Moon Cycle
It is no mystery that menstruation aligns directly with nature and that, as such, the womb waxes and wanes similarly to the moon; hence - the moon cycle. Ayurveda acknowledges the menstrual cycle, including menopause, as a vital sign that sheds light on the overall health of the person. In terms of the elements and the agni, the menstruation give a lot of early insight to the body's health.
When in a balanced state, we experience the power of womanhood, we connect to our Divine Shakti, and we can embrace the magic and beauty of our innate connection to nature and, therein, our interconnectedness as a species and as spiritual and earthly beings with the profound ability to create.
It is within our feminine divinity that we experience all of the opportunities of the creative expression and power attached to our unique experience as moon creatures.
According to Ayurveda, menstrual blood is a by-product of lymph or “rasa dhatu”. Our rasa is affected by what, how and when we consume. Plasma & blood are the first tissue layers to be produced in the development of tissues in the body and are the first to be affected by digestion. Menstruation is a byproduct of these tissue layers. Stress, diet, sleep, lifestyle, etc. affect menstruation almost immediately because of their connection to blood and plasma.
In order to assess the health of our moon, it is important to understand some of the basics around it. When we can put our fingers on the root of discomfort, symptoms or irregularity, only then can we implement some simple and nourishing practices to nurture the health of our cycle, and therefore the health of our spirit as womb bearers.
Check your cycle
First of all, it's important to check your cycle. Just because you are having a period doesn't mean you are “cycling”. And just because you are not, doesn't mean you have an unhealthy balance of hormones working. If you tune in, you will notice the phases.
How to Track:
Basal Body Temperature: Because of progesterone, mid-cycle your temperature increases about .5 degrees and stays that level until the hormones drop. Take your temp every morning before anything else & record it . If you see this rise in temperature then you know you are having a cycle. If you are not having this change of temp, there could be an issue in how your body is making progesterone.
Cervical Mucus: When balanced, you will experience dryness the first 1-6 days, day 7-9 the mucus becomes creamier and has an increase in water content. Days 10-11mucus is wet and clear. Then, mucus thickens and is like egg whites days 13-14. Now, it starts to become drier. You can determined the amount of estrogen you are producing based on the length of the mucus (less mucus or days = less estrogen. More mucus or more days = more estrogen production.)
Cervical Position: The position of your cervix changes with the cycle. It is typically hard and closed until it becomes time for ovulation. The cervix then lowers and softens during ovulation.
Energy, Mood, Sex Drive: all these things will cycle.
Is the Cycle Optimal?
Let's look at qualities and elements showing up in the cycle to decipher the health of your cycle, and therefore, your hormones.
Balanced Hormones show up as:
Normal Amount of Blood Production: 1 anjali (1 hand cup, 50cc of blood throughout cycle)
Pain-free
Bright red blood
No foul smell
Blood does not stain clothing.
Now we will break down the cycle according to the doshas and the symptoms attached to each doshic time of the cycle.
Vata Time of Cycle:
Days 1-5 are considered the vata time of the cycle. Vata is responsible for movement in the body, including pushing the menstruum downward and out of the body. Because of its qualities of light, mobile, dry and cool, vata can be responsible for some of the symptoms that often occur in the early days of menstruation. Read more about vata dosha below. Imbalanced vata is responsible for:
Dryness or lightening of the flow
Pain that is sharp &/or spasmodic in the lower abdomen (this is the seat of vata) or back. Pain is caused by intense uterine contractions preventing proper blood flow. The cold quality of vata causes constriction, therefore cold foods, weather, drinks and activities will increase pain. Where there is pain, there is vata. The uterus contracts so much that the blood can't get to the uterus so there is low oxygen and is hypoxic, releasing chemicals that cause pain and constriction.
Spotting before or after the flow- plug isn’t flowing well and we see older blood show up
Darkness in color of blood
Stiffness in the body - cold, uptight, constriction
Emotions of anxiety, nervousness or fear
Some constipation (at the start or right before the cycle)
Frothiness to the flow
Infrequent or irregular cycle. Frequency depends on imbalance. Infrequency of menses is actually indicative of higher vata imbalance.
Some of the ways we can support vata dosha and relieve symptoms above include:
(note: treatment of the doshas involves preemptive support. They become much more difficult to treat once they are aggravated and, therefore, it is recommended that we start treating the above symptoms about a week or so before the moon cycle begins, when possible)
- In the week leading up to your moon and during heavy bleeding, consume a warm, nourishing, oily and grounding diet. Root vegetables, grains, dairy products, and ghee are incredibly supportive of vata dosha.
- Until vata symptoms are mostly resolved, generally avoid stimulants, which aggravate vata dosha and can increase anxiety, heightened sensitivity and low self-esteem.
