Poly Cystic Ovarian Disease (PCOD)

PCOD

Common endocrine disorder

Affects 5-10% of female in reproductive age

Most common cause for female infertility

Also known as Chocolate cyst

Symptoms

Irregular / delayed cycle

Weight gain / difficult to lose weight

Acne / Oily skin / Dandruff

Excess Hair growth over face / chest / back etc

Thinning of scalp hair

Infertility / Miscarriage

High BP / Cholesterol / Diabetes

Investigations

Pelvic Ultrasound Honeycomb of partially developed follicles (eggs) coating the ovaries

FSH & LH a ratio of around 4 and above

Hypothalamus & Pituitary axis

Management

Weight loss

Lowering of insulin levels

Restoration of fertility

Treatment of hirsutism or acne

Restoration of regular

menstruation

The Ayurveda view of menstrual cycle

Average menses are considered to be 4-5 days, moderate flow, moderate colour, no clots, no discomfort.

Kapha phase: End of bleeding until ovulation is a time of building the endometrium and increasing kapha. (Oestrogen is increasing)

Pitta phase: Ovulation until bleeding. (Progesterone is high and is secreted by the corpus luteum - prepares endometrium for implantation and breasts for milk secretion)

Vata phase: Apana vayu (the downward descending wind) pushes the menstrum down and out, therefore emptying the contents of the womb.

If there is any disturbance in these phases then they need to be balanced

Female Fertility

The main problem with the female menstrual cycle is that the downward descending energy (apana vayu) is blocked

This causes all sorts of fluctuations from pain, bloating, dryness, anxiety, insomnia, scanty periods, irregular cycle, clots and infertility

The strategy is to first clear any obstructions and then to tonify with nourishing boosting herbs.

Tips to balance menstrual cycle

Balance vata during the vata bleeding phase by relaxing, resting, staying warm and calm. Especially keep your abdomen warm and avoid the cold

Balance kapha during the proliferative phase by eating nourishing soups that strengthen the blood and enhance ovulation- include beetroots, aloe vera, shatavari, nettles and whole grains in your diet

Balance pitta during the last phase of the cycle by keeping off foods that might aggravate heat and stress in your body, i.e. coffee, chocolate, alcohol

Increase your yoga practice, have lots of warm baths and clockwise abdominal massage and add Ashoka Triphala and Aloe vera in your regime to keep the pelvic region uncongested.

Psychological Factor

Excessive mental, emotional and physical stress can worsen the symptoms of many chronic disorders, including infertility

This is due to hormonal changes and other biochemical responses to stress that can imbalance the nervous system

Trying to get pregnant can be very stressful

What is important is that getting pregnant can be facilitated by optimising good health

Just Relax!

It is easy to say it but basically just try to relax and let nature work her course.

Also remember that when we are tense then our channels and vessels are constricted

If this happens with uterus then the fallopian tubes, the blood vessels nourishing the uterus can also be constricted, which is the opposite of what is needed to conceive

Treatment

Rajapravartini vati

Ovaryn

Hyponidd

Sukumara kashaya

Senovila

Saptasara kashaya

Pushpadhanwa rasa

TreatmentIn case of excess Menstrual bleeding

Gynovedan

Pradarantak ras

Bolabaddha rasa

Raktastambhak