EFFECT OF AYURVEDIC THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTIONS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF PERIMENOPAUSAL SYNDROME : A CASE SERIES

Perimenopausal syndrome is a menopausal transition phase in women and it involves a spectrum of changes in all the aspects of women,comprising of somatic, psychological and uro-genital symptoms.Hormonal replacement therapy(HRT) in the conventional system of medicine is found to be less efficient in treating psychological symptoms, which is more prevalent in perimenopausal phase.In Ayurveda, Perimenopausal syndrome can be understood as Swabhavika-kalaja-vyadhi and the management protocol consists of therapeutic measures to pacify the deranged Vata and PittaDoshas.The present case series is aimed to evaluate the effect of ayurvedic therapeutic interventions including Shirodhara,Padaabhyanga and Ayurvedic formulations in the management of Perimenopausal syndrome.Shirodhara with medicated buttermilk, Padabhyanga with ksheerabala thaila was given for 7 days along with administration of Ayurvedic formulations on 8 subjects for the 30 consecutive days.Stages of Reproductive Ageing workshop [STRAW] classification was used as diagnostic criteria and Greene climacteric scale was used as assessment criteria.Assessment was done on before intervention on 0th day, during intervention,on 8th day after Shirodhara and Padaabhyanga and on 31stday after intervention. Assessment ofperimenopausal syndrome parameters showed marked improvement in all the 8 subjects.This case series demonstrates the scope of Ayurveda in the management of perimenopausal syndrome .The study should can be carried in a larger sample size with the maximum duration of intervention.