Changes

All the Ayurveda samhitas (treatises) have discussed about Rajaswala paricharya and suggested following regimen for a menstruating woman.<ref>Ashtanga Hrudayam (Sharirasthanam Adhyaya 1 Sutra 24-26)</ref><ref>Astanga Samraha (Sharirasthanam Adhyaya 1 Sutra 44-45)</ref><ref name=":0" />

All the Ayurveda samhitas (treatises) have discussed about Rajaswala paricharya and suggested following regimen for a menstruating woman.<ref>Ashtanga Hrudayam (Sharirasthanam Adhyaya 1 Sutra 24-26)</ref><ref>Astanga Samraha (Sharirasthanam Adhyaya 1 Sutra 44-45)</ref><ref name=":0" />

* Thoughts and emotions: कल्याणध्यायिनी - The first important thing listed in the paricharya is about the thoughts and emotions of the rajaswala. It is advised that she should focus her attention on virtuous, generous and noble thoughts. It will naturally helps her balance her emotions that might have got affected due to hormonal changes during menstruation. She shouldnt cry.  

* '''Thoughts and emotions''': कल्याणध्यायिनी - The first important thing listed in the paricharya is about the thoughts and emotions of the rajaswala. It is advised that she should focus her attention on virtuous, generous and noble thoughts. It will naturally helps her balance her emotions that might have got affected due to hormonal changes during menstruation. She shouldnt cry.

* Lifestyle: मृजालङ्काररहिता - Apart form basic cleaning and menstrual hygiene, she should abstain from other cleaning procedures she other wise performs in a day. This includes most of the activities under [[Dinacharya (दिनचर्या)|dinacharya]] morning routines like anjana, [[Abhyanga (अभ्यङ्गम् )|abhyanga]], [[Nasya (नस्यम्)|nasyam]], snanam etc. Also she refrain from wearing ornaments or taking efforts to beautify herself. Skipping these activities does not damage her image but instead save her efforts, gives her resting time and facilitate easy menstruation.  

* '''Lifestyle''':  

** Exertion, running should be avoided. Rest is advised.  

** मृजालङ्काररहिता - Apart form basic cleaning and menstrual hygiene, she should abstain from other cleaning procedures she other wise performs in a day. This includes most of the activities under [[Dinacharya (दिनचर्या)|dinacharya]] morning routines like anjana, [[Abhyanga (अभ्यङ्गम् )|abhyanga]], [[Nasya (नस्यम्)|nasyam]], snanam etc. Also she refrain from wearing ornaments or taking efforts to beautify herself. Skipping these activities does not damage her image but instead save her efforts, gives her resting time and facilitate easy menstruation.

** She should not cry or even laugh excessively. She should refrain from talking excessively or listening to anything for a long time. These activities can exhaust a female who is already feeling weak during menstruaiton.  

** Exertion, running should be avoided. Rest is advised.

* Sleep and mattress: दर्भसंस्तरशायिनी - It is advisable that she rests and sleeps on a mat made up from darbha (Desmotachya bipinnata) grass which is believed to be a detoxifying and sacred grass traditionally. However, Ayurveda scholars have specifically identified this grass since it is cooling in nature and has all the necessary [[Gunas : An Ayurvedic perspective (आयुर्वेदे गुणाः)|gunas]] and [[Therapeutic activity in Ayurveda (आयुर्वेदे कर्म)|karmas]] (medicinal properties) to treat menorrhagia (excessive bleeding during menstruation), urinary tract infections and also pain in abdomen<ref>Bhavaprakasha Samhita ([https://niimh.nic.in/ebooks/e-Nighantu/bhavaprakashanighantu/?mod=read&h=darbh Purvakhanada Prathama bhaga Mishra prakaranam Kusha])</ref> which can be present in a menstruating woman. She is also advised to avoid day time sleeping.  

** She should not cry or even laugh excessively. She should refrain from talking excessively or listening to anything for a long time. These activities can exhaust a female who is already feeling weak during menstruaiton.

* Diet: There are certain rules described related to the diet of a rajaswala. These are designed on the basis that during menstruation naturally the appetite of a woman decreases, her [[Agni in Ayurveda (आयुर्वेदे अग्निः)|agni]] is weak, [[Doshas (दोषाः)|vata dosha]] is aggravated in her body and also that excess pitta (heat energy) levels can possibly aggravate her blood loss. Therefore rajaswala should follow a certain diet as described below.  

** ऋतौ प्रथमदिवसात् प्रभृति ब्रह्मचारिणी - It suggests that a menstruating woman should ideally practice sexual abstinence during 3 days of menstruation.

** क्षैरेयं यावकं स्तोकं कोष्ठशोधनकर्षणम् - Eat  Havishya  (meal  made  from  Sali rice, ghee and milk) The food that is made up from Yawaka  or meal made  of  barley  and  milk should be taken.  She should eat in lesser amount that usual and the diet should be such that it facilitates easy evacuation of bowels. This suggests she should avoid food that is constipating in nature and heavy to digest. She should make sure that the entire process of digestion and excretion is easy and smooth during this period.

