ரசாயனமும் முதுமை மருத்துவமும்

காலம் வழிந்தோடி தீர்ந்து மறையும் தருணத்தில் நம் முன் வந்து நிற்பவன் தான் காலன். வாழ்வின் அத்தனை மகத்துவங்களும் ஒரு நாள் முடிவுர வேண்டும். அறிய முடியாத வாழ்வின் அடுத்த பக்கமாக வரும் மரணத்தை மனிதன் என்றேனும் வாசித்து தான் ஆக வேண்டும், இயற்கையுடன் போரிட்டு மரணத்தை வெல்வதல்ல ஆயுர்வேதத்தின் நோக்கம். வாழும் காலத்தில் வீடுபேறு நோக்கி முன்னகர்ந்து ஆன்மாவின் அழியா தன்மையை உணர்ந்து அறிவதே அதன் நோக்கம். தர்ம அர்த்த காம மோக்ஷம் எனும் நான்கு புருஷார்தங்களை அடைவதற்கு ஆரோக்கியம் அவசியம் என்கிறார் சரகர்.அதற்கு தேவையான ஆரோக்கியத்தை பேணும் வழிமுறைகளை சொல்வதே ஆயுர்வேதத்தின் நோக்கம் என்கிறார். முதிர்ந்த வயதில் பலவீனமான உடலை உகுத்து வேறோர் உடலில் புகுந்து ஜனன மரண சுழலில் உழல்கிறது நம் ஆன்மா என்கிறது கீதை. பசி, நீர் வேட்கை, தூக்கம், வயோதிகம் ஆகியவை மனிதன் தவிர்க்க முடியாத பிணி என்கிறது ஆயுர்வேதம். 

rutu chakra - 2

Rutukala- Proliferative phase

The Proliferative phase is for 12 to 16 days. The day starts from the 4th day and may extend up to 18th day of menstrual cycle. This phase includes ovulation. However ovulation may be absent in some exceptional cases. The sperm get deposited in the uterus for conception like a seed which is likely to bear. Hence this phase is termed as rutukala.

On fourth day after taking head bath, the woman has to wear white or new garments, flowers and ornaments, worship and then she has to see her husband in white garments. This shows reflection upon the child. Ayurveda believes whenever the woman sees her husband with love and affection on the fourth day, the child will have similar feature, character, etc. It is believed to enhances the ovulation.

Rutumathi means ovulating woman, the woman who is in her proliferative phase. Ayurveda has defined some special characteristic features for the ovulating woman. During this period, she looks bright and healthy, her mouth and teeth moist, anxious to hear love stories, her flanks, eyes and hair are lax, she has twitching over arms, breasts, pelvis, umbilicus, thighs and hip. 

As lotus closes after the Sun set, the cervix of the uterus also gets constricted after ovulation. This prevents the entry of Sperms. Hence this is considered as the phase of conception.

Ayurvedic treatments like kshara karma and Nasya are contraindicated during this phase. 

Rutuvyathitha kala – secretary phase or post ovulatory phase.

The secretary phase or the post ovulatory phase is responsible for the formation of next menstrual cycle or fertilization. During this phase, the uterine wall get thickens for the purpose of conception. Simultaneously, fertilization takes place in the presence of sperm and the ovum. After fertilization, the embryo takes its suitable place in the uterine wall for the development of the fetus. Thus it results in conception. In the absence of fertilization, the matured ovum waits for the next phase to get expelled off.

Rutu chakra

Menstrual cycle, Rutu chakra in Ayurveda is the natural physiology in woman. It is the cycle of changes that occur in uterus and ovary resulting in menstrual bleeding for the purpose of reproduction. It begins at the age of 12 and ceases at 50 approximately. This time line is called as Menarche – menopause and it is the reproductive period in  woman.

Healthy menstruation is the evidence for health of woman. When the woman is healthy, she can give birth to healthy child. Right from the birth, a girl child is responsible to care for the healthy future generations. During Menarche, there will be gradual growth of pubic and axillary hair; there will be development of breasts, uterus and vagina along with vulva.

Menstrual cycle has three phases. They are

1.     Rajasrava kala – bleeding phase

2.     Rtu kala – ovulatory phase

3.     Rtuvyathitha kala – secretory phase

Rajasrava kala is known as bleeding phase in Ayurveda. The day of onset of menstrual bleeding is considered as the first day out of 28 days menstrual cycle. Duration of menstrual bleeding is averagely 3 to 5 days. The blood collected for the whole month by the vessels of uterus and endometrial capillaries are expelled out through the vaginal opening by the vayu. The amount of blood flow is 4 anjali pramana (ie, approximately 4 ounces it is 120 ml. interestingly ayurveda uses subjective measuring parameter – hence here anjali refers to the quantity that can be filled in the one’s own palms). The menstrual blood remains sight black in colour and odourless.

According to Ayurveda, the characteristics of normal menstruation

Menstruation up to 7 days with 30 to 120 ml of blood which resembles lac juice, red lotus flower, rabbit’s blood and devoid of pain, burning sensation, unctuousness is normal.

Mode of life during menstruation mentioned in various texts of Ayurveda

The woman during menstrual bleeding should avoid day sleeping, application of collyrium, shedding of tears, ablution, bathing, and anointing, massaging, paring of nails, fast racing, laughing, listening to many topics (unnecessary talks), combing and excessive exercise. She should also avoid wearing ornaments, purificatory treatments like nasya, swedana and vamana, food items with pungent, salt and hot. She should sleep on the bed made of darbha and eat meal made of ghee, rice and milk or barley and milk.

Now days, some of  these restrictions are possible to follow and some are impossible. The restrictions like to avoid shedding tears, laughing and unnecessary talks may help to recover mood swings during menstruation. Directly or indirectly Ayurveda has indicated rest. Rest during menstruation may help to avoid menstrual pain, low back pain, etc. Eating habit is very important part during menstruation. Some of them like to take lot of food, some of them may not. Taking healthy food is very important during this time. When the person takes hot and spicy food, it increases burning sensation and painful menstruation. 

-Dr.Manasa Suneel Krishnan