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The Cyclic Ordeal
Keep the Things Moving
By
- Dr. Prashant Sawant, M.D (Ayu.)
Article
Published in “The Times Of India” on Saturday, November 15, 2003
For
nineteen-year-old Anita, staying home, turning restlessly in her bed,
waiting impatiently to tide over the three-days-long ordeal, was a
regular feature that she had to endure every month. Ever since she had
her first menses, at the age of thirteen years, she had severe, sharp
and colicky pain in her lower abdomen, during first three days of her
menstrual cycle. Her family physician had prescribed an antispasmodic
capsule, which she took regularly to control the agonising pain during
this period.
What is Dysmenorrhoea?
Painful
menstruation or menstrual cramps, which is a symptom rather than a
disease, is termed as dysmenorrhoea. Almost all women experience some
degree of pelvic discomfort during and at the onset of menstrual flow.
Very few are fortunate enough not to suffer or have major
inconvenience. It sometimes forces some women to confine to bed while
others are able to bare it without disturbing their daily routine.
Most of young girls were found either absent periodically from school
/ college or forced to rest during work because of menstrual pain.
Dysmenorrhoea
is termed ‘primary’ in absence of any pathological condition in
the pelvic organs and is termed ‘secondary’ when it is the result
of some pelvic lesion such as chronic pelvic inflammatory disease,
uterine fibroids, endometriosis, etc.
The
precise cause of primary dysmenorrhoea is not known. Normal uterine
contractions become stronger just before and during menstruation and
in primary dysmenorrhoea, they are found markedly exaggerated.
Incomplete development of the uterus is probably an important
contributory factor of painful menstruation.
In
this condition, the character of pain is usually distinctive. It is
intermittent, sharp, colicky and usually limited to the lower abdomen,
very often pain radiates to the back and the thighs. Nausea, vomiting
and fainting often accompany the attack. The pain usually begins
either with the appearance of the flow or a few hours before reaching
it’s maximum intensity. In some women, the pain is altogether
premenstrual and subsides with the appearance of the flow.
The
Treatment:
According
to ayurved, imbalance or vitiation of vata dosha is responsible
for all types of pain. Further, the menstrual cycle is regulated by
the apana vayu, a sub type of vata dosha. Vitiation of
this apana vayu leads to various menstrual disorders including
painful menstruation. Irregularities of the diet and the conduct are
the major reasons for such vitiation.
Basti
(one of the panchakarma procedures),
in which medicated oils and decoction are administered as enema, is
regarded as the best procedure to treat diseases caused by vata
dosha. Anita, therefore, was recommended a course of eight enemas
on consecutive days, beginning from the fifteenth day from her last
menses. She was also advised Rajapravartani vati, in a
two-is-two-dosage and four teaspoons of Dashamoolarishta,
diluted with water, to be taken twice a day before meals.
During
the menstrual period following the first course of basti, Anita
had a negligible pain, which she could tolerate without the
painkiller. As a prophylaxis, Anita was advised to continue with the
same medicines for six months. She was also advised to repeat the
course of basti every month for three consecutive months.
Useful
Tips:
Have
a well balanced diet, take sufficient physical and mental rest, and
exercise regularly.
Hot
fomentation relieves spasmodic pain. A warm bath or heating pad on
your belly or below your back can relax muscular spasm.
Fomentation
with decoction of Dashamoola
and a gentle local massage with Mahanarayan
taila or Dashamoola taila, relieves
pain.
Some
yogasana, like Bhadrasana, Bhujangasana and Shalabhasana,
if practiced regularly, provide exceptional pain relief for menstrual
cramps by improving blood circulation.
Have
¼ tsp. each of cumin seeds and ajovayan seeds with a pinch of saindhava
salt, before meals with lukewarm water.
Have
a decoction prepared by boiling about 10 gm. of crushed fresh ginger
in a cup of water for 2-3 minutes.
Boil
10 gm. each of musta and erandamoola
in a glass of water till the quantity of water reduces to about quarter
of a glass, add a pinch each of hinga
and sauvarchala salt
and have before meals.
Some
generic medicines useful in dysmenorrhoea are Dashmool kwatha, Hingwashtak
choorna, Gandharva Haritaki choorna, Rajapravartanivati, Ashokarishta,
Kumari assva, etc. These should be taken under medical
supervision.
