Mental and Physical Well-being during Menopause

[Music] Namaste and welcome to our Dreyer Herbs Podcast where we are here to support you, your family, and our community with the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda. My name is Barbara Carrero and I am an Ayurvedic practitioner here in Los Angeles. Today we have an excellent topic where we will share a small part of the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda as we discuss the mental state during menopause. So menopause oftentimes brings about mind challenges that can be very intense. An Ayurveda can be very supportive mentally, physically, and spiritually during menopause. So let's talk about how the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda can help. And our discussion today will be with Vadya Jay Parla as he shares with us his own words of wisdom. Namaste Vadya Jay. Namaste Barbara. Namaste to all our listeners. So nice to talk to you Barbara. It has been a little distant because of even virtual distance. Okay so I'm really excited about this topic that we have today. It is definitely something that can be very much beneficial to all our listeners going through this challenging period of menopause. Yes and it affects a lot of what with half of our infusion. Yes, yes it does. It does. Half of the some people go through it without any issues. They like you know when patients come to my clinic they say oh I was just done with it like that. I didn't have any problems. But on the other hand there are people who just have such you know dragging effects of these dragging and draining almost for you know a couple of years to many years. So it's a very interesting you know situation in this even the 50% of population that you're saying are going through this type of you know symptoms. Yes and then we know too it's just a challenging time right now in general for our world. So then this on top of it. So let's start my first question. My first question for you is what kind of what changes happened physically during menopause which can affect women mentally. Yeah very very basic and fundamental question for all our listeners. So we have to go into a little bit of principles of Ayurveda because then we can build on these principles that can make sense to all our listeners why they are doing and what they are doing. So when I say the principles it's the the core of Ayurvedic you know balance or health depends on the three bio energies or bio systems what I call them as bio systems. These bio systems are innate to us and they are governing every aspect of our physical well-being or health. Our disease also comes out of these three bio systems. So the first bio system that we have we call it as Vata VATA bio system. I want to remind our listeners that there will be a lot of information about this on our website which is www.atreahurbs.com in which they can read about what this Vata is all about but I want to just briefly touch base here as far as the topic is concerned how it we are going to relate to these bio systems. That's why I am doing this brief you know like a elevator talk about these three bio systems Vata, Pitta and Kafa. So Vata is all about this movement you know it is generally regulating all physiological movements like if my heart is beating at 72 per minute it's because my Vata is normal or if my bowel movements are happening regularly that means my Vata is normal. If I'm sleeping on time and waking up at an time then my Vata is normal. So any movement that our bodies are capable it's all done by this you know bio system called as Vata and it is influenced by circulatory system, respiratory system it's including digestive system. Every system even every cell of our body is influenced by this mega you know bio system that we have we call it as Vata. And the second one is Pitta is somewhat metabolic in its nature it has the ability to you know transform breakdown digest you know harmonially transform as well. So different you know possibilities of Pitta bio system used to help us with our basic metabolism it may be liver metabolism it may be brain and its metabolism or you know blood metabolism any metabolism is done by these the system called as Pitta bio system. So these two in menopause this is what is what is changing. So in the middle age our bodies are in under the care of Pitta. So our bodies are metabolizing you know taking the nutrition in breaking it down helping our bodies to perform that's what the Pitta is doing. So generally I read this says that in the mid-life we are under Pitta care right no matter what body type you belong to it doesn't matter. So you go from Pitta care to the menopause stage which is after 50 years you go into water phase which is movement. So from the digestive phase you go to movement phase right. So both of them are not happy about this like it's it's almost like one is vacating the house another one is taking possession of the house so both of them have anxiety issues both of them are just budging each other that's what exactly happens in this state for every women who's going through the menopause if they are easy one vacates very peacefully another one takes control of the house very easily then you have no symptoms everything is fine you don't have any hot flashes nothing that's the first category that we talked about they said oh my menopause was done like this but if you if the Pitta is stubborn and says I'm so attached to these colors of these walls in a body so it just gets into this obsession mode then Pitta the Pitta needs to be pushed out of the body so when this Pitta which is to all our listeners even though it represents metabolism it induces heat it is made from heat it's made from fire element so to transform we need fire element but if it goes out of balance this fire fire is like wildfire it just you know it comes out of the furnace and