Symptoms
Following are the signs or symptoms that indicate the presence of this disease in females:

• Hot flushes
• Night sweats
• Nervous tension
• Menstrual disturbance
• Insomnia
• Diminished interest in sex
• Irritability
• Depression
• Chills
• Fatigue
• Palpitation
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Numbness

Causes / Dosha
This ailment is the result of imbalance of all the three doshas i.e. vata, pitta and kapha.

Pathogenesis
Menopause is a natural process because of which imbalance is created in the three doshas or the body energies due to which various symptoms can be observed. Although, all the three doshas are disturbed by menopause vata is the first one to be aggravated due to which nervousness, anxiety, insomnia and depression develop in females. Furthermore, aggravated vata causes imbalance of pitta dosha and this lead to night sweats and hot flushes. Finally kapha dosha is aggravated causing numbness, lethargy, weak digestion and obesity.

Due to the absence of menstruation cycle a lot of toxins that are otherwise expelled with menstruation accumulate in the body adding to physical symptoms like pain in back and pelvis, deposition of fat around hips, belly and thighs, tumors, cysts in the uterus or ovaries.

Treatment
The medical treatment given to women in this ailment is as follows:

• Rasayan or rejuvenating medicines like, Bhritvata Chantamani, Vata Kulantak Rasa and Prawal Pisthi.
• Licorice and Ashwagandha that have natural estrogen should be taken in powder form.

Dosage: Take one half teaspoonful of each (mixed together) twice a day with warm milk or honey.

Recipes

• Soak five almonds overnight. In morning peel off skin and grind almonds into a fine paste. Grind 3 black peppers, 2 pieces of cardamom and one teaspoon of anise seeds and mix them with almond paste. Add paste to 250 ml of boiled milk. Add one teaspoon of honey and drink when lukewarm.

Panchakarma
The diet taken during menopause must be easily digestible, should balance Vata and Pitta and should not produce toxins in the body.

The food must comprise of three basic elements, namely:

• Vegetables
• Fresh Fruits
• Nuts, seeds and grains
• Vitamins E, D and C
• Sprouts
• Soaked nuts and seeds
• Fresh cooked vegetables
• Vegetable soup
• Milk products
• Fresh cottage cheese
• Wheat
• Beet juice (taken in small quantities of 60 to 90 ml thrice a day)

All processed, refined and denatured foods such as white flour, white sugar, cold drinks, frozen food, food containing chemicals and preservatives, greasy food, spicy food, fried stuff, sour food must be avoided.

Exercises such as walking, jogging, swimming, meditation, yoga and relaxation procedures are good for maintaining a high level of health.

Yoga

• Bhujagasana
• Halasana
• Sitakari
• Sitali Pranayam
• Breathing Exercises

Potency / Virya
Cold