Introduction- Ayurveda for infertility
This article on Ayurveda for infertility covers, what is infertility, the concept of sexual health in Ayurveda, concept on sperm & ovum, cause and management of infertility. Infertility generally means the inability to produce the off – springs. It can be due to the incapability of either father or mother or both. It might have different known and unknown causes.
The incompetency in male refers to the lack of quality or quantity of sperm produced by them. Similarly, in females it refers to the loss of quality of ovum, improper and inappropriate environment to grow up child inside the uterus or fallopian tube.
The infertility can be the result of malfunction of hormones produced in the body. Improper production and regulation of the male and female hormones can lead to the infertility. Here, in this article, infertility is described in the eyes of Ayurveda. The concept of sexual health and its importance, the concept of sperm and ovum (shukra and aartava), causes of infertility, its types and management through Ayurveda for infertility are hereby in details.
Concept of sexual health in Ayurveda
Vata, Pitta and Kapha are considered as the three main pillars (tri – stambha) of our body. Similarly, food (aahara), sleep (nidra) and celibacy (brahmacharya) are considered as the three sub – pillars (upa – stambha). Here, celibacy refers to the protection and increase in quality of the sperm (shukra).
For the healthy sexual life, Ayurveda has a brilliant concept of age-related activities of life that helps to fight Ayurveda for infertility. For this, our life is divided into four parts considering it to be of 100 years.
Age |
Time of life |
What to do ? |
0 – 25 years |
Brahmacharya |
Focus on study and career, abstain from active sexual life. |
26 – 50 years |
Grihastha |
Marriage, engage with family, active sexual life, produce off – springs. |
51 – 75 years |
Vanaprastha |
Free from family life |
76 – 100 years |
Sanyaas |
Prepare yourself for joyful death through meditation, yoga, inner peace. |
The first 25 years of our life are very important in determining the sexual life. In these years, one should focus only on study, serve his / her teacher (guru) and avoid active sexual life. Considering this fact, the minimum perfect age for marriage and give birth to child is mentioned at 25 years of age. After the 25 years of age, on can get engaged in family life and produce healthy children. One should have only one sexual partner. This is referred as vaivaahik brahmacharya.
Sperm & Ovum (Shukra & Aartava)
There are mainly seven body tissues (dhatus) present in human body according to Ayurveda. They are Rasa (body fluids, lymph, etc.), Rakta (blood), Mamsa (muscles), Meda (fat, adipose tissues, etc.), Asthi (bones, cartilages, etc.), Majja (bone marrow) and Shukra(male and female hormones, sperm). Rasa dhatu is formed directly from the food. After that, each dhatu is formed from the preceding one. The last one is Shukra which helps in the reproduction in males.
Ovum (aartava) is formed from the rasa dhatu that helps in reproduction on females. So, basically we can conclude that the quality and quantity of sperm and ovum depends upon the quality of diet that we intake.
Here are the cause and management by the technique of Ayurveda for infertility,
Causes of Infertility
The various causes of infertility can be enlisted as:
- Diet
- Excessive intake of pungent, bitter and astringent taste.
- intake of salty and acidic foods excessively
- Excessive intake of light, dry, polluted food items.
- Habit
- Excessive sexual activities.
- Sexual activity at inappropriate time.
- Sexual activity with other group of animals.
- Inappropriate use / misuse of surgical instruments.
- Suppression of the natural urges.
- Excessive physical works.
- Unhealthy sanitary habits.
- Accidental injuries to the reproductive organs.
- Psychological factors
- Fear
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Other psychological disorders
- Others
- Old age
- Thyroid hormone disorder
- Sex hormones disorder
Management technique in Ayurveda For infertility
Management principles:
- Avoid the causes
- Use of detoxification techniques
- Use of medicines
- Diet and habit
1. Avoid the causes
One of the best ways in Ayurveda for infertility management can be the avoidance of the causative factors. It will help to protect the quality and quantity of the sperm and ovum.
2. Use of detoxification techniques
-
- Oleation / Massage therapy
- Fomentation / Steam therapy
- Purgation therapy / Virechan
- Vasti therapy
3. Use of medicines
-
- Ashwagandha
- Shatavari
- Velvet bean
- Marking nut
- Gooseberry
- Mica
- Shilajit
- Makaradhwaj
- Vanari gutika
- Chandraprabha vati
- Shree Gopal oil
- Santalum album oil etc.
4. Diet and habit plays an important role in Ayurveda for infertility
-
- Regular intake of butter and milk
- Black gram beans
- Honey
- Grapes
- Date palm
- Mango
- Cashew nut
- Walnut
- Chicken meat
- Pleasant music
- Body massage
- Regular bath
- Yoga
- Comfortable beddings