Your routine during the menstrual period according to Ayurveda – Rajaswala Paricharya
In ancient India, the menstrual period was very special. The woman came to rest so that the body could do its work of elimination. In Ayurvedic texts, many chapters explain how to take care of women's health. There are references about the influence of external factors on the menstrual flow. Considering our modern world, being involved in society and the fast lifestyle, it may be difficult to implement. Nevertheless, the knowledge from Indian heritage may help some women to take more care of themselves in this particular moment.
In a traditional Indian home was always a room used only by women undergoing their menstrual period. It was a retreat from the world and their daily tasks, a meeting with themselves and a time of relaxation. Since both, the body and the mind experience a change during this time.
Ayurvedic scriptures describe that any emotion has an influence on the flow of blood. Emotions like sadness, anger, jealousy or too much joy, laughter etc. can either block the bleeding or make it too strong. During the bleeding days, perceptions, feelings and the reactions to them are usually intensified, therefore a retreat is recommended. This protects the woman from any external factors and reduces the chance of emotional outbursts and the associated consequences that may follow. In this way, the body can do its work in an ideal environment, which benefits the menses, hormones and all-around health. Therefore, this way of managing one's period is seen more as therapy than a time of restrictions.
Furthermore, women sat and slept on a special grass mat with special medicinal properties (darbha grass). It has a soothing and warming effect and supports the blood flow.
The first three days of bleeding are the most important, during this time washing of the body was also suspended, for two reasons:
too cold water blocks the flow, as the organs and muscles contract,
too warm water dilates the organs and relaxes the muscles, possibly causing too much flow.
So, in order for the body to discharge the optimal amount of blood, people stayed away from water as much as possible. Since in modern times it is rather difficult to follow these rules, a head shower should be avoided in any case. The effect of a wet head on the body is cooling, immediately changes the body temperature and can thus restrain the flow of blood.
They were served their food in the retreat room and took it in a quiet atmosphere. It was easily digestible food also known as Haviṣya (Haviṣya Sanskrit: sacred food or, that which is offered to the god without spices, very mild). Ideally, it was red rice enriched with milk and a little ghee or barley with milk. Extreme tastes such as salty, sour and pungent should be avoided, as they also disturb the flow of blood, in three ways:
directly through digestion
these tastes block the channels and constrict the muscles which ends in abdominal cramps and can lead to ovarian cysts in the long run, up to Stein-Leventhal syndrome (PCOS) and other diseases.
according to Ayurveda, every food has an influence on our mind and consequently on our feelings, too spicy food for example can lead to irritation, anger or other strong feelings
As a substitute for rice with milk and ghee, one may eat kitchari. A light digestible food, which contains everything the body needs. Click here for the recipe.
Nowadays, to take a complete break from social life is not possible or most people. However, there is a possibility to adjust one's activities and to live this time as a relaxation period. For this purpose, you can reduce factors that lead to an imbalance in the body especially during this moment:
Sports
Massages
daytime sleep
eating out
coffee and tea (caffeine, teein)
too little or too much sleep
deep conversations
quarrels
raw food
yogurt
alcohol
heavy food (e.g. cold food, meat, fried food, fat)
too much food
irregular rhythm (meals, sleeping hours)
staying awake until late in the evening
sexual intercourse
Nowadays, abdominal pain, irregular periods, too much or too little bleeding are often dismissed as normal. However, from an Ayurvedic point of view, these symptoms indicate an imbalance in the body and should be given serious attention.
It is of great importance to follow a few things during menstruation if you wish to live a healthy life.
Taking a calmer approach to life for 4 or 5 days every month and following a few things will surely be beneficial for your body. So, why not be inspired from the ancient Indian traditions.