then starts burning the house so women who are going through this menopause have to really care for their Pitta so that's the first energy that our biosystem that needs to be balanced if somebody has balanced their the fire or the the Pitta biosystem throughout their life by eating you know properly and exercising sleeping on time in those patients or in those people the menopause is un-inventful because they have you know done their homework to prepare the body to go through menopause if you have not done it then the same Pitta instead of just you know transiting it will become stubborn and starts producing the heat symptoms where excess you sweat hot and you know feeling of hot all the time that comes up and and then the digestive issues hair loss all these are the symptoms of Pitta being a little aggressive and not able to smoothly transit right that's the first you know Pitta biosystem that we need to balance the second thing is the water biosystem which is I was saying movement it's somewhat windy in its character so it's made from air you know element so this air element also is trying to push in so that's the cold sensation you know sleep disturbance anxiety all that comes from the the the wind or the the water biosystem so the Tury Nutshell Barbara we want to say that this Pitta biosystem the heat and the water biosystem the wind those need to be balanced in order to go through an un-inventful menopausal you know transition okay so I know you mentioned three bio energies though but we're just really concentrating on on the two yeah briefly I want to just you know for for listeners the last one is called kafa biosystem which is more water in its you know elemental makeup and the This bio system is necessary for building and sustaining the body. So if the muscles are building normally, if the tissues are building normally, our gut is having right amount of mucus layers and lubrication, all that comes from the kafa bio system, which is higher in the early part of life. So when we are growing from the child, from the birth until the teenage or what we call as puberty, that's the kafa period from puberty to that of like menopause or the 50th year of the cycle of our life cycle is the pit the bio system time. And then the last part, beyond 50, it's water bio system time. So that's what you know, I wanted to convey here, since you asked what is the last bio system that our body is influenced by. Right. Okay. Yeah. It makes sense. Makes sense. And then that's that kind of leads me kind of, you kind of answered the second question is, why do we become more emotional during these times? And I like the way you kind of explained it once, trying to move in and the other one saying, no, I'm not ready to go. Yeah, it's hard for exactly. Yeah. So I want to add another layer to this Barbara, since you barbed that question up that, you know, what is happened? Why do we become so emotional? Why do women become emotional during this transition? So we talked about the body, right? So the body has these bio systems, but the mind has two stages. And I, whether we say them as Rajasic state and Phamasic state. So Rajasic state is that state of mind where it is active. Like when we are, you know, like awake, mind needs to be active and continuously perceiving information, putting out information for, you know, activity. So that state of our mind is called as Rajas. And when we become, you know, more rested or when we are sleeping, when we are not active, that state is called as Phamas. So there is those two stages in the mind. So to bring them, you know, body and mind together for our listeners, the body is now going through this fire and wind changes. And the body, in the mind, we see that it will reflect on to the fire wind being Rajasic. The mind becomes more active in menopause. Women think more. They are imaginations, like, you know, you know, negative way, their imaginations become more critical. They will start thinking everything is so hurting. If somebody says something, they would have just brushed it off earlier, but during menopause, it just expands into this wild fire of wind and then fire taking over their imagination. And then just if, you know, they become extra sensitive. So that's what happens in the mind. The mind is just overwhelmed with all this emotional sensitivity that they are going through. So body brings the fire and the wind fight. And the mind starts reflecting the over imagination or we're expanding thoughts that are very critical to the mind of the other women. Okay. Makes yeah. Yeah. And the secret is to just, okay, well, we now we know what causes it. So let's fix it. Just so easy. So, and then going with that, like you said, you know, you've got these all this emotions going on in a little bit more sensitive to two things that maybe didn't bother you before. So then our sleep gets affected. Also, right? Absolutely correct. Yes. That's another piece of the puzzle. Because as I said, Thomas, Thomas state or the state of mind that is more inertic. We need both of them. We need mine to be active. We need the mind to be passive. Pass you when it is resting active when it is awake. So what happens is because of this rages or the active state of mind expanding. The passive state of mind becomes narrow. That's why the sleep becomes a challenge in most of the women going through menopause. We also want to remind all our listeners, see a Barbara that mind and body are never separate in Ayurveda. Whatever is going on in the mind will reflect on to the body. Whatever is reflecting on in the mind. I mean, whatever is happening in the mind will reflect on to the body as well. So this, you know, back and forth physically and physiologically, there are changes happening. And mentally, that's what the female experiences. There's a lot of stuff going on. What time? Yes. It is a major shift. It's