Reproductive System

MENSTRUAL CRAMPS (DYSMENORRHOEA):

It is pain or discomfort experienced just before or during menstrual periods. Besides lower abdominal pain, one may also experience backache, pinching and pain in hip. In Nepal most of women get affected by this discomfort. As lots of women experience it, menstrual cramps is considered as a minor complaint, saying it is all in a woman's head. But this concept seems to be changing gradually nowadays.
It is caused by the excess production of prostaglandins & estrogen and decline in progesterone levels.
According to ayurveda, impairment of apaana vayu is responsible for menstrual cramps. Its normal course is downward and if it does not move because of hormonal imbalance, constipation or any other factors.

Symptoms:
Following are the signs or symptoms that indicate the presence of this disease in females:
• Painful / Scanty menstruation
• Disturbed digestion
• Pain in lower pelvis (back and stomach)
• Nervousness
• Giddiness
• General debility

SELF HELP APPROACH
- Avoid potato, yellow pumpkin, and brinjal. Instead you can have white pumpkin, papaya, drumstick (Moringa oleifera, sobhanjan), snake gourd, bitter gourd, and cucumber.
- Avoid fried pulses and sour food items, avoid foods that will cause constipation, especially during the last week of menstrual cycle.
- Garlic is specially recommended. Take five to seven garlic pods per day after removing the outer covering. You can reduce the pungent smell, by taking along with buttermilk or lemon juice.
- Add one teaspoonful of asafoetida (Hingha), in powder form to your food or buttermilk. You have to use it after frying with ghee.
- For spasmodic symptoms, have some fish, but avoid meat, poultry, dairy products and eggs. It is believed that the Omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil may help relieve dysmenorrhoea by affecting the metabolism of prostaglandin and other factors involved in pain and inflammation. For congestive symptoms, avoid sugar, alcohol, salt and dairy foods.
- Before the onset of the period, start doing the following mild exercise two to three times a day. However, during the period of menstruation, avoid sleep during daytime and take plenty of bed rest.
1. Lie face up with legs and knees bent; perform abdominal breathing about 10 times.
2. Stand holding back of the chair; lift one heel off the floor, then the other; repeat 20 times.
3. Stand holding back of the chair, then do five deep-knee bends.
4. While lying on your back, lift and bring your knees to touch your chin 10 times.
5. Bhujangasan is beneficial for this.

AYURVEDIC REMEDIES
- Kumari (Aloe vera) is a stimulant to the uterus and has long been used as a household remedy to promote menstruation and relieve muscle spasms. Extract juice from its pulp and take one teaspoonful of it internally. Kumaari-aasava is the medicine used to treat this condition. Its usual dose is six teaspoonfuls, taken twice daily after food, with equal quantity of water. Rajah pravartani vati, that contains borax in bhasma form, asafoetida (Hingha) and kumari, is another effective medicine. Its dose is two pills, taken twice a day for about seven days, just before the due date.
- Ashokarishtha, 20 ml with equal quantity of water half an hour after meals for 2 to 3 cycles, gives long lasting results.

LEUCORRHOEA:

Leucorrhoea is commonly known as 'white discharge'. Ayurveda refers leucorrhoea to shwetapradara. This word means excessive white discharge. It is believed to be caused by aggravation or vitiation kapha dosha. This commonly occurs in patients who are weak, emaciated, and anaemic. Most women experience a certain amount of vaginal secretion, which is the body's natural way of cleansing, lubrication and guarding the vagina against infections. Like the mouth anus, the mucous membrane of the vagina constantly sheds and replaces its cells, passing them out of the body in the form of mucous secretion. This secretion occurs due to the action of cervical and endometrial glands and also because of the activity of bacteria which live harmlessly in a normal, healthy vagina. On the other hand, an abnormal vagina discharge may be grey- white, yellow or green, brown or rusty. The consistency may be clumpy and thick or thin and liquid. There is usually a very offensive odour, and it may cause irritation and reddening of the part.
If the discharge is thick and white and there is an itching sensation, it may be due to vaginal thrush, caused by a yeast fungus, the commonest cause of leucorrhoea. It may also occur in women suffering from diabetes or those who are being treated with antibiotics for some other illness. If the discharge is greenish-yellow and has it may also be transmitted via toilet articles from one women to another or perhaps you might have forgotten to remove a tampon or diaphragm.
If the discharge is brown, like blood, and usually follows intercourse, it may probably be due to cervical erosion. If the discharge is spotted with blood, either mid- period or following intercourse, it may be due to a cervical polyp. If a low back or an abdominal pain accompanies the discharge, and you feel sick, it may be due to an infection of the pelvic organs (pelvic inflammatory disease). Leucorrhoea may also be noticed in females who are suffering from tuberculosis, anemia as also in those who have a general low resistance power, maintain poor local hygiene and those who use excess of vaginal medications such as strong disinfectants. Women who are constantly under stress and are anxious by nature may also complain of leucorrhoea.

