Ayurveda and Hormonal Imbalance: Nurturing Balance from Within

What Does the Term Hormones Mean?

Beginning with Ernest Starling's coining of the term 'Hormones' in 1905, scientific research has come a long way. It has untangled different hormone behaviours and understood their functions and roles in regulating various physiological and behavioural activities.

Hormones are vital chemical messengers that travel through the bloodstream, communicating with different organs and tissues in the body to regulate essential functions and processes.

These chemical messengers come in many types, each with a unique role to play. 

Different Hormones and Their Imbalances

Hormones can be classified into three groups:

• Hormones for Growth and Development

Firstly, you have hormones that are responsible for development and growth, such as the thyroid hormones that regulate metabolism and other bodily functions. You need these hormones for maintaining the delicate balance between different organs in your body.

• Reproductive Hormones

Then, you have sex hormones like estrogen, testosterone, progesterone, FSH, and LH, which are primarily involved in regulating reproductive functions. They also play a significant role in other bodily processes, such as bone health and mood regulation.

• Stress Hormones

Finally, you have stress hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol which can significantly impact insulin levels and metabolism. These hormones trigger in response to stress and have both positive and negative effects on the body, depending on the situation you are in.

What is Hormonal Imbalance? 

Hormonal imbalances occur when the body produces an excess or insufficient amount of one or more of the hormones. 

The term "hormonal imbalance" encompasses a broad spectrum of disorder resulting from issues within the endocrine system ( A system of eight major glands in your body). 

The Endocrine system experiences abnormalities in hormone production, secretion, or receptor response, leading to the development of different signs of hormonal imbalances in your body.

Signs of Hormonal Imbalance

If you are going through the following symptoms, it's an issue with your hormonal balance. 

• Slow heartbeat or rapid heartbeat (tachycardia).
• Unexplained weight gain or weight loss.
• Fatigue.
• Recurrent constipation.
• Diarrhea or more frequent bowel movements.
• Numbness and tingling in your hands.
• Higher-than-normal blood cholesterol levels.
• Depression or anxiety.
• Being unable to tolerate cold temperatures or warm temperatures.
• Dry, coarse skin and hair.
• Thin, warm and moist skin.
• Irregular body fat distribution.
• Darkened skin in your armpit or the back and sides of your neck (acanthosis nigricans).
• Skin tags (small skin growths).
• Extreme thirst and frequent urination.

For women especially, symptoms may present as:

• Irregular cycles
• Troublesome acne
• Scalp hair loss
• Excessive body hair growth
• Vaginal dryness

The impact on overall well-being extends beyond gender, affecting various aspects of the body's health. Fatigue, hair loss, persistent acne, weight fluctuations, and gut disruptions all add to the complexity of this intricate balance between hormones and our bodies.

Women and Hormones

Have you ever experienced the moment when you get your period and suddenly everything makes sense? You realize that your hormones were influencing your cranky behaviour and emotions just before your periods.

Undoubtedly, female sex hormones, such as estrogen and progesterone, significantly influence a woman's overall health. These hormones play essential roles in various stages of life, including menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause, shaping both physical and emotional well-being.

As women approach their 40s or older, they start feeling different, experiencing symptoms such as lower energy, weight gain, irritability, and decreased sex drive. All these changes are from the variations in hormonal levels.Stress and lifestyle choices can also significantly impact a woman's well-being, and it's essential to address these issues alongside any hormonal imbalances. 

So, if you're experiencing changes in your body, don't automatically assume that hormones are to blame. 

Take a step back, assess your lifestyle choices, and consider speaking with a healthcare professional to determine the underlying cause of your symptoms.

Unlocking the Secrets of Hormonal Harmony with Ayurveda

Ayurveda focuses on a systemic or holistic approach to any health condition.