a major major shift. And, you know, unfortunately, the fast pace life, women have no time to, you know, slow down or take care of these challenging times. They just run with the challenges in their family and their work. So it's a very, you know, beautiful that people don't understand what the women go through in, you know, menopausal state. You're absolutely right. A lot of things going on. And they need all the support that they can, you know, take, take from the family and from friends and people who love women going through these phases. Yes, it can be very difficult. And then that kind of breaks me to my next point is to being in our Western society is just the concept of AG that I think menopause is looked at as a bad word almost. Yeah. So, yeah, but, you know, if you take care of yourself with all our listeners, don't be discouraged that menopause is happening. It is the indicator that you're not going to be, you know, fertile anymore. But it's just happening at one physical structure or physical system that is the reproductive system. But if you can support your entire body, it can compensate really well for this deficiency that's happening at the reproductive system. So there is hope and there is also light at the end of the tunnel. And, you know, either as well as yoga can be really beneficial in this process. Like what, you know, you said Barbara, how do we fix this? And believe me, there is no one pill for this. Menopause is a lifestyle lifestyle approach is what we need. It's a lifestyle approach. We need to change our diet. We need to do a little bit of yoga. We want to be out there doing something in the nature, something like physical activity. We want to, you know, achieve something like in terms of herbs and supplements that can support the state. Or sometimes it can be like simple aroma or a change in, you know, applying some cooling oil on the body to. So all these steps cumulatively help women to go through an un-eventful manopause. That's what Ayurveda always says. You need to be mindful of everything that, you know, in circles or what you embrace in life. Everything needs to be embraced lifestyle diet, you know, yoga, breathing, herbs, everything needs to be considered. As I said, people think, okay, I take a pill and it'll go away. Very rarely that happens. It is a lifestyle change. That's what I wanted to remind all our listeners here. Yeah. Yeah. And I think to a good reminder is that this isn't a stage that you're going to stay in forever either. So things will change. And I completely, you know, missed your question, aging, right? Ayurveda is the science or philosophy of long living, you know, signs of long living. If there is one that is Ayurveda. So in order to prevent the aging process, the first thing that all our, you know, listeners have to keep in mind is to balance the water energy. That's what it's going to take over the body now. So the windy, dry, cold, mobile, like very, you know, hyper-mobile type of energy, movement oriented energy, or my bio system is going to take the entire body now. I'm going to make everything deplete. So one best answer for this is good fats. Don't worry about gaining weight. People think that, okay, menopause will gain weight. I want to, you know, take away the fats and this. But people don't realize how important are the fats in keeping ourselves healthy. I'm saying good fats. I'll give you some examples. Like every day, if you take a teaspoon of hemp seeds, like hemp kernel seeds, and then take them in the morning with your cereal, you do it for three times, I mean, three weeks a month. And one week you give a rest. So the type of oils that we have, that, you know, like I, I, I, with a says that the oil has exactly the opposite qualities to that of this wind mobile bio energy that we have. So it, it completely counterbalances the ill effects of the water energy. So this oil that is present in the hemp seeds can be beneficial. So this is one. And omega. that are present are also great for the brain because brain fog is a common thing that happens during menopause. So you want to supplement it with good fat because everything is drying out. So the nerve cells are asking for this good fat. So that's one thing. The hemp seeds. Coconut oil. Coconut oil. You can use it. Orally like mouth, you know like oil pulling for three to five minutes in the morning. And if you're experiencing dryness vaginally, you can apply the coconut oil just like a smear before going to you know bed that will take care of the dryness. Even before taking shower, taking some good you know oil like in air whether we have an oil called mahan narayana thalam. A mouthful to stay but a great oil to apply. It is made from shatavari which is the the tonic herb for females you know. It has that the fresh juice of shatavari put in to the oil with other ingredients and concocted. And that's the oil. Just put it on your body and you rub it on for some time. It's such a gentle you know care, self care that you start your day with because in menopause everything seems to be so coming at you and overwhelming you. So you touch yourself with with the oil. It makes you feel grounded. And it also makes this water energy that is making everything unstable. Everything seems to be moving. And that kind of grounds you. So the oil massage and oil intake is what is highly highly beneficial to prevent aging. The skin becomes glowing, the skin wrinkling stops. So this is something that all our listeners can do. Second thing is that a tonic that I talked about shatavari. Shatavari is the best tonic that is beneficial during the menopause. So what it does, it nourishes the body fluids because one of the things that happens with the water bioenergy coming in the dryness you know all the tissues will become dry. The lymph will become dry. So this specific herb has so much of moisturizing