AYURVEDIC APPROACH TO MENOPAUSE
Menopause marks the permanent cessation of menstruation resulting from irreversible changes in the hormonal and reproductive functions of the ovaries and is associated with large number of symptoms ranging from physical, psychological and genitourinary. In the present scenario menopausal health demands priority due to increase in life expectancy and growing population of menopausal women. Rajonivrittti as a diseased condition is not described separately in the classics; Rajonivritti-kala is mentioned by almost all Acharyas. Due to changing lifestyle, food habits and socio-economic standards the age is decreasing. By taking into consideration all the references available in Ayurveda classics, efforts have been made to review critically the said subject in the light of Menopausal Syndrome mentioned in modern Medicine as the fundamentals of Ayurveda in this paper.
Peri menopause means ‘around menopause’. During this period woman undergoes transition to menopause which is the end of her reproductive age. Near about age of 40 years, woman shows the signs of progression of menopause. Sometimes it starts at the age of 35 years also. The level of estrogen is sharply declining during peri menopause which causes many physical as well as psychological symptoms. Due to this there are irregularities of menstrual cycle. Sometimes she menstruate for a longer period. Along with variations in physical symptoms like hot flushes, anovulatory irregular menstrual cycle, sleep disturbances, vaginal dryness, night sweat, she suffers from mood swings irritability and even depression. Hence selection of drugs are important to treat these vague symptoms[i]. Despite the fact that menopause is a physiological process in women, it is transforming into a significant medical issue lately in all over world. Each lady faces fluctuated physiological and psychological, sexual changes during this "phase of life" coming about because of hormonal unsettling. Now and then such unsettling influences, achieve the phase of illness or condition called as"menopausal syndrome" which is joined by different vasomotor, mental, and genital, locomotors and GIT related manifestations and subsequently require treatment. As the life span of population is increasing due to developed medical facilities there is increased cases of reporting of this issue. Ayurvedic literatures has seen menopause as characteristic wonder in life of ladies as Rajonivrutti. Ladies having menopause are assigned as"Nishphala", "Gatartava" .