Menstrual Disorders Caused By Kapha Vitiation – Kaphaja Artava Dushti

By Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa, B.A.M.S
Kaphaja Artava Dushti is one among the 8 types of menstrual disorders mentioned in Ayurveda. This is caused by predominant vitiation of kapha dosha. It is also called as Kaphaja Artava Vyapad.
Read – Artava – Menstrual Blood Formation, Healthy Characteristic Features

Signs, Symptoms

Signs and Symptoms of Kaphaja Menstrual Disorders Kapha / Shleshma Varna – Menstrual blood which is vitiated and contaminated by kapha is discharged in colours particular to kapha. Blood is white, whitish or slightly yellowish in colour.
Read – Artava Vyapad – Menstrual Disorders Explained In Ayurveda

Kapha / shleshma Vedana – Woman suffers from various kinds of pain / discomforts / symptoms which are typically caused by vitiated kapha. She may experience coldness, stickiness, unctuousness, itching, putrid smell etc. Read – Menstrual Pain, Painful Periods – Natural Ayurvedic Herbal Home Remedies

Other symptoms –

• Majja upasamshrushtam – menstrual blood is mixed with bone marrow or bone marrow like substance, owing to the presence of yellowish colour of the blood which gives an impression of blood being mixed with marrow
• Prabhutam vibaddham – blood is too thick in consistency which makes its expulsion difficult, there is obvious obstruction of menstrual flow
• Ambhasi cha kinchit majjati – menstrual blood sinks and settles down at the bottom of the water. This happens to the natural heaviness quality of kapha which is attributed to menstrual blood.
• Snigdhata – blood discharged through menstruation is unctuous in nature / slippery
• Pandu varnata – blood is pale in appearance
• Pichchilata – menstrual blood is sticky in nature and doesn’t pass off easily
• Ghana – blood flowing through the menstruation is thick in consistency
• Jadhya – woman, during menstruation suffers from stiffness of the body. Jadhya can also be considered as slowness, especially slow functions of both body and mind. Idleness and laziness can also be considered.
• Mutra rodhanam – woman in menstruation also would have retention of urine
• Aalasya – associated with lethargy
• Tandra – woman will have associated drowsiness
• Nidra – excessive sleepiness
  Read – Charaka Chikitsa Sthana 30th Chapter – Yoni Vyapat

Sanskrit verse

Treatment

Treatment of Kaphaja Menstrual Disorder Controlling Kapha– Following the principles of mitigating kapha, the below mentioned should be adequately used to combat kaphaja menstrual disorder –

• Hot foods and comforts
• Consumption of foods rich in pungent, bitter and astringent tastes, dry foods
  Read – Activities And Diet For Kapha Balance

Internal Medications Kutajadi Kwatha Decoction prepared with Kutaja (Holarrhena antidysenterica), Katuka (Picrorhiza kurroa) and Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) should be served for drinking.

Ksheeri Vriksha Kwatha Decoction prepared with tender leaves of latex yielding trees should be given to drink mixed with honey.

Ksheeri Vriksha patra churna Fine powder of dried leaves of latex yielding trees should be mixed with honey and ghee and given to eat.
Read – Ayurvedic Diet And Lifestyle During Menstruation (Periods)

External therapies – Rodhradi Kashaya yoni prakshalana Vaginal irrigation should be done by using the decoction prepared with rodhra (Symplocos racemosa) and tinduka (Diospyros malabarica).

Basta mutra yoni prakshalana Vaginal irrigation should be done by using the mixture of urine of goat and sheep.
Read – Goat Urine Benefits, Usage As Per Ayurveda

Madanaphala kalka yoni dharana Paste of Randia dumetorum should be filled in the vagina of the woman suffering from kaphaja menstrual disorder. Read – Madanaphala – Randia dumetorum – Benefits, Qualities, Side Effects

Administration of emesis   Therapeutic emesis is the best treatment for increased kapha. Emesis to expel morbid kapha and also to cure kaphaja menstrual disorder, decoction of Madanaphala (Randia dumetorum) should be administered.
Read – Vamana Therapy – Right Method, Side Effects, Management

Modern correlation

Modern Correlation and Comparative Study Kaphaja menstrual disorder is mainly caused by vitiated kapha. Excessive use of cold, unctuous, heavy to digest, food substances, excessive consumption of sweet, sour and salt tasting foods, lack of exercise, sedentary life style, being depressed etc factors will eventually cause vitiation of kapha. This vitiated kapha will cause kaphaja menstrual disorders.

Kapha is equated with mucus and mucoid things in the body. In a sense mucus may not be kapha in totality, but mucus belongs to kapha category of body elements. Presence of unctuousness, and yellowish colour etc features in menstrual blood are noted when the amount of excreted blood is relatively less and is mixed with good quantity of mucus.
Read – Heavy Periods, Menstrual Bleeding: Ayurvedic Treatment

When seen through the lens of modern medicine, excessive mucoid discharges are seen to be present in conditions like chronic endometritis, endo-cervicitis and cervicitis. These mucoid discharges when get mixed with menstrual blood can give the appearance of discharged blood as explained in context of kaphaja menstrual disorders.
Read – Pelvic Inflammatory Disease: Ayurvedic Treatment, Therapies, Medicines

Oligomenorrhea i.e. scanty menstrual blood during the periods is also seen in chronic endometritis.

Considering all the above mentioned points, Kaphaja menstrual disorder can be correlated with the description of ‘oligomenorrhea associated with chronic inflammation of female reproductive organs, especially the conditions of chronic endometritis or endocervicitis’.
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