Woman Wise
Ayurvedic Insights for Peri Menopause
Well after several years of relative balance of my hormones, my body decided that it was ready for the next level of evolution! Much to my delight (not)
My Peri menopause symptoms have lately ramped up starting with a long period of no inner winter, bleed or period. I thought well that is it ‘I have made the transition, it all goes tits up now!’.
After paying close attention to the changes in my emotional, mental and physical body such as my ever increasing appetite, achy legs at night and a really stiff left hip that bothered me more than I would like to admit. The Asana’s that I could do with ease were proving challenging and this was changing how I saw myself, which to me was what concerned me the most, because once your self-perception changes, everything around you changes.
So I accepted that my symptoms were progressing and I threw away the panty liners, organic sanitary towels and period pants, booked myself a wee holiday to celebrate my freedom from monthly period pain and bleeds.
Well……I celebrated too soon.
A day before my flight to Malta, I bled and it was painful and heavy. Hmmmmmm lovely and timely I said to myself.
So what now!?
Not quite made the shift and still very much in the peri-menopause, which to be honest I was silently glad about. When your body does make the shift into the Menopause that’s when the self-care really needs to ramp up and the changes can become more apparent.
Okay, so I decided to look to ancient wisdom in the shape of ayurveda and traditional chines medicine for my next step up to self care.
How did I do that for myself without expensive therapists? Well let me tell you what I did.
I started by making a list of my symptoms and looked at my dosha imbalances, the three doshas are Vata, Pitta and Kapha and each one is responsible for a set of specific symptoms. Based on my symptoms there was an imbalance in my Vata and Vata governs movement in the body and here's a further breakdown of what that could look like:
Vata Dosha:
Dryness and Roughness:This includes dry skin, hair, and mucous membranes, as well as rough or cracking joints.
Movement and Nervous System Issues:Symptoms like anxiety, insomnia, tremors, and nervous system disorders are common.
Circulatory Problems:This can manifest as poor circulation, cold extremities, and constipation.
Irregularity and Instability:This includes irregular periods, fluctuating energy levels, and inconsistent digestion
Here is a list of Pitta and Kapha Dosha for you to review.
Pitta Dosha:
Heat and Inflammation:This includes hot flashes, excessive sweating, skin rashes, and burning sensations.
Digestive Issues:Symptoms like acid reflux, heartburn, and increased acidity are common.
Emotional Irritability:Pitta imbalances can lead to increased anger, irritability, and a tendency towards being judgmental.
Physical Overheating:This can show up as feeling over heated, and excess thirst
Kapha dosha:
Weight Gain and Fluid Retention:This includes increased weight, swelling, and water retention in the body.
Respiratory Congestion:Symptoms like excessive mucus, coughs, colds, and sinus congestion are common.
Digestive Sluggishness:This can manifest as slow digestion, heaviness after eating, and a tendency towards lethargy.
Emotional Stagnation:Kapha imbalances can lead to feelings of heaviness, laziness, and a lack of motivation.
It is very possible that you could be a mix of one or more dosha. I fell more into the Vata category so I let that lead my next steps. Of course if you want more accuracy you should find a certified Ayurvedic practitioner.
Traditional Chinese medicine views the peri menopause as a decline in the kidney yin (so you may notice an increase of issues in this area). I currently practice several hormone balancing practices such as ovary breathing, microcosmic orbit and deer massage to keep my hormones in balance.
*For more on these practices you can message me directly for 1:1 support or coaching.
*Tip Keep your kidney area warm.
My next step..
Doing my research my next steps were firstly to address my nervous system, so I have made several changes to my lifestyle such as:
Practice Yin Yoga which focusses more on stillness, presence and slowing down the breath through various asana’s.
New diet plan, I have devised a new diet based on balancing my Vata dosha and switched up some of my existing supplements with Shatavari and various homemade tea blends which I will share on my blog at a later point.
Chi Gong for improved kidney functionality and overall health
And most importantly I have warned all my loved ones that I do not have patience for anyone’s BS!
Final thoughts.
I guess what I my aim here is to empower myself with as much knowledge and wisdom as I can and make some simple changes in my lifestyle that I know I can sustain, personally I go all in but if this is you and you can only make a few simple changes to begin with then that is perfect.
I believe preparation is key in the Peri-menopause stage of your journey and hopefully this will help to manage your symptoms before you make the shift into the menopause.
Understanding that everyone one of you will have your own unique set of symptoms and rather than going to the GP there is no harm in trying some ancient wisdom to support yourself.
By the way I am not medically trained in either Traditional Chinese Medicine or Ayurveda, I read and research a lot! The Ayurveda part is partially passed down so a lot of that knowledge comes from the long line of women in my family.
My advice to you is list your symptoms and do some research into which dosha is predominalty out of balance for you and create a few changes in your lifestyle. If you want to reach out to a TCM or Ayurvedic practitioner for further guidance, this is also a good start.
However If you do require some general guidance, I am happy for you to reach out in the contact me section below or follow me on Instagram as I often post videos and information there too. @sacred.sasi111