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Keep
the Things Moving
By
- Dr. Prashant Sawant, M.D (Ayu.)
Article
Published in “The Times Of India” on Saturday, November 22, 2003
Constipation is one
of those things that no one likes to talk about. It's personal and,
well, a little embarrassing. While
talking about constipation, we must realize that
"regularity" is a relative term. Everyone has his or her own
natural rhythm. Normal bowel habits can span anywhere from three bowel
movements a day to three a week! Constipation is passage of small
amounts of hard, dry stool, usually fewer than three times a week.
People who are constipated may find it difficult and painful to have a
bowel movement. Other symptoms of constipation include feeling
bloated, uncomfortable, and sluggish.
At one time or another, almost
everyone gets constipated. Poor diet and lack of exercise are usually
the causes. In most cases, constipation is temporary and not serious.
To understand constipation, it helps
to know how the colon (large intestine) works. As food moves through
the colon, it absorbs water while forming stool. Muscle contractions
in the colon push the stool forward. By the time stool reaches the
rectum, it is solid because most of the water has been absorbed.
The stools in constipation become hard
and dry when the colon absorbs too much water or if the colon's muscle
contractions are too sluggish, causing the stool to move through the
colon too slowly. Common causes of constipation are.
- Ignoring
the urge to have a bowel movement
- Too
little fiber in the diet
- Inadequate
liquids
- Sedentary
lifestyle
- Irritable
bowel syndrome
- Abuse
of laxatives
- Diseases
of the colon and rectum
- Problems
with intestinal function
- Medications
like calcium-channel blockers taken for high blood pressure,
beta-blockers, some antidepressants, narcotics and other pain
medications, certain decongestants, antacids, etc.
According
to ayurved, the bowel movements are regulated by apana vata,
one of the five sub-types of vata dosha (body humors). Passage
of food and its speed of travel through the intestines, absorption of
water and excretion of the stool are controlled by this apana vata.
The vitiation of the apana vata therefore, causes constipation.
Over
eating of food stuff having pungent, bitter and astringent taste, over
eating or eating very less, eating too cold or too dry food, over
exercise, over exertion, excessive traveling, inadequate sleep, severe
weakness, anxiety, fear, grief, etc. are the major reasons of
vitiation of vata dosha.
Obviously,
avoiding all such ahara (eating habits) and vihara
(conduct) that vitiates the vata dosha, is the key to
successful and permanent management of constipation. For chronic
severe constipation, a course of basti (therapeutic enema), one
of the panchakarma procedures that is especially useful in diseases
caused by vitiation of vata dosha, provides excellent cure.
Do’s and
Don’ts
- Get
up before sunrise, irrespective of the time you went to bed the
earlier night. This period of the day, with respect to the
physiology, is dominated by vata dosha, which helps in
swift evacuation of the bowel.
- Do
not rush; allow yourself enough time to have a bowel movement.
- Exercise
regularly; it helps your digestive system stay active and healthy.
- Avoid
sleeping immediately after meals.
- Eat
warm, fresh and unctuous food in proper quantity. Eat in pleasant
place. Do not eat too fast or too slow.
·
Drink
plenty of water and other liquids such as fruit and vegetable juices
and clear soups.
- Have
adequate roughage in the diet. Oatmeal, rice, wheat germ, corn
bran, figs, etc. are good sources of fiber.
- Eat
sufficient vegetables like cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, spinach,
french beans, etc.
- Eat
fruits like apple, muskmelon, watermelon, papaya, mango, peaches,
raspberries, etc.
- Avoid
milk products like cheese, paneer, etc. It contains casein, an
insoluble protein that tends to plug up the intestinal tract.
- Avoid
beverages like coffee, tea and alcohol in large quantities.
Useful tips:
- Have
a glass of warm water, regularly before meals.
- Have
a teaspoonful of triphala powder with warm water before
meals
- Have
buttermilk regularly, it helps easy movement of bowels, cleanses
the channels and relieves constipation.
- Have
10 -12 raisins, soaked in warm water, before meals.
- Have
5-10 ml of castor oil before dinner.
- Generic
medicines like gandharva haritaki, swadishta virechana,
panchasakar churna, avipattikar churna, draksharishta,
abhayarishta, etc. are safe gentle laxatives, which can be
taken under medical supervision.
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