Infertility is the incapacity of the woman to conceive even after one year of regular sexual union without the use of contraceptives or to retain the fetus till child birth. This inability to conceive may be a result of impotence on the part of the male partner or it could be that of the female.
For human reproduction to take place, the male sperm and the female ovum are to blend under favourable conditions. For this, there should be a fertile ovary and a medically perfect ovarian tube. When this is not possible infertility occurs. Besides, pregnancy is also not possible in women with irregular menstrual cycles as an irregular menstrual cycle would suggest an improper production of ova. Partial or complete blockage of ovarian tubes, endometriosis, polycystic ovarian disease, ovarian cysts and imbalances in hormone production are also cause infertility in women.
Ayurveda views infertility to be the result of imbalance in ones' natural doshas i.e. vata, pita and kapha. It is mostly the kapha dosha that is affected due to the modern and reckless life style and thus bringing in infertility. This results in damaging the basic digestion processes of the minerals and thus culminates in toxic deposition in the body. Imbalance in the doshas is a result of under nutrition, improper diet and excessive consumption of bakery items and fast foods with excess fat content, vegetables and fruits produced using pesticides and other chemicals, poor digestion, negative emotions, stress etc. Hereditary factors also do play a vital part in causing infertility.
All treatments in Ayurveda are prescribed only after a careful diagnosis of the patient's body constitution, family history, sex, age, stage of the disease etc. This will enable the patient to receive treatments that are specifically suited to his very needs. Ayurveda treatments will therefore vary from patient to patient.
The first consultation with an Ayurveda doctor, including the diagnosis will last for more than an hour. The basic step in the diagnosis will be to find the person's body humor (Dosha) - Vata, Pita or Kapha, because it is the imbalance of these body humors that creates this infertility.
The dominance of dosha in a person is found by asking several questions on his behavior, food habits, sleeping patterns, age, height & weight, place of life, profession, health problems and medical reports etc. Ayurveda diagnosis comprises of clinical and laboratory tests also.
Pulse, tongue, nail, and eye examinations are important diagnosis methods used to reveal a person's body humor and its imbalance. This will help the doctor in treating the disease.
Pulse diagnosis in Ayurveda is not just counting the beats. It also reveals the health status of the entire body constitution, including the dosha imbalance and the health of the various body organs.
In tongue diagnosis, the doctor checks the general appearance, colour and coating of the tongue. In Ayurveda, as different areas of the tongue correspond to different organs of the body, the Ayurvedic practitioner can determine which organs of the body are out of balance by having a detailed tongue examination.
Nail examination is done to check the type, colour and shape of the person's nail. Imbalances of doshas are easily detected on close examination.
In the eye diagnosis, the colour, size and even the shape of the eyes are important in determining the dosha dominance of a person. His mental status, nervousness, anxiety, confidence level etc can also be learned through eye diagnosis.
A preliminary consultation with Ayurveda doctors online is also possible nowadays for guests worldwide.
After the diagnosis, the doctor sets out to treat the patient in a very systematic manner. This would include a set of appropriate Panchakarma treatments and Rasayana therapies .
The Panchakarma Treatments are meant to flush out the toxins, They are classified as pre-purification, main purification and post purification phases and include various types of therapies like oil massages, fermented liquid massages, medicinal enemas, herbal purification methods.
The Rasayana Therapies are meant to nourish the body, to bring the doshas back to balance and to regenerate the body.These comprise diet regulations, daily regimens, intake of oral medicines and ayurveda tonics, yoga and a stress free life. After the treatment the ayurveda doctors will advise you how to lead a healthy life. The beneifts and results of the treatment are shown only after the Rasyana Treatment is over and doctors advise is strictly followed. The results will manifest itself normally after 3 to 4 weeks as the body takes time to regenerate itself.
Pre-purification therapies
Pre-purification therapies are the first ones applied to loosen the toxins, open up the circulation channels and get the body ready for discarding these wastes. These methods are highly relaxing for the body and mind.
. The following pre-purification methods are usually adopted for curing infertility.
Snehapanam is an important pre purification therapy which consists of oral intake of medicated ghee and sesame oil for a specified number of days. This unique treatment helps flush out the toxins from the body. Amaltas, guggul, ginger, neem, onion, chopchini, tribhala etc. are the ingredients used for its preparation. Apart from being a purva karma treatment in curing infertility, snehapanam also improves the delicacy of the skin, enhaDiagnosisnces memory and the grasping power of an individual.
