Menopause vs perimenopause: Ayurvedic insights, symptoms and remedies

IN AYURVEDIC medicine, the Doshas, namely Vata, Pitta and Kapha, are inherent pathogenic and natural factors that play a significant role in our physical, emotional and mental well-being.

- DR TAMLYN GOVENDER

Perimenopause and menopause signal a profound shift in the Doshas from the transformative role of Pitta to the erratic phase of Vata.

Understanding these phases through Ayurveda offers a path to restore balance and embrace this natural progression.

Menopause and perimenopause are linked to the natural depletion of reproductive tissues and hormones, influenced by lifestyle, diet and accumulated stress over time.

Perimenopause marks the transitional phase before menopause, and it often begins in the late thirties or early forties, marked by hormonal ebbs and flows that stir up imbalances of the Doshas.

As Pitta, which governs metabolism and the endocrine system, wanes, and Vata rises, women may experience:

Hot flashes, night sweats, irritability and mood swings arise from fluctuating oestrogen and progesterone, disrupting the body's digestive fire.