* '''Sleep and mattress''': दर्भसंस्तरशायिनी - It is advisable that she rests and sleeps on a mat made up from darbha (Desmotachya bipinnata) grass which is believed to be a detoxifying and sacred grass traditionally. However, Ayurveda scholars have specifically identified this grass since it is cooling in nature and has all the necessary [[Gunas : An Ayurvedic perspective (आयुर्वेदे गुणाः)|gunas]] and [[Therapeutic activity in Ayurveda (आयुर्वेदे कर्म)|karmas]] (medicinal properties) to treat menorrhagia (excessive bleeding during menstruation), urinary tract infections and also pain in abdomen<ref>Bhavaprakasha Samhita ([https://niimh.nic.in/ebooks/e-Nighantu/bhavaprakashanighantu/?mod=read&h=darbh Purvakhanada Prathama bhaga Mishra prakaranam Kusha])</ref> which can be present in a menstruating woman. She is also advised to avoid day time sleeping.

* '''Diet''': There are certain rules described related to the diet of a rajaswala. These are designed on the basis that during menstruation naturally the appetite of a woman decreases, her [[Agni in Ayurveda (आयुर्वेदे अग्निः)|agni]] is weak, [[Doshas (दोषाः)|vata dosha]] is aggravated in her body and also that excess pitta (heat energy) levels can possibly aggravate her blood loss. Therefore rajaswala should follow a certain diet as described below.  

** क्षैरेयं यावकं स्तोकं कोष्ठशोधनकर्षणम् - Eat  Havishya  (meal  made  from  Sali rice, ghee and milk) The food that is made up from Yawaka  or meal made  of  barley  and  milk should be taken.  She should eat in lesser amount that usual and the diet should be such that it facilitates easy evacuation of bowels. This suggests she should avoid food that is constipating in nature and heavy to digest. She should make sure that the entire process of digestion and excretion is easy and smooth during this period.

** पर्णे शरावे हस्ते वा भुञ्जीत ब्रह्मचारिणी - She should eat in food plate made up of leaves, clay pot or food in her hands. This is possibly to ensure that the food that she consumes is lesser in quantity or in quantity which such vessel can accommodate.

** पर्णे शरावे हस्ते वा भुञ्जीत ब्रह्मचारिणी - She should eat in food plate made up of leaves, clay pot or food in her hands. This is possibly to ensure that the food that she consumes is lesser in quantity or in quantity which such vessel can accommodate.

** तीक्ष्णोष्णाऽम्ललवणानि च वर्जयेत् - It is advised to avoid spicy, sour, salty food and food that is teekshna & ushna (hot) in [[Gunas : An Ayurvedic perspective (आयुर्वेदे गुणाः)|gunas]].  

** तीक्ष्णोष्णाऽम्ललवणानि च वर्जयेत् - It is advised to avoid spicy, sour, salty food and food that is teekshna & ushna (hot) in [[Gunas : An Ayurvedic perspective (आयुर्वेदे गुणाः)|gunas]].  

Apart from these, many cultural and traditional restrictions are prevalent in many societies in the form of menstrual taboos in which isolation, not to perform domestic work, religious activities, and sexual activities are major. However there is no clear mention about most of these restrictions in Ayurveda literature. The observance and non observance of menstrual restrictions and taboos are under debate since a decade. The issue of gender inequality and women empowerment is raised while discussing about the restrictions to be followed by female during menstruation. The 21st century woman considers these restrictions as burden and a path of obstruction towards her empowerment but the shastra behind following certain rules is not emphasized. One should understand the Ayurveda's perspective behind advocating paricharya and decide what is beneficial and not blindly follow all the campaigns.  

 