SELF HELP APPROACH
- Avoid fried, hot and spicy foods, pickles, maida and its products. Cut down on sugar, fermented foods, mushrooms, pastries, sweets, cheese, puddings and alcohol. Take plenty of fresh curds.
- Maintain good health, take proper rest and do stress reduction exercise regularly, as these increase your resistance to infection.
- Keep your vaginal area clean by washing it 1-2 times daily with plenty of water. Put dry afterwards, using your own towels.
- Always wipe your anus after defecation from the front to back, to prevent infection from stools entering your vagina.
- Do not use nylon panties. Wear clean cotton panties and change out of wet clothes promptly.
- During your periods, use a clean cotton cloth or pads instead of tampons, especially at night.
- Both you and your partner should wash hands and genitals before and after intercourse.
- You must ensure that your sexual partner is free of any infection. Use a condom to provide added protection.
- Keep your blood sugar level always under control.
- Do not self-medicate and avoid unnecessary medication. Avoid perfumes and chemical products such as deodorant soaps, perfumed powders, perfumed sprays and coloured toilet papers.
- Do not scratch, as the fungus may get under your nails and spread.
- Drink at least 10-15 glasses of water daily and include plenty of green-leafy vegetables and salads in your diet.

AYURVEDIC REMEDIES
- Shelled tamarind seeds, macerated in milk are very efficacious in leucorrhoea.
- Boil horse-gram in water and take the supernatant fluid daily.
- Washing and cleaning of the vagina and internal parts with spatika (alum) water will be very effective.
- Pushyamuga choorna about three grams twice daily with milk, along with 20 ml of Ashokaarishtha gives good results.
- Regular douching of the genital tract with a decoction of the barks of banyan and fig trees is very useful in leucorrhoea. In Ayurvedic terminology, this douche therapy is called as Uttara vasti. Take one tablespoonful of the powder of each of these two barks, boil in one liter of water and reduce to half. Filter the decoction and discard the remnants. Have an oil massage before douching.
- Ayurveda recommends various drugs to treat leucorrhoea. These are: aamla (Embelica officinalis), lodhra (Symplocos racemosa), ashoka (Saraca indica), udumbar (Ficus religosa), yashtimadhu (Glycyrrhiza glabra), mocha rasa (Bombax malabarica) and naagarkesara (Mesua ferra).
- If the symptoms persist for three to four days, get worse or are accompanied by fever, abnormal bleeding or severe pain, get yourself examined by a doctor.

Yoga
• Paschimottanasana
• Sarvagasana
• Halasana
• Padmasana
• Bhujangasana
• Shalabhasana

MENORRHAGIA (ATYARTAVA):

Monrrhagia is the Excessive or prolonged bleeding during menstruation cycle or decrease in inter menstrual period and off and on bleeding.
Causes /Dosha
according to Ayurveda the two doshas Vata and Pitta are responsible for this ailment.

• Pathogenesis
The Vata and Pitta get aggravated due to the consumption of excessively salty, sour, heavy, acidic, unctuous substances, deep-fried, greasy and non-vegetarian.

Vata eliminates menstrual blood from the uterus and Pitta symbolizes heat or fire hence and increases in the amount of blood in the channels that carry menstrual blood imbalances these two dosha. This further result in the in profuse and irregular bleeding.

Remedies:
• Squeeze the juice from 200 grams of fresh coriander leaves. Take half a cupof the juice twice daily. It has a cooling effect and balances the aggravating Pitta.
• Fresh coriander leaves with 2 tablespoon of coarse coriander seed powdershould be soaked in one cup of water in the morning. After 5 to 6 hours mash the solution and drink it. Some honey or sugar for taste can be added . Similarly soak at night and drink in the morning.

Treatment
• Ashokarishta
• Pradarantak Rasa.
• Make a paste of seven Pomegranate leaves mixed with seven grains of rice,together crushed with a small amount of water.

Dosage:
Take the paste twice daily for 30 days.
Add two or three teaspoon of lemon juice to one glass of water. Add one teaspoon of raw sugar
Dosage: Take twice daily. Take fresh coconut water once a day.

