenstrual syndrome or PMS. Over 150 symptoms in nearly every organ system have been attributed to PMS, and as a result treatments have had limited success. MVAH understands PMS in terms of imbalance and treats it by balancing a particular dosha. This tends to fix a number of problems at once rather than trying to attend to each one individually.
Vata out of balance gives rise to mood swings, anxiety, insomnia, constipation, abdominal bloating and irregular periods. During the period it can cause cramping, backache and irregular flow. Pitta can create premenstrual irritability, increased appetite, migraines, excessive heat and diarrhoea. Excessive bleeding during menstruation indicates an imbalance of Pitta. Weight gain, fluid retention, breast enlargement and sluggish digestion premenstrually is due to too much Kapha. While during the period it can cause back stiffness and menstrual clots.
Sally had experienced menstrual cramping and lower back pain ever since she began her periods. About five days prior she would have trouble sleeping, intense anxiety and bloating. She rarely got through he periods with out pills to ease the cramping but they left her feeling “foggy and dull”. At 32 she was eager to try a more natural approach to her long-term problems.
In her Maharishi Vedic Approach to Health consultation, her pulse assessment revealed a Vata imbalance. On the advice of her MVAH practitioner she adjusted her diet, favouring warm easily digestible food and reducing salads. She made sure that she ate regular meals and reduced her consumption of coffee. She began a daily oil massage and cut back on her vigorous exercise program. Her new routine also included taking it easy during the first few days of her period. In less than two months she experienced a marked improvement in her over all health. She was sleeping better and feeling emotionally more stable. The premenstrual bloating and cramps virtually disappeared and she felt more energetic and enthusiastic about life.
In a Maharishi Vedic Approach to Health consultation your pulse is assessed and diet and lifestyle recommendations given. There is an emphasis placed on education, so that you have the knowledge to create and maintain your own good health. Just knowing about the doshas can steer you away from a hot curry when you know that you are already feeling angry or inspire you to get out and exercise when you feeling depressed and weighed down by life. To book your personal consultation email MAV@MorningtonMeditation.com.au
Impurities
Weak digestion, poor diet, excessive alcohol and caffeine consumption and no exercise all contribute to a build up of toxins in the body. The physiology attempts to clean them out during the period. Its effectiveness and level of cramping or discomfort depends on the amount of impurities present. Taking more rest, sipping boiled warm water and avoiding heavy foods such as cheese, chocolate and meat will aid in the menstrual purification process.
The easiest way to ensure a healthy period is to not accumulate toxins, stress and fatigue during the month. This can be done by living a more regular lifestyle, following dosha balancing recommendations according to your nature, the seasons and time of life and limiting your intake of junk food, alcohol and caffeine.
Maharishi Vedic Approach to Health gives you the key to create a more balanced, happier, healthier life. However this knowledge should not be a secret, it is contained with in you. It is about you understanding your body, your needs. By reducing foods that aggravate your doshas, clearing stresses and impurities and bringing your lifestyle more in tune with nature’s cycles you begin to experience greater self awareness. As your awareness starts to grow you are better able to feel the effects of food, the seasons and any activities that you undertake. Your physiology knows what it needs; everyday it is sending impulses to rest, to eat certain foods, to do some exercise. The real secret to women’s health is acknowledging the self and listening to your desires.
To book your personal consultation or ask further questions email MAV@MorningtonMeditation.com.au
The author, Wendy Rosenfeldt BA DipHealth(MAVHEC), is a Maharishi Vedic Health educator. She is based in Melany but travels regularly to the Gold Coast. For further information on seminars, consultations or any aspect of Maharishi Vedic Approach to Health in Qld call 03 9846 5294 or 0438 507 188.
Maharishi Ayur-Veda® Herbal Products and Gifts
Maharishi Ayurveda supplements combine time-tested wisdom drawn from authentic Ayurvedic texts with cutting-edge manufacturing and quality control technologies. By drawing from the best of both worlds - ancient and modern - these herbal products are produced with unparalleled value and quality.
The herbal food suppliments of Maharishi Ayurveda Products International (MAPI) contain high-quality herbs that are combined into potent formulas to correct the underlying imbalance in the physiology, without side effects. Instead of treating symptoms, they aim to eliminate the root cause of the problem.
Maharishi Ayur-Veda herbal formulas are not generic supplements based on the latest health fad. They have been helping people improve their health for thousands of years. MAPI’s herbal products are recommended by medical doctors and health professionals around the world.
Please call and visit the Mornington Centre to find a full selection of
Maharishi Ayur-Veda Products.
Become a VIP (see button above page) and receive a free gift pack of herbal products with your first purchase.
We are located at 24 Serenity Way, Mornington. If you are looking for a specific product, please call ahead to check for availability -
ph b/h(03)5976 2577
Maharishi Ayur-Veda Products.
Become a VIP (see button above page) and receive a free gift pack of herbal products with your first purchase.
We are located at 24 Serenity Way, Mornington. If you are looking for a specific product, please call ahead to check for availability -
ph b/h(03)5976 2577
For a detailed list of products and books available at Mornington see our webpage Maharishi Ayur-Veda Products.