Swedanam is the process by which the body is made to sweat and perspire thus throwing out the waste products and ridding the body off impurities through the sweat glands. Through this process, all the channels are cleared and it helps control the vata doshas. This is done in two ways.
A- Through external application of heat or retention of the body heat such as through exercise or through the use of heavy clothes and blankets.
B- Remaining in a well - heated chamber for a considerable period of time or inhaling medicated steam. This helps the patient to sweat considerably and helps to throw out the impurities through the pores of the skin.
This is the phase of elimination of toxins that were loosened at the pre purification treatment stage. These therapies are highly potential methods and are usually overseen by doctors. The commonly adopted Panchakarma treatments for Infertility are Vamanam, Virechanam and Vasthi.
Vamanam- is also known as therapeutic vomiting. It is a treatment that eliminates the vitiated doshas (waste products) through the upper gastro-intestinal track. It expels and cleanses undigested food, Kapha and Pitta. It has been found to be highly effective in treating infertility. Herbs generally used in vamanam include - emetic nut, sweet flag, liquorices etc.
Virechanam consists of intake of safe herbal medicines leading to the elimination of the poisonous wastes through the anal route. This cleansing of the mid zone benefits the entire body system. The appetite and body strength increases making you a more active and energetic person.
Vasthi is an enema therapy and is considered the ace colon cleaning panchakarma treatment. In this form of treatment special medicines are introduced through the anal route for the evacuation of accumulated toxins and metabolic wastes. It is highly recommended in the treatment of infertility.
These are body nourishing therapies to rejuvenate the body and mind after the Panchakarma treatments. They keep the enzymes in the tissue cells in their normal functioning condition, restore and balance the body functions and maintain the overall health and well being of an individual for much longer periods after the Panchakarma course. Rasayana includes oral medicines and diet regulation.
The oral medicines used for infertility will be extracts of pure medicinal herbs, leaves, spices etc. These are prepared specifically to restore the lost balance and to provide the needed inputs to cure infertility. Kashayams and Arishtams - herbal decoctions and fermentations Lehyams - semi solid formulation are commonly prescribed.
Spices such as guggulu, cumin (which purifies the uterus in women and the urinary tract in men) turmeric (to improve the interaction between hormones and target tissues), Sesame seeds, Piper Longum, fenugreek, sarsaparilla and black cumin's are some of the herbs and spices included in the ayurveda preparations for the treatment of infertility. Once the kashayams, aristams and lehyams containg these medicinal herbs and spices are consumed, the ovulation becomes normal and conception will soon take place.
Diet regulation will be suggested for patients suffering from infertility during and after the treatment. These foods and herbs enhance the seven shukra dhattus making it possible to conceive. Fresh organic fruits and vegetables, whole grains, dairy proteins including milk and lassie, almonds, sweet juicy fruits such as mangoes, peaches, plums, and pears, bananas etc…and, dried fruits such as dates, figs and raisins increase the shukra dhatus.
Vegetable juices and soups are good. Juices of carrot, beetroot and cucumber mixed together are also beneficial. Spicy food, gas causing vegetables, sweets, excess intake of tea, coffee, and nicotine etc. should be avoided.
You can find out your type of prakruthi and decide a diet for yourself.
Yoga and meditation are always beneficial and have always played a vital part in curing every type of disease. For those suffering from infertility, certain asanas help to soften and lessen the tension in the pelvis region and abdomen.
For women, bound angle pose, cobra pose and other compression poses are especially beneficial. Yoga exercises done every day replenish and rebalance the physical and emotional systems that are depleted by the everyday stresses that lie so heavy on our lives. Yoga makes it possible to rest on a strong base of confidence and strength within oneself.
Life Style for Infertility:
Patients suffering from infertility should avoid tension and anxiety in their daily lives. It is also advised to take at least one or two weeks rest after the Panchakarma experience. At this time the body is weak after a purification process and needs time to get back to normalcy. One should avoid strenuous exercise, late nights, viewing television for long periods and stimulating experiences. However, light yoga postures, meditations and breathing exercises are advised.
