Effect of Rasayan Therapy in Post-Menopausal Geriatric Females: A Holistic and Conceptual Approach

Abstract

Menopause is just puberty’s evil sister. Geriatric women are passing through various physiological changes of body like premenopausal symptoms, perimenopause and post menopause. Menopause is a normal physiologic process in ageing women. Although many women over age 65 have persistent menopausal symptoms, there are limited data to guide therapy among older women. Approximately 9-16% of women over the age of 65 continue to have menopausal symptoms and 13.7% of those women are using some form of menopausal hormone therapy (HT). In geriatric age cognitive disturbance, urinary symptoms, vasomotor symptoms, psychogenic symptoms, sexual dysfunction, mood changes etc. have been linked to hormonal changes and increasing age among females. These changes are generally due to disturbed Vata dosha and Dhatukhaya. In geriatric women it is better to balance aggravated doshas so that the intensity of these diseases will be far less. This can be restrained with the unique therapeutic method known as Rasayana chikitsa which minimize the intensity of problems occurring during this phase of life. The focus of the article is to describe the pathophysiologic symptoms related to menopausal transition and to review the effect of rasayana therapy in geriatric women with special care of menopausal symptoms. If implemented properly Rasayana can give a better result instead of hormonal replacement therapy.