Changes

All the Ayurveda samhitas (treatises) have discussed about Rajaswala paricharya (रजस्वला परिचर्या) 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 (रजस्वला परिचर्या) 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 shouldn't 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 help her balance her emotions that might have got affected due to hormonal changes during menstruation. She shouldn't cry.

* '''Lifestyle''':  

* '''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)]] morning routines like anjana (अञ्जनम्), [[Abhyanga (अभ्यङ्गम् )|abhyanga (अभ्यङ्गम्)]], [[Nasya (नस्यम्)|nasyam (नस्यम्)]], snanam (स्नानम्) 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.

** 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)]] morning routines like anjana (अञ्जनम्), [[Abhyanga (अभ्यङ्गम् )|abhyanga (अभ्यङ्गम्)]], [[Nasya (नस्यम्)|nasyam (नस्यम्)]], snanam (स्नानम्) 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.

** 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.

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

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

* '''Sleep and mattress''': दर्भसंस्तरशायिनी - It is advisable that she rests and sleeps on a mat made up from darbha (दर्भः | 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 (गुणाः)]] and [[Therapeutic activity in Ayurveda (आयुर्वेदे कर्म)|karmas]] (कर्माणि | 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.

* '''Sleep and mattress''': दर्भसंस्तरशायिनी - It is advisable that she rests and sleeps on a mat made up from darbha (दर्भः | Desmotachya bipinnata) grass which is believed to be a detoxifying and sacred grass traditionally. 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 (गुणाः)]] and [[Therapeutic activity in Ayurveda (आयुर्वेदे कर्म)|karmas]] (कर्माणि | 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.  

* '''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  (हविष्यम् | 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.

** क्षैरेयं यावकं स्तोकं कोष्ठशोधनकर्षणम् - Eat  Havishya  (हविष्यम् | 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.