Ayurveda for Women: Through All Life’s Seasons and Moons

Women’s wellbeing and wellness require a unique approach due to their physiology. Lifestyle practices when tailored to women’s bodies, which are regulated by fluctuating hormones throughout a 28-day cycle, as well as the distinct cycles and seasons of their lives help them come back to their inner radiance. Read ahead to learn all about Ayurveda for women, a topic I am deeply passionate about as an integrative wellness mentor and meditation guide who empowers busy women to realize their full potential by blending ancient Ayurvedic wisdom with modern science.

Ayurveda for Women 

Ayurveda says the more women tuned into the rhythms of nature and seasonal living the more they are able to stay attuned to the rhythms of their own cycles for balance. 

Woman is the vessel of creation and power – the source through which life continues. She is biologically and spiritually central to the well-being of the collective. 

According to the ancient text of Ayurveda Charaka Samhita:

“The woman is the seed field, the bearer of lineage and the one through whom the dhatu (tissues) of generations are shaped.”

This isn’t just biological but also energetic and karmic. The health of a woman determines the health of future generations both physically, mentally and emotionally.

Woman’s Intuition and Mind-Body Connection

Ayurveda links emotional and physical wellbeing. For women this includes- 

• Hormonal Shifts
• Cyclical rhythms – menstrual and lunar
• Intuitive and emotional intelligence. 

The mind and body must be cared for together especially as it relates to stress, grief, anger or overwhelm as these emotions can disrupt the reproductive system, digestion and heart.

Dosha and Stages

Women are said to have:

• Natural Kapha dominance in childhood – growth phase. 
• Pitta dominance during the reproductive phase (transformation)
• Vata dominance post menopause (wisdom)

Imbalances in the Apana (downward moving energy) can cause some shifts in the well being. Which is where we can come back to homeostasis with

1. Nutrition and herbs for doshic balance
2. Pancharkarma detoxes
3. Rasayana therapies
4. Daily and seasonal routines (dinacharya and ritucharya)

Rasayana Therapies and Herbs for Women 

Rasayana translates to rejuvenation therapies or path of essence and can help starting to implement Ayurveda for women. It is a state of living in rejuvenation using herbs, food, ritual and mindset all serve the purpose of restoring vitality and balance. 

When a woman practices rasayana, she isn’t just adding years to her life, she is adding steadiness, radiance and calm to each season of her life. 

Chyawanprash 

This is an herbal jam made with amalaki (indian gooseberry), ghee, honey and other herbs. It’s known to support immunity, digestion and reproductive health. Best taken in the morning with warm water or a tea like Tulsi or milk. You can try our chyawanprash-inspired recipe here, as well.

Ashwagandha 

Ashwagandha is an adaptogenic herb known for helping with energy, managing stress and supporting hormonal balance. Best taken with milk, ghee as a daily tonic or potion

Shatavari 

Shatavari is known to be a women’s tonic. Supports menstrual health, fertility, and transitions like perimenopause and menopause. Again taken best with fat like ghee or when combined with ghee and milk for deep nourishment

Tulsi  

Tulsi helps with balancing Vata and Kapha. And known for helping with stress and daily fatigue. It also has antimicrobial properties and helps balance gut and vaginal flora. Best taken anytime of the day as Tulsi tea. 

Lodhra 

Helps with balancing Pitta and Kapha. Helps also balance excessive pitta in the reproductive system in the form of excessive bleeding and inflammation. Supports healthy menstruation, and a tonic for yoni (reproductive organs). Featured in our Essential Female capsules.

Guduchi 

Helps all doshas(tridoshic). Known as the queen of Rasayansa. Helps with immunity and hormonal balance. Supports fatigue, liver health and inflammation due to hormonal balance. Find Lodhra, Guduchi and Tulsi in The Essential Female supplement. 

Lifestyle Practices for Women 

Incorporating ayurveda into your lifestyle does not mean changing everything. Rather, it’s devoting just a few minutes to self-care rituals that fit your daily routine. Here are some easy Ayurveda for women lifestyle additions to try. Small additions with big impact.

Abhayanga – Self Oil Massage

Abhyanga is my number one favorite. Use daily and all year round, to massage warm or room temperature oil as needed, you can use sesame, almond, or ashwagandha infused oil. Nourishes the skin, tissues, touch is considered a rasayana, also improves lymphatic flow and calms the nervous system

Swedana – Gentle Herbal Steam

Herbal steam therapy can open channels, release toxins and improve lymphatic flow. Use rose petals, neem leaves, tulsi, turmeric, lavender, eucalyptus, Soak in herb infused baths for a full body steam.

Meditation and Breathwork 

Practices like pranayama and dhyana(meditation) are considered rasyanas for the mind. Will help you create space in your mind, cease the fluctuations of the mind and offer you an accessible easy way to manage stress. A simple way to get started is to set a timer for 5 mins on an app like insight timer and focus on our breath. Easy does it most of the time and you will see that the 5 mins will increase to 7 mins and so on. 

Beauty and Strength Rituals for Women 

The simplicity of ayurvedic rituals is that you can create them in your kitchen and from your own pantry. 

Golden Milk 

A drink made with turmeric, ghee and warm milk, or you can try Organic India’s authentic Spiced Turmeric Latte. This supports with menstrual health, tissue healing and also restful sleep along with inflammation

Date Tonic

A tonic made from dates, ghee and almond paste. A traditional tonic that can be had post pregnancy and anytime the nervous system feels depleted. Nourishes reproductive tissues and restores energy. 

Seasonal Rasayanas

Eating in alignment with the season is a foundational rasayana. In spring – detoxifying herbs like cumin, coriander, trikatu are light and supportive. In summer – cooling herbs like fennel, rose and brahmi. Fall/winter – warming tonics using ashwagandha, ginger and turmeric are supportive. 

An inquiry for you  

Ask yourself – what season of life am I in and how can I support myself through it. Choose one of the rituals or practices from here and notice how you feel.

Conclusion 

Ayurveda for women offers a timeless invitation for women to return to themselves, not through quick fixes or rigid routines, but through these daily acts of reverence. When we align our inner rhythms with the cycles of the moon, season and our own inner cycles, wellness becomes more intuitive and a way of life. 

Whether you are navigating, menstruation, fertility, motherhood, perimenopause or post menopausal  years, this ancient science reminds us that each phase holds its own beauty and purpose. Through herbs, rituals and practices, we can come back to our inner vitality not just for ourselves but also for our future generations. May you remember, there is nothing to fix, but just a calling back to your own inner wisdom.