Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is becoming an increasingly common disorder faced by women of a reproductive age.
Simply explained, it is a condition caused by hormonal imbalance and is characterised by weight gain, irregular menstruation, hair growth on face and body, mood swings (anxiety/depression) and sleep disorders. PCOS can also lead to long term health problems like diabetes, heart diseases and infertility.
Ayurveda believes that all three doshas (vata, pitta, kapha) play an important and distinctive role in the production, development, maturation and release of ovum and therefore the ovarian cycle and menstrual cycle is based on their balance.
PCOS is described in the Ayurvedic texts as the involvement of the dosha, dhatus and upadhatu, it does not correlate the condition of any particular disease but the symptoms resemble the features of conditions like Vandya, Arajaska, Nashtartava, Artavakshaya , Puspaghni and Jataharini to some extent.
It occurs when vata and pitta are blocked by kapha, thereby obstructing the release of the mature ovum and menstrual blood by this sticky kapha and supressing the transformation process. The hormonal imbalance is result of the hormonal disharmony caused by Kapha and Pitta.
When pitta is blocked, the hormones that carry the energy of transformation are unable to function. The energy transformation is the function of pitta which helps the shift from the menstrual cycle to the ovarian cycle, as governed by the hormones. The accumulated kapha is thus expressed in the form of cysts in the ovary.
Obesity is the vitiation of kapha that causes a prolongation in the ritukala of the rituchakra. This is in turn impedes the effect of pitta, thus hampering maturation and rupturing of the follicles. This results in Artavakshaya and it can hence be stated that Kapha dosha manifests as increased weight, infertility, hirsutism, diabetic tendency. Pitta dosha manifests as hair loss, acne, painful menses, and Vata dosha manifests with painful menses, scanty and irregular menses.
Treatment modalities such as clearing the obstruction in the pelvis, treating Agnimandya at Jatharagni and the dhatwagni level and regularising the apana vayu and kapha medo hara chikitsa will help to the relieve symptoms of PCOS.
At Naad, we include therapies like Udhwartana, Shiropichu, Basti, Virechana and more to help with PCOS Management. These help in maintaining the hormonal balance and also help in managing insulin resistance.
Yoga asanas like Badhakonasana, naukasana and bhujangasana are also effective in reversing PCOS and must be included in the fitness regime of those suffering from it.
If you are suffering from this disorder and have any questions on how to manage it, please feel free to write to me on wellness.consultant@naadwellness.com