What is
PCOS?
PCOS or
Polycystic ovarian syndrome is the most common endocrine abnormality in
reproductive age women. PCOS is diagnosed in the presence of any two of the
following three criteria -
1) Oligo/ anovulation,
2) polycystic ovaries and
3) Symptoms of excess
androgen (clinical and biochemical).
The
disorder accounts for 30% of all infertility cases with 73% of suffering from
PCOS experiencing infertility due to anovulation.
What are
the causes of PCOS?
Multiple
factors are involved in the pathogenesis of PCOS. Some of them are-
1) Insulin resistance
2) Hormonal imbalance
3) Genetic factor
4) Stress and psychological
factors
5) Sedentary life style, lack
of exercise and dietary variations
How do I
come know that I am suffering from PCOS?
Most of
the times diagnosis of PCOS is clinical (based on clinical signs and symptoms)
and confirmed with the help of array of laboratory investigations and
ultrasound. There are multiple clinical signs (which your doctor and you can see and measure) and symptoms (which you can feel yourself) by which you would come to know that you are suffering from PCOS.
Very
often the signs and symptoms of PCOS are noticed soon after one gets first
period. In some females it may develop later, in reproductive age.
The
main features of PCOS are
1) Menstrual abnormalities /
Irregular periods: This is the most common characteristic. Your menstrual
cycle may get prolonged (more than 35 days cycle or less than eight menstrual
cycles a year or failure to menstruate for four months or longer). Prolonged
periods may be associated with scanty or heavy bleeding.
2) Polycystic ovaries : Ovaries enlarged with multiple cysts in it
cysts ( small fluid filled pockets surrounding ovum or eggs)
3) Oligo- ovulation or
anovulation: In women with ovaries do release eggs regularly or not at all release eggs
4) Hyper-androgenism: High
levels of "male hormones" called androgens in your body
5)
Insulin resistance: increased level of serum insulin
Few other important features of PCOS are
·
Increasing obesity (esp. central obesity)
·
Hirsutism : Excess growth of male pattern hair on
face, chest, back and buttocks
·
Skin thickening and discoloration commonly around
neck, inner thighs and axilla
·
Thinning of hair and hair loss from head
·
Pimples and oily skin
·
difficulty getting pregnant (because of irregular
ovulation or failure to ovulate)
·
PCOS is also associated with an increased risk of
developing health problems in later life, such as type 2 diabetes and high
cholesterol levels.
serum insulin level, Androstenedione level, FSH and LH levels and thyroid function test etc.
Ayurvedic Treatment:
Suffering
from PCOD is a frustrating experience for women. Its complex pathological
cascade make the treatment difficult and challenging.
Ayurveda
says, three doshas (vata, pitta & kapha) govern
activities in human body like digestion, assimilation, metabolism at macro and
micro level. They are also instrumental in normal functioning of female
reproductive system.
Vata esp. apan vayu
(one among the 5 types of vata) is
responsible for movement of follicles during ovarian cycle and releasing the
matured ovum and its further movement in the tube & uterus. It also controls surge of different hormones
at specific time during menstrual cycle so that hypothalamus-pituitary-ovarian
axis is maintained & so the menstruation at regular interval is
preserved.
Pitta is responsible for transformation of hormones at different
stages of Ovarian & menstrual cycle.
Kapha
nourishes tissue development of reproductive system with its heavy and cool
qualities and enhances follicular growth, mucosal growth of fallopian tube and
uterus prevents from drying (Kashaya).
Any obstruction or abnormality in the
function of these three doshas lead
to menstrual abnormalities. Hence the treatment revolves around balancing three
doshas esp. vatadosha, with cleansing, detoxifying treatment modalities and
regulating functions of reproductive system.
To
correct imbalance in three doshas in
PCOS, lifestyle changes is first line therapy. Majority of PCOS women are
overweight. Prevention of excess weight gain can be achieved by adopting
dietary regimen and structured exercise as per Ayurveda and yoga guidelines.
Food which is easily digestible (laghu),
with high fiber, low saturated fat and low high glycemic index carbohydrate
should be consumed. Consume whole grain- e.g. Ragi (Eleusinecoracana), Shashtishaali
(red rice), Yava (barley) etc., and Green
leafy vegetables-rich in minerals, vitamins and nutrients, Low glycaemic index
whole fruits-eg. apples, pears, plums,
prunes etc. that contain fiber, vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients, Dry
fruits- dates, figs and raisins, should be consumed.
Different
herbs and herbal medicines can be used. Medicine like trikatu, Nagarmotha, hingvashtak churna, chandraprabha vati aarogya
vardhini, shilajit. kanchanar guggulu etc. can be given on before food
which improve function of digestive fire
and accelerate basal metabolism.
Some herbs like dashamool, kumari (aloe Vera), ashoka (saraca indica) and shatavari contain phytoestrogens and
phytonutrients which can be taken in PCOS under medical supervision.
Formulation like Phalaghrita which is made from herbs and cow ghee are used to
balance out hormones.
Take powder of ajawain (celery seeds), Dhanyak (coriander
seeds), shatapushpaa (fennel seeds), tvak
(cinnamon) and atasi (flax seeds)
In
panchakarma (detox treatment); basti (therapeutic enema therapy) is the.
Abhyanga (body massage with medicinal
oils) and steaming with vata pacifying
herbs, basti and uttar basti are the effective treatments to bring Vata in physiologically balanced state.
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