quality that it just comes in. It nourishes the lymph. It nourishes the body fluids. It also nourishes the secretions inside the body. So shatavari. Shatavari really means surrounded with 100 children. Right? Or there's such great tonic herb. So we'll take that and in the form of you know milk concoction you can just boil it, put a teaspoon of you know into almond milk or flax milk if you okay with the cow's milk that's fine too. And add a little bit of ghee on top of it and preferably shatavari ghee. Me ghee made from shatavari. So shatavari milk and shatavari ghee you mix it together and then drink you don't need a lot. A teaspoon of shatavari powder in about a cup of milk any nut milk and then a half a teaspoon of shatavari ghee. You mix it all together maybe a little bit of like maple syrup or you know coconut sugar or something you mix it. Such a great elixir. You will you if you sip it you will feel it. It's so nourishing. So that's what I would recommend. So one externally and internally oil and shatavari is one of the best tonics that you can take during manapas. Perfect. So and to go along with those recommendations though that those recommendations will also help with balancing out hormones because we know hormones too have a lot to do with. That is a big big topic because everybody you know they get pushed into these you know use of hormones. There's nothing wrong about it sometimes it may be necessary but with a good health lifestyle support and diet support and herbal support maybe you can get away without doing it. So very good point Barbara the hormones can be balanced by herbs as well shatavari is one among them. There is another one called ashoca which is also it's called saraka indika or saraka ashoca this herb is also a great utrain you know tonic. Along with that there is another herb called as vidari kanda, aipomiya digitata these can be also incorporated into if you have a lot of you know hormonal imbalance. So and again nothing can replace a practitioner you have to consult our audience have to consult a you know Ayurvedic practitioner before they start experimenting but you know just a few days of taking shatavari will indicate whether that your body is responding to it or not. If you cannot find relief then it's better to consult an Ayurvedic practitioner that's what I would recommend. So shatavari vidari kanda ashoca are great tonics to tune the uterus and then the ovaries during this time. Also the piece of the puzzle that I wanted to tell everybody here is that digestion. We cannot forget that in either we say that during menopause there is no room for any you know constipation or acid reflex or bloating and gas you should not have them. If you entering into the menopause first take care of them because that's where all the problem starts. What the system pit the system they're all based out of digestive tract that's why liar with it gives a lot of importance to this. So make sure that you take your diet very seriously. You eat on time during menopause and also spices like coriander, cardamom, you know fennel, cumin, cumin, great for this time of the life when menopause is happening. Black cumin, we have two types of cumin, black cumin. You can make a tea out of them like black cumin powder, cumin powder, a little bit of turmeric and cardamom. So that will all help in cleansing the uterus but also keeping the uterus healthy and the ovary is healthy. So the GI, the gut and the uterine relation is very important. If you don't supplement good stuff into your gut your reproductive system is going to be really agitated. So I think we gave a lot out for all our listeners. I just don't want to confuse them but you know in a nutshell you know take care of your digestive system, take care of your skin and your body that's you know needing oil and then also the rejuvenating female tonics is what is beneficial. Lastly a lifestyle that includes yoga or even simple walking just get away from the house walk into the nature and you will see how the nature replenishes you and makes you you know feel more you know nurtured and abundant even this time of crisis of losing is happening. Perfect that is so I mean and that's what I mentioned earlier we're just going to share a little small part of Ayurveda because we know that it's so vast information that that they have but yeah starting starting with Statovri, Ducymi Yoga, get some exercise and everything we know that's the like number one rule right everything stems from digestion and then you're good so correct yeah so yeah as I said everything it's a lifestyle you know your menopause needs to be approached as a lifestyle rather than a supplement that's what I wanted. Perfect perfect and everything's connected so you fix one and it'll help with just the rest of the body. Absolutely you're you're so right on that so right on that Barbara. Well thank you so much for your words of wisdom and anything else that you wanted to to share before we wrap it up. Just I thought that family should support their mothers and sisters who are going through this menopause and help them go through this transition so that they can live a long healthy life so if menopause is done well the women out live their men counter parts it has been true and if you look at the list of longest living people on the earth 42 people who have been on the list are all women 43rd place for men so so menopause has to do with longevity there's no doubt about it if you take care of yourself in menopause you have a long healthy life ahead of you that's what I wanted to tell all of our listeners thank you Barbara thank you for this wonderful interview and podcast that we had to support all of our women folk out there going through this challenging time. Yes thank you so much and I look forward to the next time. Yes absolutely Namaste namaste. Namaste. Namaste. Namaste.