Panchakarma
• Food that is fried, greasy, spicy and sour are to be avoided
• Spices like coriander, turmeric, mint, anise seeds are recommended.
• Hot spices, garlic, ginger, chilies and similar spices are to be avoided.
• Tea and coffee are not advised.
• Green vegetables like zucchini, squash, cucumber, pumpkin, amla (Indian gooseberry), dates, soups of legumes and vegetables etc must be consumed.
• Fresh fruits (except citrus ones) and dairy products like milk, fresh cottage
• Cheese and ghee (butter oil) should be taken.
• Pulses and grains are also very beneficial.
• Coconut water, barley water or buttermilk can be taken.
• Work beyond capacity must not be undertaken.
• Bowels must be cleaned every morning.

Yoga
• Bhujagasana
• Sitkari
• Sitali pranayam

MENOPAUSE (RAJONIVARTI):

Menopause is the cessation of menstrual activity which occurs between ages of 45 to 50 characterized hot flushes (remaining are given below) and atrophy of female tissues.

Menopausal Syndrome
• Hot flushes
• Night sweats
• Nervous tension
• Menstrual disturbance
• Insomnia
• Diminished interest in sex
• Irritability
• Depression
• Chills
• Fatigue
• Palpitation
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Numbness

Though it is a natural process, it sometimes occurs earlier due to the some pathological changes. The pathological absence of menstruation cycle causes to aggravate a lot of toxins that are otherwise expelled with menstruation accumulate in the body adding to physical symptoms like pain in back and pelvis, deposition of fat around hips, belly and thighs, tumors, cysts in the uterus or ovaries.

Treatment

1 Licorice and Ashwagandha that have natural estrogen should be taken in powder form.
2 Rasayan or rejuvenating medicines like, Bhritvata Chantamani, Vata Kulantak Rasa and Prawal Pisthi.

Dosage:
Take one half teaspoonful of each (mixed together) twice a day with warm milk or honey.

Recipes
• Soak five almonds overnight. In morning peel off skin and grind almonds into a fine paste. Grind 3 black peppers, 2 pieces of cardamom and one teaspoon of anise seeds and mix them with almond paste. Add paste to 250 ml of boiled milk. Add one teaspoon of honey and drink when lukewarm.

What to eat-
The food must comprise of three basic elements, namely:
• Vegetables
• Fresh Fruits
• Nuts, seeds and grains
• Vitamins E, D and C
• Sprouts
• Soaked nuts and seeds
• Fresh cooked vegetables
• Vegetable soup
• Milk products
• Fresh cottage cheese
• Wheat
• Beet juice (taken in small quantities of 60 to 90 ml thrice a day)
All processed, refined and denatured foods such as white flour, white sugar, cold drinks, frozen food, food containing chemicals and preservatives, greasy food, spicy food, fried stuff, sour food must be avoided.

Yoga
• Bhujagasana
• Halasana
• Sitakari
• Sitali Pranayam
• Breathing Exercises

BREAST SHAPE IMPROVEMENT:

Brest is the modified sudoriferous tissues that produce milk. But it is the organ that enhances the beauty of woman and it is thought to be an accessory sex organ on female. Regarding to its shape and size, many women show their concern to make it more matching and beautiful. Breast development occurs in distinct stages throughout a woman's life, first before birth, and again at puberty and during the childbearing years. Changes also occur in the breasts during menstruation and when a woman reaches menopause.
There are three phases of development:

Phase	Ages when the development occur	Causes
Lobule development	between 10 and 25 yrs	hormones
Glandular development	13 to 45
Involution	from the age of 35

Hormones that help to grow breast tissue are:
Estrogen, Progesterone, Prolactin, Prostaglandins and Human Growth Factors Etc.
Other factors affecting on breast development are:
Hereditary, Nutrition, Health Etc.

Guidelines and Ayurvedic Remedies:
1. Certain exercises and oil massages (not mentioned here) which also help to increase blood circulation.
2.Two other oils are traditionally advised to get a firm youthful quality to your breats-pomegranate (Punica granatum) toner and shatavari ghee. To prepare pomegranate toner, mix one part powdered pomegranate rind, four parts mustard oil and sixteen parts water in a container and bring to boil. Gently simmer until water is evaporated. Cool in refrigerator until ready to use. Shataavari ghee can be prepared in similar manner for which the ingredients include- one part shataavati powder, four parts ghee and sixteen parts water.

2. Rinse with cold and hot water.
3. Avoid using very tight bras.
4. Certain Jim (especially those done for chest and shoulder), swimming, badminton help to improve bust line.
5. Massage the breast gently but firmly with Yuvatyaadi Tail, classical medicine formulated by Vatsyayan. It helps to improve firmness and shape of the breasts. While massaging, always work upwards towards your neck using circular movements.