Menstrual Disorders Caused By Vata Imbalance -Vataja Artava Dusti

By Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa, B.A.M.S

Vataja Artava Dushti is one among the 8 types of menstrual disorders mentioned in Ayurveda. This is caused by predominant vitiation of vata dosha. It is also called as Vataja Artava Vyapad.
Read – Artava – Menstrual Blood Formation, Healthy Characteristic Features

Signs, symptoms

Signs and Symptoms of Vataja Menstrual Disorders

Vata Varna – Menstrual blood which is vitiated and contaminated by vata is discharged in different colours. Blood is red, black or dark violet in color.

Vata Vedana – Woman suffers from various kinds of pain which are typically caused by vitiated vata. She may experience pricking pain, throbbing pain, stabbing pain, tearing pain etc.
Read – Menstrual Pain, Painful Periods – Natural Ayurvedic Herbal Home Remedies

Other symptoms –

• Tanu artava – menstrual blood is thin, dilute
• Ruksha artava – menstrual blood is dry in nature, i.e. devoid of oiliness
• Phenila artava – frothy
• Krishna varna artavam – menstrual blood is blackish in colour
• Jambu phala varna – menstrual blood has colour of Jamun fruits (Java Plum)
• Aruna varnam artavam – discharged blood is reddish brown in colour
• Shyava varnam artavam – menstrual blood is dark brown in colour
• Alpa artavam – the discharged blood is less than desired quantity of discharge
• Vichchinnam artavam – menstrual blood gets scattered, comprising of very small clots mixed with liquid substance
• Sarujam artavam – bleeding is associated with severe pain
• Chiraat cha nishichyate – menstrual blood is discharged slowly, in an interrupted way
  Read – Physiology Of Menstruation, Menstrual Cycle – Ayurvedic Perspective

Sanskrit verse

Treatment

Treatment of Vataja Menstrual Disorder

Controlling Vata –

Following the principles of mitigating vata, the below mentioned should be adequately used to combat vataja menstrual disorder –

• Unctuous foods, application of oils in the form of massage etc, intake of ghee, oil etc medicated or otherwise and other unctuous comforts
• Hot foods and comforts
• Sour foods
• Foods added with salt, salty foods
  Read – How To Balance Vata Dosha? Line Of Treatment And Reasoning

Internal Medications –

Nagaradi Kwatha Decoction prepared with the below mentioned herbs should be given for oral consumption for 7 days, during menstruation, after having mixed the decoction with jaggery and curds.
(read more about curds)

• Ginger
• Long pepper (read about long pepper)
• Musta – Cyperus rotundus
• Dhanvayasa – Alhagi camelorum
• Brihati – Solanum indicum
• Kantakari – Solanum xanthocarpum
• Patala – Stereospermum suaveolens
  Read – Apana Vata Location, Functions, Imbalance Symptoms, Treatment

Kashmaryadi Ksheera Milk processed with Gmelina arborea and Kshudrasaha (Phaseolus trilobus) should be used for oral consumption

Bharngyadi ghrta Ghee medicated with Bharangi (Clerodendrum serratum), liquorice and Cedrus deodara should be given to drink

Priyangvadi kalka Paste of Priyangu and Uraria picta, should be taken admixed in milk and ghee
Read – Priyangu Callicarpa macrophylla: Uses, Research, Remedies

External therapies – Priyangvadi kalka lepa – Paste of Priyangu and sesame seeds should be applied inside the vagina
Read – Sesame and Sesame Oil Benefits – Total Ayurveda Details

Saraladi kashaya yoni prakshalana – Vaginal irrigation should be done by using the decoction prepared with Sarala (Pinus longifolia) and Mudgaparni (Phaseolus trilobus)

Administration of medicated enemas – Niruha Basti – Administration of rectal / vaginal decoction enemas have the capacity of mitigating vata and also to cure menstrual disorders caused by vitiated vata. This enema is said to work wonders and is considered nectar-like.
Read – Effective Basti Treatments Vata disorders

Modern correlation

Modern Correlation and Comparative Study Vataja menstrual disorder is mainly caused by vitiated vata. Excessive use of dry, stale, cold foods and foods predominant in bitter, pungent and astringent tastes, excessive indulgence in exercise, sex, grief etc will lead to vitiation of vata. This Vata will eventually cause vataja menstrual disorders.
Read – Gynecological Disorders Causes, Types As Per Ayurveda

When vata increases pathologically, it leads to destruction of tissues and leads to subsequent weakness. Mainly destruction of plasma and blood tissues should be considered in this case because it is from these tissues that menstrual blood forms according to Ayurveda. Since menstrual blood is formed from plasma and blood, when these tissues get decreased being afflicted by vitiated vata, menstrual blood too gets reduced in quantity. When the amount of menstrual blood gets decreased, its colour and other features too get altered.
Read – Hypomenorrhoea: Causes, Remedies, Ayurvedic Treatment

On the basis of the above said description, vataja menstrual disorder can be closely correlated to ‘oligomenorrhea associated with dysmenorrhea, caused by reduction of plasma and blood and general weaknesses’.
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