Very bad with menstruation - #125

I’m sorry to hear about the painful PMS, nausea, and the anxiety you’re experiencing, especially with the added complexity of taking Cipralex for anxiety disorder. In Ayurveda, such symptoms during the menstrual cycle can be related to imbalances in the doshas, particularly vata and pitta. Vata governs movement in the body, and when it’s aggravated, it can lead to anxiety, insomnia, and irregular menstruation. Pitta, which controls heat and metabolism, may cause increased pain and inflammation, leading to severe cramps and nausea. To help manage these symptoms, Ayurveda recommends using herbs that calm the nervous system and balance the doshas. Ashwagandha and brahmi are excellent for reducing anxiety and promoting restful sleep, while shatavari is known to support women’s reproductive health and regulate the menstrual cycle. These herbs can help soothe both your mind and body during PMS and menstruation. Externally, applying warm sesame oil or castor oil to the lower abdomen and massaging gently can help relieve cramping. You can also practice gentle yoga or pranayama (breathing exercises) to calm your mind and reduce stress. It’s important to maintain a pitta-pacifying diet during your menstrual cycle, which means avoiding spicy, sour, and fried foods. Instead, focus on eating warm, cooked meals, and include cooling and calming foods like cucumbers, leafy greens, and coconut water.

Balancing these symptoms can feel overwhelming, especially when you’ve already got an anxiety disorder on your plate. It sounds like these recent menstrual changes are causing some really intense experiences for you… let’s see if we can unpack what’s going on and help you manage it, hopefully a bit better.

Okay so, that elevated BP, heart palpitations and nausea you noticed, could be related to several issues. Often intense pain from menstruation can trigger these stress responses in the body. Add in that macrophysical interaction between anxiety and your cycle, and it can get quite challenging. Ayuveda sees these symptoms as possible vata imbalances, so it’s as if unsettled air (vata) is blowing things out of balance.

One thing we can try, is warming your system but maybe in a more holistic way? I know you used a hot water bottle, which is great! Keep doing that, but also think about cozying up with some warm, soothing herbal teas. Ginger tea with a pinch of ajwain (carom seeds) might be really grounding and can help calm nausea too.

Aim for warm, easy-to-digest foods, like khichadi, with some ghee to nourish and stabilize. Avoid cold or raw foods for now, they’re likely aggravating the vata more. Rest is super important, so do what you can to prioritize better sleep. Maybe try some gentle yoga or breathing exercises before bed to ease the mind a lil!

Now, I know you’re on Cipralex, which is important to continue as prescribed. Make sure the sudden BP change wasn’t just a fluke. If these episodes with significant increases in BP keep happening, I’d really recommend discussing it with your doctor right away. They need to rule out anything more serious that might need a different treatment strategy, especially with your existing medication.

Remember, this is just a starting point to bring back some balance. Give yourself time and be gentle on yourself.