Ayurveda links menopause with aging. Aging is a Vata (air) stage of life. Thus, the symptoms of menopause experienced by some women are similar to the symptoms seen when the Vata dosha rises and upsets the normal balance of the body. Vata-type menopausal symptoms tend to include depression, anxiety, and insomnia. Menopause may also manifest itself in the other two humors. Women with Pitta-type symptoms are often angry and suffer hot flashes. Kapha type symptoms include listlessness, weight gain, and feelings of mental and physical heaviness. The type of treatment depends upon the dosha in which the woman's menopausal symptoms are manifesting.

For a complete description of the Vata, Pitta and Kapha dosha as well as a diagnostic test to determine your mind body constitution, visit our ayurveda section.

Treatment for Vata-type menopause

Excess Vata (air) may be reduced to proper levels by utilizing oils, incense, herbs and a special diet.

Sesame, almond and olive oil are among the oils that may be used in massage or placed on specific parts of the body, such as the mouth and ears. Herbs may be mixed with the oils. The vapors from essential oils, such as wintergreen, cinnamon or sandalwood, may be inhaled. Incenses, such as myrrh, frankincense and musk, may also be inhaled.

Anti-Vata herbs include ashwagandha, arjuna, astragalus, cardamom, comfrey root, garlic, ginseng, guggul, hawthorn berries, licorice, myrrh, rehmannia, sandalwood and zizphus. Also helpful are herbs that help to strengthen the female reproductive system, such as aloe, saffron, kapikacchu, lycium, and white peony.

The anti-Vata diet includes warm, heavy and moist foods that give you strength. Frequent small meals, mildly spiced and with only a few different types of foods per meal are recommended. Don’t eat when you are nervous or worried. If possible eat with your friends.

Treatment for Pitta-type menopause

Women who display anger and suffer from frequent and severe hot flashes may be suffering from menopausal symptoms associated with excess Pitta (fire). For them, treatment would aim to "reduce' the Pitta to proper levels. The treatment may utilize oils, incense, herbs, and a special diet.

Oils used to combat Pitta-type symptoms include coconut and sesame. You may also take clarified butter, called ghee, internally or using it for massage. In addition, inhaling the vapors from essential oils made from gardenia, honeysuckle, lotus and iris may be recommended, as well as incense made from saffron, jasmine or geraniums.

Herbs to be used include aloe vera, arjuna, barberry, golden seal, gotu kola, motherwort, myrrh, saffron, and shatavari. Sandalwood oil is applied to the chest and to the "third eye"- in the middle of the forehead. Meditation and other techniques are used to reduce the pent-up anger, hatred and resentment. Exercise and exposure to the sun are limited.

The anti-Pitta diet consists of cool, slightly dry and heavy foods. Eat the food raw or relatively plain-tasting, not cooked in lots of oil or heavily spiced. Three regular meals a day are suggested, with no eating late at night.

Treatment for Kapha-type menopause

If the menopause is manifesting in the Kapha (water) humor, the woman may feel unmotivated, tired and bloated. Her treatment would be an anti-Kapha regimen.

Mustard oil and linseed oil are often recommended for this condition. Avoid all massage and cooking oils. Inhaling the vapors from essential oils made from cedar, pine and sage, as well as incense made from basil, frankincense and cedar, is recommended. Herbs to break up phlegm and ease chest congestion include bayberry, cayenne, cinnamon, guggul, motherwort and myrrh. Cinnamon, mustard or camphor may be applied to the chest to ease congestion.