Women's Health

Ayurvedic Management Of Dysmenorrhoea

By ethnichealth

Posted on August 29, 2013

One of the major causes of absenteeism from work , decreasing efficiency and quality of life amongst women is Dysmenorrhoea , also called Menstrual cramps .

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The word Dysmenorrhoea is derived from Greek word : Dys – difficulty , Menorrhoea – monthly flow . Thus it is defined as pain associated with menstruation . It is the commonest gynecological disorder affecting women in reproductive age group .

In Ayurveda , the diseases in women are described under ‘ Yonivyapad ’ where Yoni means genital organs and Vyapad means diseases . One of them having similarity with dysmenorrhoea is Udavartini Yonivyapad . The cause of painful menstruation is Vata . The pain is before onset of menses which is relieved with start of menses .

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Classification of Dysmenorrhoea :

a) Primary or Spasmodic : It is the painful menstruation in the absence of pelvic pathology . It is essentially a first day pain .

b) Secondary or Congestive : It is the painful menstruation secondary to underlying organic disease of the pelvic organs . Pain may continue throughout flow .

Risk Factors :

a) Menstrual Factors : Early menarche ; long and heavy menstrual cycles .

b) Cigarette smoking

c) Behaviourial & Psychological Factors :

Just before and during menstruation , most women are less efficient physically and more unstable emotionally – these factors lower the pain threshold .
Expectation of pain can be fostered by overanxious parents and by curtailment of normal physical activities during menses .
Unhappiness at home or work .

d) Uterine hyperactivity and incoordinate muscle action of the uterus .

e) Hormonal Imbalance : It has been observed that progesterone induces high tone to the uterus .

f) Prostaglandins : They increase the sensitivity of the nerve endings to pain .

Sign & Symptoms :

Primary Dysmenorrhoea :

Pain is experienced a few hours before and after the onset of menstruation and rarely lasts for longer than 12 hours .
It is colicky in type and causes her to double up .
Pain is felt in lower abdomen , inner and front aspects of the thighs .
Some low backache may be present .
During severe attack , woman looks drawn , pale and may sweat . Nausea , vomiting are common . There may be diarrhea and rectal and bladder tenesmus .
In 50 % of cases the pain does not arise until 6 – 12 months after menarche.

Secondary Dysmenorrhoea:

It usually develops after a phase of painless menstrual cycles and is seen at older age .
Pain is worst premenstrually and relieved during menses .
It is diffuse , dull ache in the pelvis often accompanied by backache .
Most common causes are Pelvic inflammatory disease ( PID ) , endometriosis , IUCD etc .

Management :

a) General Measures :

Counselling : Explaining young girls regarding the condition and reassurance should be an essential component in the treatment plan . Girls should be taught to have a proper outlook on menstruation and health in general .
Improvement in nutritional status and dietary changes .

b) Physical Activity : It can be in the form of yoga , walk , exercise , aerobics etc . The yogasanas which are helpful in dysmenorrhoea are pavanmuktasana , bhujangasana , paschimottanasana , katichakrasana , Pranayam etc .

c) Diet :

Do’s : whole grains – wheat , rice , oats , millets , quinoa ; fruits , green leafy vegetables , legumes , nuts , seeds – sesame , pumpkin , flax ; spices – ginger , garlic , cumin , turmeric , ajwain etc .
Dont’s : Cold , salty , sour , junk food , meats , processed food , soft drinks , alcohol.

d) Home Remedies :

Triphala powder 1 tsp with lukewarm water at night should be taken 4 – 5 days prior to menstruation .
Ajwain , jeera , sowa – taken in equal quantity and powdered . Take 1 tsp twice a day with lukewarm water .
20 ml decoction of black sesamum seeds with 500 mg dried ginger powder can be taken .
Aloe vera juice with turmeric powder is helpful .

e) Ayurveda :

Oral Medicines : Rajahpravartini vati , Dhanwantaram gulika , Triphala guggulu , Yograj guggulu , Dashmularishta , Manjishthadi kwath , Kumaryasava , Hingvashtaka churna etc can be taken under supervision .
Panchakarma : Basti or medicated enemas are very helpful in Dysmenorrhoea .

Dysmenorrhoea , though is a cause of distress but with awareness and proper management it can be relieved . And thus no more of those painful days .

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