Ayurveda is increasingly being considered as a holistic and natural alternative for managing the prevalent hormonal conditions, PCOD, which many women face today, complementing traditional approaches that often involve medications and lifestyle adjustments. Two different conditions affect a woman’s hormones and fertility: polycystic ovary syndrome and polycystic ovary disease.
The truth is that while there are many similarities, there are two different things. People will be troubled by the following problems. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and polycystic ovary disease (PCOD) are two terms that are often used and can confuse those who want to understand these conditions.
What Is PCOS?
PCOS (or Polycystic Ovary Condition) is a metabolic problem, wherein women are impacted by hormonal imbalances during their conception years. Women may experience irregular ovulation, skip a period, experience abnormal hair growth on the body and face, and be at risk for heart disease and diabetes in the long run due to an increase in the levels of male hormones and insulin resistance. PCOS diagnosis involves clinical, biochemical, and ultrasound criteria, revealing ovaries 1.5 – 3 times larger than normal.
A few women have PCOS, however they know nothing about it. PCOS treatment options include medication, surgery, or natural remedies like herbs, supplements, and acupuncture.
Symptoms
- Excessive facial hair
- irregular or skipped periods
- male pattern baldness, and
- hair loss from the scalp
- Acne
- Weight gain or difficulty losing weight
- Insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes
- Hypertension (High blood pressure)
- Fatigue
- Mood swings or depression
- Difficulty getting pregnant
- Pelvic pain or discomfort
- Dark patches of skin, especially on the neck, groin, or underarms
What is PCOD?
PCOD, or Polycystic Ovarian Disease, is a hormonal disorder in women marked by ovarian cysts and hormonal imbalances. PCOD affects one-third of women globally, making it a common condition. It’s linked to risks like type-2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease, with causes believed to be genetic and environmental. In a typical menstrual cycle, ovaries release mature eggs alternately.
PCOD diagnosis relies solely on ultrasound, revealing ovaries filled with follicles without significant enlargement. PCOD can be managed through lifestyle changes like diet, exercise, and stress reduction. However, in PCOD, ovaries may release immature or partially mature eggs, leading to cyst formation.
Symptoms
- Irregular Periods
- Weight gain
- Acne
- Hair growth on the face and body
- Hair loss
- Mood swings
- Infertility
7 Lifestyle tips for managing PCOD and PCOS
- Balanced diet: Include whole foods, balance carbs and protein, and avoid sugary and processed foods.
- Maintain a healthy weight: Weight management improves hormonal balance and fertility.
- Regular exercise: Activities like walking, cycling, or yoga help with weight management and hormone regulation.
- Healthy sleeping habits: Aim for at least 8 hours of sleep, avoid caffeine and alcohol, and establish a relaxing bedtime routine.
- Avoid alcohol and cigarettes: These can worsen hormonal imbalances and metabolic syndrome.
- Stress management: Practices like meditation and deep breathing help reduce stress levels and improve hormone balance.
- Seed cycling: Eating specific seeds during different phases of the menstrual cycle can provide essential nutrients and support symptom management.
Foods To Avoid In PCOS
There are certain foods you should avoid to maintain your health and overall health. Some of these foods include carbohydrates, such as
- Muffins and white bread
- Sugary Drinks
- Alcohol
- Packaged Foods
- Soy milk and Tofu
- Junk foods
- Processed Milk
- Red Meat
Ayurvedic Herbs For PCOD
Keeping your body balanced and healthy is the main goal of Ayurveda. So, following your daily Ayurvedic diet can help cure PCOS. Some Ayurvedic herbs that you can try to get rid of PCOD are:
- Ashwagandha: This herb helps control your stress levels. So your cortisol levels can be balanced using it. Additionally, your menstrual cycle will be regular when you stay calm and relaxed. Therefore, ashwagandha, or a rejuvenating herb, should be used to treat PCOD effectively.
- Cinnamon: Due to insulin resistance (one of the symptoms of PCOD), a woman’s ovulation process is affected. Cinnamon helps control menstruation. This also helps women ovulate.
- Chasteberry: Chasteberry tea deserves mention for its herbal benefits. Also known as vitex tea, it balances your hormones in the right direction and supports menstruation.
- Spearmint: If you’re looking for a natural way to balance these hormones, spearmint tea is for you. This tea has relaxing properties that can reduce levels of androgens, which sometimes play abnormal roles in PCOD. By reducing these hormones, spearmint tea can help reduce unwanted symptoms such as hair growth and acne.
- Licorice: Licorice root has been used to help regulate female hormones. Although research is still ongoing, some studies suggest PCOD may be beneficial. Licorice tea is rich and sweet. It can be combined with herbs like parsley and fennel to enhance the flavour.
- Nettle: Nettle root helps reduce the production of free testosterone, which can help reduce androgenic symptoms.
- Flax Seeds: Flaxseed for PCOD balances your menstrual cycle by regulating hormone levels. Flaxseeds contain lignin, a plant-based estrogen that helps balance excess male hormones and reduce excessive hair growth.
- St. John Wort: It can help control ovulation and improve fertility through lifestyle changes.
- Fenugreek: Fenugreek seeds help stabilise insulin and glucose tolerance in the body and regulate hormones that help reduce excess testosterone production.
- Gokshura: Gokshura is good for the body. For women, it stimulates the foetus and stabilises different periods. It can also help treat polycystic ovary syndrome by controlling tumour growth.
- Green Tea: Green tea can be a good dietary addition for PCOS. The major effect of PCOS is excessive weight gain and green tea improves the process of fat burning and even improves heart health
- Vana Tulsi: Tulsi can control the androgen and moderate insulin levels. It’s also an excellent antioxidant.
Buy Vapika’s Women’s Health Tea and treat yourself to menstrual cramps
Have you ever treated yourself to something good for your health? Have you engaged in a form of self-care that helps you enjoy pain-free times? If not, you need to check out our tea range for women’s health.
Our Vapika women’s health tea is made from a rich mixture of Gokshura, Cinnamon, Fenugreek, Spearmint, St John wort, Ashwagandha, Green Tea, Nettle, Flax seeds, Chasteberry, Licorice, Vana Tulsi to help with PCOS.