What is Menorrhagia?

A condition is called Menorrhagia when there is prolonged menstrual bleeding that lasts more than 7 days. Or there is excessive menstrual bleeding that requires frequent pad changes.

Menorrhagia is the term used for excessive or prolonged Uterine Bleeding. In Ayurveda, it is termed as Raktapradara or Atyartav where ‘Atya’ means excessive and Artav means Menstrual Blood. The most common factors leading to this are Hormonal Imbalance, Mental Stress, and wrong Diet & Lifestyle habits. It can cause Anemia leading to weakness, dizziness, and blackouts. With low energy, there is difficulty in focusing which also causes irritability.

Abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) is the name given to describe any deviation from the normal menstrual cycle. The average cycle lasts 29 days with a range of 23-39 days with bleeding episodes lasting 2-7 days.

Causes of Menorrhagia

  1. Hormonal imbalances (e.g. excess estrogen, progesterone deficiency).
  2. Uterine conditions like fibroids, polyps, or adenomyosis.
  3. Lifestyle factors: Stress, diet, or Sedentary habits.

Ayurvedic Perspective on Menorrhagia

It is also known as Asrigdara in Ayurveda, where ‘Asri’ means blood and ‘dara’ means excessive flow. When Vata is the predominant Dosha affected, it is called Vataja Asrgdara. When Pitta is the predominant Dosha affected, it is called Pittaja Asrgdara. Both show different symptoms and will have different lines of treatment.  It is caused by:

  1. Imbalance in Pitta dosha (excess heat leading to heavy bleeding) 
  2. Imbalance in Vata dosha (irregular uterine contractions).
  3. Weakness of Rakta dhatu (blood tissue) and 
  4. Impaired digestion (Agni).

The above imbalances are caused by:

  • Wrong Dietary Habits- Excess Spices
  • The excess proportion of Sour, Salty, and Pungent taste in Food
  • Chronic or Persistent Stress
  • Emotional Dysregulation- Uncontrolled Anger
  • Heavy Exercise
  • Excessive Exposure to Heat
  • Excess sexual indulgence
  • Excessive Fasting- which imbalances both Vata & Pitta Doshas

Common Symptoms of Menorrhagia

  1. Pain during Bleeding (Vata imbalance)
  2. Blackish Menstrual Blood
  3. Fever or burning during Menstruation

Is Menorrhagia Affecting You?

Who is at Risk?

  1. Women experiencing prolonged periods or passing large clots.
  2. Those with anemia, fatigue, weakness, or breathlessness during menstruation.
  3. Women with irregular eating habits and poor digestion.
  4. Those suffering from Chronic Stress.

Self-Assessment Checklist

  • Do you change pads every 1-2 hours during menstruation?
  • Do your periods last more than 7 days?
  • Do you experience fatigue or dizziness during periods?

Why Conventional Treatments May Not Be Enough?

Conventional Treatments include Hormonal therapies which often cause side effects. Temporary symptom relief like Painkillers often makes the patient think that the condition is managed. Since the root cause is not addressed, the disease becomes chronic and treatment becomes difficult and time-consuming. Hence, it becomes crucial to make the right diagnosis at the level of imbalanced Doshas and Dhatus. A holistic treatment of Medicines, along with Dietary and Lifestyle changes and techniques for Stress Regulation is a must.

Ayurvedic Treatment for Menorrhagia

Goals of Ayurvedic Treatment for menorrhagia

The goal of Ayurvedic treatment for menorrhagia is to balance Pitta and Vata doshas which primarily get vitiated in the case of Menorrhagia. It also focuses on strengthening Rakta dhatu and improving uterine health. The treatment includes detoxifying the body (Release of Ama) and enhancing digestion (Agni) as these are the root causes for Dosha and Dhatu imbalance in the body.

Ayurvedic Herbs for Menorrhagia

  • Ashoka (Saraca asoca): Regulates menstrual flow and strengthens the uterus.
  • Lodhra (Symplocos racemosa): Reduces excessive bleeding and inflammation.
  • Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus): Nourishes reproductive tissues and balances hormones.
  • Nagkesar (Mesua ferrea): Controls heavy bleeding.
  • Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia): Improves immunity and reduces Pitta-related inflammation.

Ayurvedic Therapies for Menorrhagia

  • Panchakarma Detoxification:
    • Uttar Basti: A specialized enema for uterine health.
    • Virechana (Purgation): Balances Pitta dosha and removes toxins.
  • Abhyanga (Oil Massage): Relaxes the body and balances Vata dosha.

Home Remedies for Menorrhagia

  1. Coriander Seed Water: Boil 1 tsp of coriander seeds in water, strain, and drink to reduce bleeding.
  2. Amla Juice: Improves iron levels and strengthens Rakta dhatu.
  3. Turmeric Milk: Reduces inflammation and supports hormonal balance.
  4. Take 1 tsp of Shatavri Kalpha with milk daily.

Preventive Measures for Menorrhagia

  1. Follow a balanced diet with iron-rich foods like spinach and beetroot.
  2. Avoid spicy and oily foods that aggravate Pitta dosha.
  3. Avoid excess Salty, Pungent & Sour food items.
  4. Moderation in sexual indulgence.
  5. Avoid exposure to extreme heat

Yoga Therapy for Menorrhagia

Yoga Therapy looks at the entire condition holistically. It focuses on Physical Asanas, Pranayama, Deep Relaxation Therapy (DRT), and Dharana Practices for a focused Mind. In the case of Menorrhagia, Stress can play a major role in disturning hormones and affecting physiology. Hence, learning to manage Stress becomes an important factor. A lifestyle that balances Rest and Movement is difficult to attain, but with Yogasana practices, it can be very well managed. This supports proper digestion and harmony between the Gut-Brain axis. Managing emotions can improve digestion and reduce the intensity of symptoms. It is best to consult a Yoga Therapist before choosing your practices as these practices can affect differently in different conditions. 

1. Practice Yogasanas- to support reproductive health (Annamaya Kosha)

  • Sithilikarana Vyayama
  • Supta Baddha Konasana
  • Balasana 
  • Marichyasana
  • Pavanmuktasana Kriya
  • Viparita Karni
  • Sarvangasana
  • Naukasana
  • Navasana
  • Savasana

2. Pranayama Practices- To balance hormones & improve overall Physiology (Pranayama Kosha)

  • Sectional Breathing
  • Chandra Anulom Vilom
  • Nadi Shodhana
  • Seetali
  • Bhramari

3. Dharana techniques- To have a focused mind and release Stress (Manomaya Kosha)

  • Focussed Breathing
  • Dot Trataka
  • Guided Meditation
  • MSRT
  • PET

4. DRT (Deep Relataion Therapy)- To Relax the entire Mind-Body (Manomaya Kosha)

  • Yoga Nidra
  • Mantra Chanting
  • Ajapa Japa

Precautions and When to Seek Ayurvedic Guidance

Just home remedies will not provide a solution. It is important to work with a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner to get the root cause treated. Self-medication of herbs can aggravate the present condition or lead to complications. Complications include Weakness & Giddiness, Blackouts, Anaemia, and Convulsions. This can lead to emergencies that require immediate medical attention.