Reprinted from:
http://www.thehealingalternative.com/article1207.html
by Shubhra Krishan
Shubhra Krishan, health journalist, interviews Nancy Lonsdorf M.D. about the ayurvedic perspective on that crucial phase in every woman's life: menopause.
Q: Here in the West, menopause is treated as something of a medical crisis,whereas in the non-Western world, it is quite a non-event. Why?
A: Did you know that in Japan, they don't even have a word for "hot flashes"! China and India also don't report major menopause problems. In these countries, menopause is looked upon as a time of greater freedom liberation from the restrictions of youth. The essential difference appears to be in the way these cultures perceive menopause.
Here in the West, we tend to stress over menopause because of complex social and psychological factors. The thing to remember, regardless of culture, is that menopause is a unique experience for every woman. It is a pivotal event of your life, and it can be totally smooth if you step forward with grace and embrace it!
Of course it is a time of big change: your hormones are in upheaval and your whole system is volatile. You are moody and often depressed. But again, it helps to prepare for menopause as you did for your transition from school to college. In my experience, women who make an effort to regulate their lifestyle before they step into menopause have a much easier time of it.
My advice to every woman is: don't burn yourself out. If you can start working towards a healthy routine five years before menopause, that's great. But if you start five months before, even that will help. So the bottom line is: start now.
Q: How does Ayurveda look at menopause?
A: Ayurveda believes that throughout your life, one of your doshas dominates your physiology. In the first trimester, it is Kapha, in the second it is Pitta and in the last trimester, Vata takes over. Menopause is the period of transition from Pitta to Vata. That is why, the symptoms of menopause -- dryness of skin and mucous membranes, some thinning of hair and bones, an increased tendency to worry -- are the classic signs of increased Vata. Ayurveda does not say these conditions are inevitable. It believes they can be largely avoided if you take steps to keep your Vata calm and balanced.
Q: What can a woman do to maintain this balance?
A: Ideally, about five years before menopause, a woman should review her diet and lifestyle, and make necessary changes. Menopause does not happen one fine day. It's a very gradual process, as part of which the ovaries stop producing estrogen. It helps to realize that your estrogen and progesterone production starts decreasing as early as in your thirties. If your diet is rich in natural estrogen, you will compensate for that loss. Diet, I would say, is a key factor.
Q: What kind of diet is rich in natural estrogen?
A: Soy is an ace. Japanese women breeze through their menopause because they eat soy-rich foods. Soy is an established plant-based source of estrogen.
This is not to say that soy is the only solution. All foods rich in natural estrogen will ease you through your menopause years. For instance, Vaidya Rama Kant Mishra tells me that village women in India eat a lot of whole grains and lignin-rich foods like flaxseeds, amaranth, millets and barley. Their food is generously spiked with turmeric, fennel and licorice. For these women, menopause is not even an issue.
So I would advise you to include more whole grains and legumes in your diet. Use beneficial spices like cumin and turmeric in your cooking. You get a double bonus: great taste and great health. Avoid hot and too-spicy foods, though. Ayurveda cautions you not to consume alcohol and sour foods like ketchup at this time. And of course, at all times in your life, stay away from milled, refined foods and heavy meat.
Q: What other steps can you take to manage menopause?
A: Ayurveda insists on the value of good sleep for general health. Especially women at the threshold of menopause must be able to sleep well. Popping pills is certainly not the answer. A good sleep-wake routine and a balanced diet are what you want to establish.
You will be surprised to know just how big a difference little lifestyle changes can make. Let me give you an example. I recently treated a 48-year old woman from Chicago. She was experiencing the typical symptoms of menopause: irregular periods, hot flashes, disturbed sleep, constipation, anxiety. All these are signs of an aggravated Vata.
She said she was quite health-conscious, eating mostly cold salads, not eating much during the day and sleeping at 11.30 p.m. I suggested some simple changes in her diet: asking her to eat lightly cooked vegetables and whole grains. I advised her to have a good lunch and a light dinner. I also found she was exercising way more than she should have been doing, so I reduced that. I asked her to start going to bed a little earlier than usual, so that her bedtime would be 10 p.m. This combination of better routine and improved diet obviously made a huge difference to her health. Her Vata was calmed within a month.
Q: Wonderful. Thank you for sharing with us the Maharishi Ayurveda approach to menopause.
A: It was a pleasure.
Note: This information is educational, and is not intended to replace standard medical care or advice.
Nancy Lonsdorf received her M.D. from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. A psychiatry postgraduate from Stanford, Dr. Lonsdorf combines an in-depth knowledge of modern medicine with the deepest understanding of alternative healing. Dr. Lonsdorf is co-author of the book A Woman's Best Medicine, published by Tarcher/Putnam in 1993. Her new book, A Woman's Best Medicine for Menopause, being published by McGraw-Hill, is expected to be released in June 2002.
About the Author: Shubhra Krishan is a health journalist who writes frequently about Ayurveda. For more information on the ayurvedic approach to menopause, please visit http://www.gracefultransition.com.
To contact, Shubhra, mailto es.kay@usa.net
Reprinted from:
http://www.thehealingalternative.com/article1207.html