Rakshabandhan is an auspicious festival that Hindu families all over India and the world look forward to celebrating. While the tying of rakhi by the sisters on their brothers’ wrists is the festival’s tradition, giving gifts to sisters is also an essential part of it to showcase their love. And what better gift than the gift of good health and wellness?
For far too long, medical sciences have favored male bodies and men’s health for study and funding. Whereas research on health conditions that affect women most of all has always been dramatically underfunded around the world.
Women are a critical component of the population, more likely than men to be caregivers, and even make over 80% of all the decisions in the healthcare industry. Hence, this Rakshabandhan, you must give your sisters the most invaluable gift of a safe, holistic, and effective way of improving their overall health and wellbeing.
Deteriorating Women’s Health
Women are subject to higher health risks as they disproportionally suffer from discrimination, abuse, and neglect. Unfortunately, they have been marginalized and disadvantaged in terms of proper healthcare opportunities. After the COVID-19 pandemic, their healthcare access was severely disrupted.
As per a recent review, maternal depression, deaths, and instances of stillbirths increased during the pandemic. Gender-based violence increased as well, due to the confinement during lockdowns. Instances of physical and sexual abuse, family violence, and exploitation severely affected women’s physical and mental health.
A recent study showed that post-pandemic, compared to pre-COVID days, there was a 38% increase in depression, 44% increase in anxiety, and 73% increase in exhaustion among women. Lack of awareness regarding women’s physical, mental, sexual, maternal, and reproductive health is prevalent due to ignorance and illiteracy. That, combined with inadequate access to health services, worsens the condition further.
Many women even lack proper knowledge about the needed nutrition and dietary patterns, especially during breastfeeding and pregnancy. In bigger families, women are often the last to eat. If there is not enough food left for them, insufficient consumption causes conditions like malnutrition and anemia.
Health Conditions Specific to Women
There are some health issues that affect women differently, many of which go undiagnosed. Women have certain exclusive health concerns, including pregnancy, menopause, breast caner, and cervical cancer. Conditions like heart attacks, depression, anxiety, urinary tract conditions, and sexually transmitted diseases are more frequent among women than men.
Heart diseases and attacks cause one in every four deaths among women. They mostly happen due to factors like-
- Physical inactivity
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Overweight
- Smoking
- Increased blood cholesterol
Moreover, pre-existing health conditions like diabetes, asthma, and depression worsen among women during pregnancies and harm the mother and the child. Women are much more likely to be affected by autoimmune diseases, both disabling and life-threatening.
Over 80% of all autoimmune disease patients are women. Because during childbearing years, their hormones fluctuate at much higher rates, causing an imbalance in the immune system along with various other physiological and emotional changes. Besides hormonal imbalance, other factors like excess stress, improper diet, bacterial and viral infections, genes, etc., can also cause autoimmune conditions.
It could also be so because women have a more robust and complex immune system than men, along with a higher response to inflammation, which causes autoimmune conditions. Conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid issues, multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis (weakened bones), and psoriasis are common.
Severe chronic pain, exhaustion, skin irritations, and fever are some of the common symptoms they face. Such health conditions in women can worsen with improper diet, lack of exercise, an overdose of prescription medications/steroids, smoking, and alcohol consumption.
The Ayurvedic Perspective
The ancient science of Ayurveda, provides a holistic approach to improving women’s health and overall quality of life. Per this science, health is not only the absence of diseases but also a state of physical, mental, and spiritual balance.
It places high importance on women’s gut health because they are more vulnerable to autoimmune diseases and over 70% of the body’s immune system lies in the gut. Hence, Ayurvedic doctorsrecommend consuming less junk and processed foods rich in fats, sugar, sodium, and other artificially processed ingredients.
Such ingredients make the food hard to digest naturally. And this partially undigested food causes a buildup of harmful digestive toxins in the system, which can severely impact women’s menstrual and gynecological health. Excess consumption of fried, spicy, and oily foods can lead to bloating, constipation, and other digestive issues. Consuming light fruits and vegetables that are easily digestible is immensely helpful.
As per Ayurveda, women’s different menstrual health issues stem from an imbalance in the Vata dosha. Hence, Ayurvedic doctors recommend eating khichdi (Indian porridge) with ghee (clarified butter) for balancing Vata. Vegetables like ash gourd, pumpkin, bottle gourd, and squash can be stir-fried in olive oil or ghee. Digestive spices like cumin, asafetida, coriander, and carom seeds are also immensely beneficial.
Over 55% of Indian women suffer from anemia, which is caused by iron deficiency. Hence, Ayurveda health experts recommend consuming iron-rich foods like nuts, spinach, beetroot, amla, etc. Adding lemon juice to the diet can increase the absorption of iron in the body. Consuming sesame seeds soaked in water helps regularize blood flow and avoid menstrual cramps and abdominal pain.
This ancient science places high emphasis on the consumption of a balanced and home-cooked diet. Well-spaced balanced meals with adequate nutritional supplies aid regular bowel movements and help prevent gut health issues.
Lifestyle Changes
Ayurvedic doctors further recommend certain lifestyle changes to help women manage and prevent their health conditions. Being physically active through regular exercise is vital for effective bodily function. Women can also significantly benefit from doing simple yoga asanas and mediation.
Furthermore, it is important to consume sufficient water for hydration as well as internal lubrication. Because of extreme hormonal fluctuation, women are more prone to imbalances in their doshas.
- Vata dosha imbalance causes disturbed sleep and mental health issues like anxiety and depression
- Pitta dosha imbalance causes mood swings, anger, irritability, and even severe headaches
- Kapha dosha imbalance can cause excessive mucous formation leading to heavier menstrual blood
While dietary changes, sufficient sleep, and regular exercise are vital for these health conditions, Ayurvedic doctors prescribe medications like the bilwadi churna. This effective Ayurvedic cannabis solutioncontains important herbs and spices that help detoxify Pitta dosha, pacify Vata dosha, and reduce Kapha dosha.
They help alleviate gut health issues and improve the overall digestive function of the body. This Ayurvedic cannabis solution contains Vijaya, an important herb with immense therapeutic properties. It has a direct influence on the brain and the different organ systems. Hence, it is immensely effective for the health conditions faced by women.
And the herbal ingredients in the formulation make it safer for consumption and much more efficacious than conventional prescription medications that come with severe side effects. Thus, the Ayurvedic way of health and well-being is the greatest gift you can give your sisters this Raksha Bandhan.
To know more about how women can improve their health and life quality the natural way, Contact Hempstreet and get the best Ayurvedic consultation for yourself.
References
https://fortune.com/2022/02/11/women-health-medical-research-underfunding-equity-rand/
https://pharmeasy.in/blog/what-is-killing-our-womens-health/
https://www.globalbrandsmagazine.com/importance-of-womens-health/
https://artoflivingretreatcenter.org/blog/ayurveda-for-womens-common-health-problems/