Reasoning: (TBE)Recognizing the changes infemale’s body during menstruation (Rajaswala),Ayurveda peers have described certain do’s and don’tsin the form of Rajaswala paricharya to maintain her balance of Doshas and help in proper menstrual func-tion. These modifications are in the form of eatinglight meal, observing celibacy, to eat directly orthrough leaf or clay vessel, avoiding pungent andspicy foods, not to sleep during daytime, not to per-form strenuous activities, avoiding use of scents in theform of anointments.1,2 Apart from these, many cul-tural and traditional restrictions are prevalent in manysocieties in the form of menstrual taboos in which iso-lation, not to perform domestic work, religious activi-ties, and sexual activities are major.The observance and non observance of menstrual re-strictions and taboos are under debate since a decade.The issue of gender inequality and women empower-ment is raised while discussing about the restrictionsto be followed by female during menstruation. The21st century woman considers these restrictions as burden and a path of obstruction towards her empow-erment but the science behind following certain rulesare not emphasized. One 3should understand the sci-ence behind this and not blindly follow all the cam- paigns. The role of Apana vayu, menotoxins andvolatile compound like pheromones should never beoverlooked.3 Menotoxin – a substance with certain pharmacological and chemical reactions is believed to be secreted in sweat, saliva, menstrual blood, milk andother secretions in menstruating women. The researchshows that chemically these menotoxins exhibited properties near to oxycholestrin which causes prolon-gation of blood coagulation. The properties of this substance menotoxin were considered identical to Ne-crosin in another work. Necrosin is a toxic substance(inflammatory exudates) that induces leucopenia. 4,5  Pheromones, volatile compounds released in sweat,known for sexual attraction are supposed to influencemenstrual cycle of other female in contact. The inter-val of menstrual cycle of recipient female is short-ened.6,7,8 This is known as menstrual synchronizationwhich is common in hostel inmates and female mem- bers of same family Many explanations have been offered for the apparent effects of exercise on menstrual cycles, including lossof body fat (resulting in estrogen deficit), overallweight loss, dietary factors (especially low percentageof calories from protein and less dietary cholesterolwhich is building block of estrogen) emotional stressand exercise triggered release of endorphin (naturalsedative akin to morphine).3  Non observance of certain rules and restrictions leadsto sickness related to reproductive health of female.The tremendous increase in the infertility and PCODare the results of diet and lifestyle changes which are harmful for reproductive function

=== Rtumati ===

=== Rtumati ===

RUTUCHAKRA The menstrual cycle in Ayurveda is defined as Rutuchakra. “The word “chakra” signifies its regular onset at regular intervals, just like a cycle. Rutu means a specific time period. A single Rutuchakra covers a period of one Chandramasa (28 days) and it has been divided into 3 phases, the Rajahsravakala, the Rutu kala and the Rutuvyatita kaala.21”.(Dr. Aayushma and Dr. Neeta Mahesekar, “Rutuchakra: An Ayurveidc Perspective on Menstrual Cycle”, AIIRI, https://www.aiirjournal.com/uploads/Articles/2018/02/2859_24.Dr%20Aayushma%20&%20Dr%20Neeta%20Mahesekar.pdf)

Rtumati or rutumati refers to a woman in that time period of her life which appears regularly, at intervals, in a menstrual cycle. It is the fertile period in a monthly cycle which comes after the menstruation stops. Rtuchakra in Ayurveda refers to the menstrual cycle. "Rtu" means a specific time period while "chakra" indicates regular onset at regular intervals. A single Rutuchakra covers a period of one Chandramasa (28 days) and it has been divided into 3 phases, the Rajahsravakala, the Rutu kala and the Rutuvyatita kaala.<ref>Dr. Aayushma and Dr. Neeta Mahesekar, “[https://www.aiirjournal.com/uploads/Articles/2018/02/2859_24.Dr%20Aayushma%20&%20Dr%20Neeta%20Mahesekar.pdf Rutuchakra: An Ayurvedic Perspective on Menstrual Cycle]”, AIIRI,</ref> Once the menstruation stops a woman is called as Rtumati for a period of next 12 days.<ref>Sushruta Samhita (Sharirasthanam Adhyaya 3 Sutra 6)</ref> This period is considered suitable for conception. Therefore the code of conduct that a woman is advised to follow during this period is believed to enhance the chances of healthy conception and promote successful fertilization. According to the vedic scriptures and culture the purpose behind the act of union of male and female is reproduction and not just pleasure. Therefore the rtumati paricharya was propounded to facilitate the process of reproduction.

==== Rtumati paricharya ====

==== Rtumati paricharya ====

Menstruaiton and PMS - The health of the female reproductive organs is essential for a woman’s healthy life. Any disturbance in the menstrual cycle lead to disturbances in her daily activities. Classical texts show a deep understanding of the menstrual cycle in relation to the doshas, thus giving women a profound natural and individualized way to treat various female health issues and avoid side effects of western medications. Although western medicine recommends lifestyle changes, like food, exercise and avoidance of stress these are not fully described nor treated individually. It has been shown that PMS is a complex syndrome which affects manny women today. Even though classical texts do not mention PMS specifically, all the descriptions related to yoni roga, are symptoms present in the description of PMS today. It has been shown that ancient practices are still gems which alleviate many symptoms and that can improve the quality of life of many women

Menstruaiton and PMS - The health of the female reproductive organs is essential for a woman’s healthy life. Any disturbance in the menstrual cycle lead to disturbances in her daily activities. Classical texts show a deep understanding of the menstrual cycle in relation to the doshas, thus giving women a profound natural and individualized way to treat various female health issues and avoid side effects of western medications. Although western medicine recommends lifestyle changes, like food, exercise and avoidance of stress these are not fully described nor treated individually. It has been shown that PMS is a complex syndrome which affects manny women today. Even though classical texts do not mention PMS specifically, all the descriptions related to yoni roga, are symptoms present in the description of PMS today. It has been shown that ancient practices are still gems which alleviate many symptoms and that can improve the quality of life of many women