• Focus on Gut Health - Ayurveda emphasizes optimum gut health and gut healing with the concept of Agni (digestive fire) and Koshta (gut behavior). It is well known that every disease starts from the gut and ends only when the gut is healed. The proper functioning of the three doshas (vata, pitta, kapha) will allow your body to function in its natural way. If these three bio energies tend to get blocked or go havoc in its function, there will be production and accumulation of metabolic toxins called AMA in your body.
• Healthy Mind with Healthy Body- Even though the importance of spiritual healing came into focus years later by conventional medical systems, the Ayurvedicexpertd always focused on a healthy mind that is "Manasika Arogya". There is no doubt that the connection between mental health and hormones are scientifically proven.
• Both Internal and External Therapies - Ayurveda has both internal medications and external therapies with physical touch that work wonders. This includes healing the physiological changes that bring hormonal imbalance using internal medications and therapies like Shirodhara, abhyanga,  meditation and yoga that can help with the psychological aspect.
• Lifestyle changes - More than half of the focus on Ayurvedic treatment for any disease is change in lifestyle which is much needed in hormonal imbalance. The modern world has moved so fast that it often forgets to take a break. Ayurveda is a medicine of lifestyle that focuses on healthy daily activities like dinacharya (daily regimes ) and adjusting with the changes with nature like Ritu charya ( seasonal regimes ).

Dr Isra Ismail, who always speaks enthusiastically about hormonal health for women says , "Ayurveda lifestyle helps you keep grounded and in balance with nature which is much needed in this fast moving life.Modern day life is the main stressors of hormonal imbalance."

Importance of Practicing Holistic Approach to Healing

The four main areas to consider while mindfully balancing the hormones, as explained in the context above, are :

• Insulin and blood glucose levels.
• Cortisol and stress response
• Thyroid function and metabolism
• Sex hormone balance.

These are controlled in a holistic way by maintaining ;

• Metabolism
• Sleep/wake cycle
• Body temperature
• Hunger/Satiety signals
• Stress response
• Reproductive health.

Managing stress is focused as one of the main steps towards healing hormones. This can be approached by body , mind and spirit healing through meditation, yoga and through gut microbiome balance.

Diet, Herbal Medicines and Lifestyle Modifications

Dr. Ismail emphasizes that many diseases are now evident in both our mental and physical well-being due to hormonal imbalances. These imbalances can be caused by various factors such as puberty, pregnancy, post-delivery, menopause, stress, sedentary lifestyle, poor dietary habits, daytime sleeping, staying up late at night, excessive worrying, lack of self-care, and a negative mindset, among others.

According to Ayurveda experts, restoring hormonal balance can be achieved by;

• Aligning with your circadian rhythm
• Maintaining regular meal times
• Prioritizing early bedtime
• Engaging in physical exercise
• Practicing relaxation techniques like yoga and pranayama.
• Inclusion of fresh fruits like papaya, pineapple and pomegranate, vegetables and food that supply sufficient nourishment and energy to the body
• Intake of flax seeds.
• Avoiding margarine, vegetable and peanut oils and using olive or coconut oils
• Inclusion of herbs to promote hormonal balance such as Neem, Ashwagandha,Shatavari

By adopting these practices one can take steps towards achieving hormonal equilibrium.

Get Into Action!

Take care of your Agni

• Add spices in food. 
• Always drink warm water.
• Make sure you have regular and formed bowel movements.

Sleep in time 

• It is not only about 8 hours of sleep but also the time you sleep.
• Adopt early to bed, early to rise.

Eating habits

• Choose to make food at home more often.
• Eat early and eat light at night
• Eating late at night leads to accumulation of metabolic toxins which in turn increases cholesterol.

Stay grounded and destress yourself

• Engage with nature
• Maintain work life balance
• Remember, the fine days do not come back, spend time with the loved ones.

Conclusion 

Reach your goals of leading a healthy life with healthy and balanced hormones by consulting an ayurveda expert. Your lifestyle changes can be tailored for you according to your priorities . Understanding your Prakriti , Koshta and Agni is important to adapt to any new changes and take medications.

Consult Ayurveda experts at Nirva health.