ayurveda and the menstrual cycle: how to holistically take care of yourself during your period
when i was growing up and learning about the menstrual cycle, everything i heard was negative. the blood, cramps, mood swings, insatiable hunger…
why do we have such a negative connotation around periods? i so rarely hear people speak about the sacred cycle of bleeding.
i’m not exempt from this! i used to haaaate getting my period, and i had very mild cramps for a vast majority of my life. the story about it being disgusting and taboo was burned into my brain. it wasn’t until i started learning about the divine feminine that i started to embrace my time of the month and everything that came with it.
i think the period of bleeding is almost ritualistic now. when my period starts, i know i’ll have three days of feeling low energy, cramps and general fatigue. along with it, i also feel more intuitive, grounded, and creative.
i collected the information in this holistic guide from ayurveda, the moon cycles, medical science and my own personal experience. my hope here is that you understand your menstrual cycle from multiple perspectives and find what makes you feel your best.
i have tried to make this post as inclusive as possible to people with periods, but if there is any terminology that needs to change please let me know in the comments!
i am not a doctor, and this is not medical advice. always ask a doctor (medical, ayurvedic or naturopathic) before starting any new health endeavors.
the four stages of the menstrual cycle, in medical science
let’s take it back to high school biology class, shall we? most of us have probably dumped this information after graduation, so let’s remind ourselves what the four phases of the menstrual cycle are.
menstrual. this is the bleeding period. it’s what we refer to when we say “i’m on my period”. since you are not pregnant, the lining that your body has built up on the uterus sheds out through the vagina.
follicular. this stage starts the first day of your period, while you’re still in the menstrual phase. the pituitary gland releases follicle stimulating hormone, which causes the ovaries to produce eggs. this process produces estrogen, which causes the uterus to begin forming a lining to nourish the egg if you get pregnant.
ovulation. the estrogen increase in the follicular phase causes the pituitary gland to create luteinizing hormone, which starts the process of ovulation. a mature egg is released from the ovary, travels through the fallopian tube and into the uterus where it my be fertilized by an egg (or thwarted by your IUD, lol).
luteal. fun fact! the egg produces estrogen and progesterone as it travels into the the uterus, which keeps the uterine lining thick. if you don’t get pregnant, the egg is absorbed into the wall of the uterus. the fall of progesterone and estrogen causes the uterine lining to shed, which begins the menstrual phase.
the ayurvedic menstrual cycle
just as contemporary medical science has split the menstrual cycle into stages, so has ayurveda. each section of the cycle is dominated by the specific dosha.
new to ayurveda? check out my ayurveda for beginners post, then move on to all my ayurveda posts!
kapha is prominent in the time directly after bleeding to ovulation. this part is about nourishing and growing the uterine lining.
pitta dominant is the time after ovulation until bleeding begins. this is when many people experience pms symptoms.
finally, vata dominates the bleeding stage of menstruation. pain, cramps, anxiety and wonky digestion are common in this stage.
…and then the cycle repeats, every month until around 50 years old unless you are pregnant or have another underlying issue. ayurveda says that the menstrual cycle should be 28 days long, with 3-6 days of bleeding. any deviation from this could be the result of unbalanced doshas.
the menstrual cycle and the moon
you know what else is a 28 day cycle? the lunar cycle! the science is a bit controversial on whether human’s menstrual cycles synchronize with the moon. i’d suggest reading this very interesting article on how artificial nocturnal light has changed our menstrual cycles.
for me, my bleeding always begins on the new moon, or a day before or after. it’s been that way for a few years, and if it strays too far is self corrects back after a month.
this obviously isn’t true for everyone, but try tracking your bleeds and see if there’s a celestial correlation!
ayurvedic tips for an easier period
live the ayurvedic sattvic lifestyle. nothing is more powerful than whole lifestyle balance. the easiest way to get rid of pain, pms and other symptoms is to eat healthfully, exercise, and balance the doshas.
drink stinging nettle tea. this tip comes to you from the kripalu center for yoga and health, who i love to learn ayurveda from. stinging nettle is known for supporting the female reproductive system, and can reduce bloating and reduces pitta, the cause of cramps. bonus points if you brew it with angelica root, which is a natural pain reliever!
be super gentle with yourself. since the bleeding phase is vata dominated, you’re going to want to focus on grounding, wet, and still energy. consider lots of meditation, yoga nidra or restorative yoga, and feeding your brain and body with grounding information. this is the best time of the month for reading, netflix and sleeping in.
find your period constitution. just like you body has an ayurvedic constitution, so does your period. i freakin’ loooove this article in general, but towards the bottom it has a breakdown of ayurvedic period types and how to balance them.
my ayurvedic period routine
i have been having a period since i was 11, so i’ve gotten preeety good at what works for me i’m sharing this not as a guide of what you should do, but what i personally do to have the most nourishing period i can.
i try to take the new moon and the day after off. my first few days have pretty painful cramps and i feel very low energy, so if i am able i like to take the first two days of my period off. this time also feels very intuitive and creative, so i love to write, meditate and intuitively move.
i take cbd at the first sign of cramps. cbd isn’t an ayurvedic remedy, but it has been so, SO helpful. from my research cbd oil balances vata and kapha dosha, which are my primary imbalances.
arnica oil all over my belly. arnica oil is used topically to treat inflammatory pain. menstrual cramps are not all inflammatory pain, but i find that it helps soothe cramps when used with a heating pad.
i use a cup for the blood. the luna cup is my mvp. i’ve had it for 4 years and it has never done me dirty. i used to experience pain from using tampons, which i think was from all the nasty chemicals they use in them. bleach?? chlorine?? nooo thank you. i use the luna cup, and i only have to change it twice a day. not to mention it’s one of the most sustainable options for period havers.