- Always using grounding meditation, gentle breathing exercises, and herbs that support a strong mind are helpful. Nasya, individualized churnas and medicated ghees are most effective. Ashwagandha, licorice, shatavari and brahmi, specifically, support vata in the mind and reproductive system.
- Use a castor oil pack or a castor oil purge to open things up in the days leading up to the beginning of your cycle
- Take triphala the week before menses to keep things opened up (1/2 - 1 tsp each night is plenty)
- Utilize the creativity that vata provides. Engage in slow and restful projects that don’t require an outcome but that fill the soul for the sake of joy and pleasure.
Kapha Time of the Cycle:
Days 4 or 5 - 14 are considered the kapha stage of the moon cycle. In the Kapha time, the body focuses on rebuilding the endometrium using estrogen, which is the building hormone. This restores strength to the body and prepares it for conception. Because of its dense, stagnant and heavy nature, kapha can result in some of the following symptoms:
Dull pain
Heavier and longer flow, due to tissue accumulation and kapha in the reproductive tissues
Increases mucus in the flow and possibly a slightly yellow tinge
Depression, greed, attachment
Emotional eating
Swelling and water retention in the breast, legs, hands or face
Increased sluggishness, sleepiness
Slower metabolism leading to increased weight
Difficulty losing weight
Sinus congestion and allergies
Tissue density elsewhere in the body
Some of the ways we can support kapha dosha and relieve symptoms above include:
In the early days of bleeding, take decongestant herbs to allow them to accumulate in the system before kapha time occurs. Turmeric, aloe, shatavari and ashoka are especially helpful.
Take warm teas during kapha time of cycle. Cinnamon, ginger, and turmeric are ideal.
An increase in raw and cooked fruits and vegetables supports kapha as they are high in fiber and have low density. Pepper, cardamom and ginger are ideal spices to stimulate digestion and overall energy during kapha time .
Increased movement is highly beneficial for kapha dosha and can begin after heavy bleeding days. A brisk walk, powerful yoga class, running stairs or spin help stimulate sweat and circulation, therefore supporting an aggravated kapha dosha
Drybrush or take salt baths to keep the movement of the body flowing during kapha time.
Kapabalti pranayama helps move energy in the body and relieves stagnancy.
Create for the sake of completion and rememberance. Find a project that connects you to things you love, desire and maybe even want to leave behind for loved ones some day.
Pitta Time of the Cycle:
Pitta occurs during days 14-18 of the cycle and is mainly responsible for the luteal phase. During this time the body is preparing to take on new life and, therefore, requires the transformative quality of pitta dosha. Pitta = progesterone and, with it, results in higher libido but, can lead to heat in the liver. Sometimes people experience high appetite or even intense cravings as a result of the high fire element in the body. Pitta is hot, sharp and mobile, and when out of balance can result in:
Headache or migraines (with or without the cycle)
Tender breasts with cycle
Nausea or vomiting with the cycle
Acne accompanying or before the menstrual cycle
Sensation of heat or burning
Irritability, anger, frustration
Fleshy or foul smelling flow
Looser stools with cycle
Heat opening the channels and creating heavier flow
Very sharp hunger
Skin challenges, hives, rashes
Burning hands and feet
Hair loss
Balance pitta with the following practices:
Eat colorful and cruciferous vegetables, avoiding spicy and overly heating foods. Coconut, watermelon, flax seeds and ghee are helpful for relieving heat. This is a great time for smoothies (at room temperature or just a little bit cool) as the body is more easily able to digest & metabolize mixed fruits and foods during this high agni time of the month.
Spice or drink liquids or teas with aloe, turmeric, spirulina, kutki, mint and nettle because they are relieving to the heat in the liver.
Practice exercises that are somewhat more cooling but that get the heart going and relieve the heat in the mind; hiking in the cool mountains and gentle yoga are good activities during pitta time.
Do heat relieving pranayama exercises. Sitali is one such effective breathing practice.
Place the feet in (cool) water and on the soil to increase connection to earth and grounding and to overcome feelings of anger and criticism.
Get some $hit done. Pitta helps produce and this is a great time to pick up those projects that require fire, clarity and ambition.
Moon cycles are certainly not simple and consume a great deal of one’s energy and time, which is why understanding them and preemptively supporting the body throughout the entire cycle is the best way to experience ideal cycles. We talk often about “that time of the month” but sometimes fail to consider that every single day is one in a cycle and whether we are actively bleeding or not, our body is still in “cycle”.
Women simply do not experience the cycle of hormones that men experience and, therefore, it is important to treat the body based on where it is at in cycle to experience the highest results and to, possibly, fall back in love with our womanhood and the Divinity attached to it.
