Sacred Cycles: Nurturing Our Reproductive Health Episode 1

Balancing Your Menstrual Cycle with Ayurveda

Hi everyone, and welcome to the very first episode of Sacred Cycles: Nurturing Our Reproductive Health! I’m your host, Carrissa Smith, and I’m so excited to have you here with me today. As a midwife, doula, and Ayurvedic counselor, I’ve dedicated my life to helping individuals and families navigate their journey through fertility, pregnancy, birth, and beyond. This podcast is a space where we’ll explore holistic approaches to health and well-being, blending ancient wisdom with modern insights to support you every step of the way.

Now, before we dive in, I want to take a moment to say thank you for being here. Whether you’re new to these topics or already deep into your wellness journey, I truly appreciate the time you’re taking to listen, reflect, and hopefully apply some of the insights you’ll gain along the way.

Today, I want to kick things off by talking about how to support and improve your menstrual cycle using Ayurveda.

So many of us struggle with irregular periods, painful cramps, PMS, heavy bleeding, or missing cycles altogether—but did you know that your cycle is a direct reflection of your overall health? Ayurveda, the world’s oldest holistic health system, offers profound wisdom on how to restore hormonal balance, improve fertility, and ease menstrual discomfort naturally.

We’ll cover how Ayurveda views the menstrual cycle, different types of imbalances and their doshic causes, herbs—both common and rare—that can transform your cycle, self-care routines for each phase, and how sleep, stress, and digestion impact menstrual health. If this sounds like something you need, grab a warm cup of herbal tea, get comfortable, and let’s dive in.

Ayurveda considers menstruation as a vital sign—just like your pulse or digestion. A healthy menstrual cycle should be regular, pain-free, and balanced, with a moderate flow that lasts between 3 to 7 days. If your cycle is irregular, painful, or too heavy or light, Ayurveda sees this as a sign of imbalance in the doshas—Vata, Pitta, and Kapha.

Now, if you’re new to Ayurveda, you might be wondering—what exactly are doshas? Think of them as energetic forces that shape your body, mind, and health. Everything in nature—including your menstrual cycle—is governed by Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. These doshas influence your energy, emotions, digestion, and even the quality and timing of your periods.

When your doshas are in balance, you feel strong, vibrant, and healthy. But when they’re out of balance? That’s when hormonal fluctuations, painful cramps, heavy bleeding, and emotional ups and downs start showing up. So, let’s take a closer look at each dosha, how they influence your cycle, and how to bring them back into balance.

First, let’s talk about Vata dosha, which is made up of the elements air and ether. Vata governs movement, circulation, nerve impulses, digestion, and the downward flow of menstrual blood. When it’s balanced, your periods are regular, pain-free, and effortless. You feel creative, flexible, and energized, with good digestion and restful sleep.

But when Vata is out of balance, you might experience irregular or skipped periods, light flow, painful cramping, bloating, constipation, anxiety, dry skin, and insomnia. Ever had a period that’s late because you’ve been traveling, stressed, or skipping meals? That’s Vata in excess—your body needs grounding and stability.

To bring Vata back into balance, focus on warm, nourishing foods like soups, stews, and ghee. Swap out cold salads and raw foods for cooked vegetables, warm teas, and easy-to-digest meals. A great nighttime remedy? Golden milk—warm milk with turmeric, a little honey, and nutmeg—calms the nervous system and supports hormonal balance.

Herbs like Shatavari, Ashwagandha, and Dong Quai are amazing for regulating cycles, strengthening the reproductive system, and easing stress-related cycle disruptions. And don’t forget about self-care—daily Abhyanga (self-massage with warm sesame oil) and a consistent sleep routine can work wonders for Vata imbalance.

Next up, we have Pitta dosha, the force of fire and water. Pitta governs hormones, metabolism, and body temperature, and it plays a huge role in ovulation, cycle length, and period intensity. A balanced Pitta cycle is bright red, moderate in flow, and predictable. You feel strong, confident, and emotionally stable throughout the month.

But if Pitta is excessive, you might experience heavy bleeding, clots, short cycles (less than 25 days), intense cramping, acne, irritability, anger, and overheating. Does this sound like you? If so, your body needs cooling, soothing care.

To calm excess Pitta, focus on cooling foods like cucumber, coconut, and leafy greens. Avoid spicy, fried, and acidic foods before your period, as these can increase inflammation and heat. Drinking coriander seed tea or aloe vera juice can help reduce excess heat and balance Pitta naturally.

Some of the best herbs for excess Pitta include Amla (Indian Gooseberry) to cool and strengthen the uterus, Raspberry Leaf to tone the reproductive system, and Manjistha, a powerful blood purifier that helps with heavy bleeding and hormonal acne. Practicing gentle, cooling yoga, meditation, and pranayama breathing techniques can also help to calm the nervous system and reduce stress-induced inflammation.

Finally, let’s talk about Kapha dosha, which is earth and water energy. Kapha provides stability, nourishment, and growth, and it governs fertility and uterine health. A balanced Kapha cycle is regular, steady, and moderate in flow.

But when Kapha is excessive, you might experience heavy, sluggish periods with thick clots, excess mucus, bloating, water retention, low energy, and emotional stagnation. If you feel weighed down, lethargic, or unmotivated during your cycle, you likely have a Kapha imbalance.

To balance Kapha, focus on light, warming foods like spices (ginger, turmeric, black pepper), steamed vegetables, and herbal teas. Avoid dairy, sugar, and processed foods, as these can increase congestion in the reproductive system. Staying physically active—whether through brisk walks, yoga, or movement-based meditation—can help to reduce Kapha stagnation and improve circulation.

Herbs like Ginger, Turmeric, and Trikatu (a blend of ginger, black pepper, and long pepper) are excellent for stimulating metabolism, clearing excess mucus, and promoting menstrual flow. Drinking ginger tea daily is a simple, powerful way to support healthy Kapha balance.

As you can see, every person has a unique combination of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha, and menstrual health depends on keeping them in harmony. By tuning into your body and recognizing which dosha is out of balance, you can use food, herbs, self-care, and lifestyle shifts to create a cycle that feels easy, natural, and pain-free.

If you’re struggling with irregular periods, cramps, heavy bleeding, or PMS, I’d love to help you find a personalized Ayurvedic approach.

You can book a one-on-one consultation with me using my booking page, or check out my blog for more in-depth articles on Ayurveda, hormone balance, and reproductive health at Strawberry Moon Blog.

Thank you so much for joining me for this first episode of Sacred Cycles! Until next time, honor your body, listen to your cycle, and nourish yourself with care. 💛