DOSHIC VARIATION DURING PHASES OF MENSTRUAL CYCLE

Abstract

Though stri (female) and purusha (male) are the main contributors to the universal progeny but more
importance has been given to stri as it is only her in which conception takes place, conceptive material
develops from ovum to fetus and who gives shelter to garbha (fetus) for complete 9 months. Artava
pravritti or menstruation in females is considered as an important physiological process which plays an
important role in the formation of garbha. Artava (menstruation) is mentioned as upadhatu of first and
foremost dhatu, rasa. During each menstrual cycle, level of gonadotropes varies in a specific pattern
which leads to a series of events termed as Follicular phase, Ovulatory phase and Luteal phase and
Menstrual phase. In the same way, ayurveda has also classified artava or rituchakra (menstrual cycle)
as ritukala, rituvyateetakala and rajakala respectively. There is a specific pattern of doshasanchaya
(collection of doshas), doshakopa (aggravation of doshas) and doshashamana (pacification of doshas)
during these three kalas. Most of the diseases which are related to the menstruation or menstrual cycle
are because of imbalance of dosha at that kala. In this article, an attempt has been made to explain
doshavastha (state of dosha) during all the phases of menstrual cycle so that one should consider doshic
imbalance according to symptomatology and phase of occurrence of symptoms and managed
accordingly.