Future Woman
Future Woman

Monsoon treatments for women


👤Dr. Sunitha.V Deputy physician Aryavaidyasala,Kottakkal 🕔29/7/2015
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Ayurveda is a health care system with a difference. What makes the difference is primarily its congruency with Mother Nature in the concept of health, disease, treatment and allied domains. Ayurveda strongly believes that the changes occurring in the environment in terms of geography, climate, culture etc reflect on the bio- physio- psycho make ups of human and other fellow beings.

It could be observed that all earthly beings develop adaptive capabilities to get tuned to the changing environment so as to overcome the adversities successfully. In the case of human beings, the adaptive skills are far advanced due to the sequential events of evolution. Additionally, medical knowledge acquired and progressively updated helped human beings to improve the adaptive skill resorting to appropriate measures. Being a centuries old medical practice, ayurvedic contribution in this regard is a time tested one. 

Health care of women has received due attention by proponents of Ayurveda since very beginning because of its Indian philosophical and cultural moorings. Specially designed protocols for post natal care and menstruating women are well known examples. The very same principles are to be applied in the acclimatization schedule also when it comes to women health care during monsoon.

Owing to certain intrinsic and extrinsic factors, bio enzymatic complex (Jaivagni) weakens during monsoon .As a result; the natural defense mechanism of the body to prevent diseases becomes rather low. In other words, the immunity declines. Systems prone to get afflicted with these seasonal changes are gastrointestinal, respiratory, musculo-skeletal and neurological.

The contaminated food and low digestive fire leads to vomiting, diarrhea, dysentery, abdominal colic etc. Exposure to humid atmosphere coupled with decreased resistance power cause frequent cold, fever, headache, sinusitis, bronchitis etc. Similarly, joints pain, heaviness of limbs, generalized or partial numbness, stiffness of back and muscle cramps develop during rainy season. Senior citizen is found prone to develop the aforesaid musculo skeletal and neurological diseases.

The cloudy sky with diminished sunlight and cold waves induce a kind of unexplained depression in women.

Treatments

Naturally, one has to resort to the disease specific treatment under medical advice. At the same time, one can modify the lifestyle so as to improve the inherent immunity and also to maintain the digestive power undisturbed. Keeping this in view, Ayurvedic physicians have developed a unique system of treatment to overcome the vagaries of weather.

It starts with some homemade medicaments such as mukkudi. Puliyarila( Oxalis corniculata) , Kurunthitty veru (Sida cordifolia roots)  ) , Cheruvazhutina veru ( Solanam melongena), dried ginger, pepper and cumin seeds taken in parts of 12 grams each, may be ground well to make a thick paste form. This may be dissolved in one glass of buttermilk and boiled well. Two grams of turmeric powder and common salt may be added to it. It is recommended to be taken during monsoon early in the morning on empty stomach. Similar preparation using cumin seeds, Ayamodakam( Trachispermium roxburghianum), pepper, puliyarila(,Oxalis corniculata)  kutakappala( Holarrhena antidysentrica)  can be also be used. It is supposed to cleanse the intestine, removing the foreign bodies likely to be lodged therein. The medicament also helps to produce good quality digestive enzymes.

Medicated gruel  (marunnu kanhi)  is another preparation recommended to be taken as diet. They are locally known as uzhinja kanhi (Cardiospermum halicacabum),navadhanyakanhi (Navadhanya are rice, black gram, horse gram, black channa, green gram, fenugreek, millet, mustard and wheat ), dasapushpakanhi, (Dasapushpa are Mukkutti- Biophytum sensitivum, Poovamkurunnila – Vernonia cinerea, Muyal cheviyan- Emilia sonchifolia, Karuka- Cynodon dactylon, Nilappana- Curculigo orchioides, Kaiyonni- Eclipta prostrata, Vishnukranti- Evolvulus alsinoides, Cherula- Aerva lanata, Tirutali- Ipomoea sepiaria, Uzhinha- Cardiospermum halicacabum.)  , pathilakanhi( Pathila are leaves of chembu (Colocasia esculenta) , payaru( Vigna unguiculata) , chena ( Amorphophalus campanulatus) , kumbalam (Benincasa hispida) , mathan ( Cucurbita maxima), tazhutama (Boerhavia diffusa) , thaal (colacasia stem) , takara( cassia tora), kodithuva( Tragia involucrata),  cheera( Amaranthus gangeticus) etc. Obviously, it is named after the ingredients used. Prepare kanhi using unpolished rice, navarayari(Oryza sativa variety of rice ) or fenugreek , either singularly or combined. When the kanhi is well cooked, add equal quantity of fresh juice of the herbs to it. Boil it well again and add coconut milk equal to the herbal juice added. Flavor the kanhi by adding appropriate quantities of powdered cumin seeds, ghee and salt. Similarly, nonvegetarian soups also can be prepared. Special recipe containing rice bran, jaggery, coconut, cumin seeds, dried ginger and cardamom is also recommended diet, which is popularly known as tavidappam. It is to be remembered that rice bran contains vitamin B complex in its natural form.

Those who have practical difficulties in preparing the aforesaid recipes may take ayurvedic preparations such as Ashtachoornam or Vaiswanarachoornam mixed with boiled buttermilk. Similarly, Chyavanaprasham, Brahmarasayanam, Ajaswagandhadi leham can be used taking advice from an experienced physician.

Oil bath is customary in Kerala, which helps to improve immune system and also to prevent diseases especially of neurological and musculo- skeletal origin. Dhanwantaram kuzhampu and Prabhanjanavimardanam kuzhampu are specially recommended for this purpose. Guided by their experience, Ayurvedic physicians of Kerala have designed certain specialized therapies such as Pizhichil, Sirodhara and Navarakizhi which have obtained wide acceptance now as rejuvenative therapies

Good personal hygiene and clean surroundings are also of importance. Take care to stay dry and warm clothing may be worn. Wetness can lead to fungal or bacterial infections resulting in itching and skin rashes. Utmost care should be taken to be clean during menstrual cycles too. Sanitary napkins should be changed within six hours to prevent infection related complications. Fumigating house and surroundings using herbs such as gulgulu (Commiphora mukul), akil ( Aquilaria agallocha) , vayambu (Acorus calamus), turmeric, frankincense would be ideal.

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