How does Ashwagandha help with PCOS
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a very common endocrine disturbance affecting women between 15 to 30 years of age. Around 73% of women suffering from PCOS experience infertility due to anovulation.
What happens in PCOS?
Hormonal imbalance caused by the condition prevents follicles from growing and maturing to release egg cells. These affected or immature follicles remain in the ovary and form a cyst. With every ovarian cycle a new cyst is formed, leading to multiple ovarian cysts.
Apart from the cysts, high levels of male hormones and irregular or skipped periods are some of the consequences of this condition.
Around 50% of the women with PCOS are overweight or obese and are at increased risk of a fatty liver. They might also have elevated levels of insulin, which is the hormone that helps control blood sugar levels. By the age of forty, around 10% of overweight women with PCOS develop type 2 diabetes and up to 35% develop prediabetes (higher-than-normal blood sugar levels that do not reach the cutoff for diabetes). Obesity and increased insulin levels further increase the production of androgens in polycystic ovary syndrome.
What causes it?
While there isn’t a breakthrough on what exactly causes it, genes, insulin resistance, and inflammation have all been linked to PCOS.
Ayurveda classifies PCOS as a kapha disorder. Kapha blocks the other two doshas vata and pitta, hence movement of the ovum is obstructed and the transformation process is suppressed.
What are the symptoms of PCOS?
1) Weight gain
2) Fatigue
3) Excessive hair growth or hirsutism
4) Thinning hair on the head. Hair loss related to PCOS may increase in middle age.
5) Infertility – PCOS is a leading cause of female infertility
6) Acne.
7) Pelvic pain
8) Headaches
9) Insomnia & sleep apnea
How is Ashwagandha useful for PCOS?
Ashwagandha reduces Kapha and Vata and thereby normalizes imbalanced Vata and Kapha which are responsible for PCOS. It also has a therapeutic effect in problems pertaining to the reproductive system.
This brilliant herb’s adaptogenic properties (anti-stress agents) help balance hormone levels & thyroid functions, support adrenal function, normalizes cortisol levels and maintains insulin levels in the body.
It also produces a calming, anti‐anxiety, highly‐stabilizing effect on the mind. Ashwagandha also corrects irregular menstrual cycles and reduces menstrual pain.
Ashwagandha is the key component in Ayurahar’s ISHI which also contains iron, calcium, carotene and vit C which aids in basic vitamin supplementation and prevents anemia.
