I get where you’re coming from. Balancing contraception’s benefits with side effects is no easy task. Ayurveda offers many ways to tackle these issues. Starting with your current side effects – weight gain, mood swings, fatigue, etc. – these might be linked to an imbalance in your kapha and vata doshas.
For the weight gain and water retention, look at your diet first. Try to incorporate more warm, light foods, and reduce heavy, oily, and cold foods. Spices like ginger, turmeric, and black pepper can help boost your agni, or digestive fire, which aids metabolism. Drinking warm water throughout the day might also help with water retention.
Now those mood swings and fatigue could be due to hormonal imbalances affecting vata, so grounding practices are key. Regular routines are huge, getting to bed and waking up at the same time every day. Practicing yoga, especially poses like forward bends can calm vata. Pranayama, especially alternate nostril breathing, can help stabilise your mood.
Herbs can also lend a hand. Ashwagandha is well known for balancing hormones and reducing stress. Shatavari is another one that supports female reproductive health and feelings of well-being. For fatigue, Chyawanprash, an Ayurvedic rasayana, could provide energy and boost immunity.
Now, when it comes to Ayurvedic approaches to contraception — it’s mostly about fertility awareness and timing intercourse. However, it’s not as foolproof as contraceptive pills so might not be what you’re looking for if a highly reliable form is what you need. Still, contraceptive reliability should not be messed with based on any general advice.
Ayurveda strongly emphasizes mental well-being as part of overall health. To improve mental clarity, set aside time for meditation or mindfulness activities daily. Avoid overstimulation, cut back screen time before bed and make sure you have downtime. Lastly, balance is really about lifestyle. So cultivating a lifestyle in tune with nature and your own body is key.
If these changes do not ease things up, don’t hesitate to consult a healthcare professional. Balancing efficacy and side effects requires a delicate dance, and your health should come first.
