Ayurveda for Adolescent Menstrual Health: Holistic Tips for Balanced Cycles
- Veena Haasl-Blilie
- Sep 20, 2023
- 14 min read
Updated: 15 minutes ago
Your menstrual cycle is more than a monthly event—it’s one of the most powerful indicators of your overall health. In Ayurvedic menstrual health, the cycle is viewed as a vital sign, offering clear insight into your physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. Each month, your period reveals which doshas may be out of balance and what your body is asking for support.
A truly balanced menstrual cycle arrives on time, flows with ease, and doesn’t disrupt your life with pain, mood swings, or hormonal symptoms. Yes—balance without drama is possible. When you learn how to read your cycle through the lens of Ayurveda, your period becomes a source of information rather than something to manage or endure.
By understanding your cycle as a reflection of hormonal balance, you gain the ability to support your body proactively—before imbalances turn into chronic symptoms. This blog will help you decode the signs your cycle is sending and introduce a natural, holistic approach to restoring balance.
Includes: Ayurvedic PMS Dosha Balance Guide
Explore more on the Saumya Blog, selected top Ayurveda blogs and websites.
Ayurveda for Adolscent Menstrual Health
According to Healthy Children, "Within a year or two of their first period, 50 to 75 percent of young women begin to experience painful menstrual cramps, or dysmenorrhea."
That's a staggering statistic.
It's tough enough to have this happen one time, much less every month, and potentially for several decades. Being a tween, teen, and adult is challenging, we want to restore balance to this monthly cycle now, so it's functioning optimally for your whole life.
If your cycle is too heavy, too light, prolonged, infrequent, too frequent, absent, unpredictable, those are menstrual issues that need attention.
"A healthy cycle is one you don't know you're getting other than it shows up on time and has a flow alined with your doshic picture. An imbalanced cycle is one that feels like you're dealing with it, one way or another, most weeks of the month." -Veena, Saumya Ayurveda
What Is A Balanced Menstrual Cycle?
What is a heavy flow? That is changing a pad (tampon, cup) every hour.
What’s an irregular cycle? One that does not arrive every month.
What’s too frequent? A cycle that occurs more than once in a month.
What’s an absent period? Amenorrhea is a cycle that has not occurred for more than three months.
"Heavy and irregular bleeding, referred to as dysfunctional uterine bleeding (DUB), can indicate serious underlying medical problems in teens. DUB is caused by a disturbance involving the hormones that regulate menstruation..." according to healthychildren.org
Menstrual imbalances often go hand in hand with mood related challenges--there's biology behind that mood.
According to the National Institute of Health, "Altogether results show, that up to 90% of women of reproductive age experience several premenstrual symptoms varying from mild to severe..."
The physical pain and emotional stress that accompanies an imbalanced cycle is consuming and disruptive.
Below is the list of physical and mental symptoms of PMS from the Office on Women's Health of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
PMS Symptoms: Understanding the Signs Through Ayurveda for Adolescent Menstrual Health
PMS symptoms are common during adolescence, but they are not something you have to simply tolerate. From the perspective of Ayurveda for Adolescent Menstrual Health, premenstrual symptoms are meaningful signals that the body is asking for balance and support. When understood early, these signs can be gently addressed before they develop into ongoing hormonal challenges.
Common PMS symptoms in adolescents may include:
mood swings
irritability
fatigue
acne
food cravings
menstrual cramps
swollen or tender breasts
bloating or a gassy feeling
headaches and migraines
backache
clumsiness
lower tolerance for noise or light
Ayurveda explains these symptoms as temporary imbalances in the doshas—Vata, Pitta, or Kapha—that naturally fluctuate throughout the menstrual cycle. Identifying which dosha is dominant helps personalize nutrition, daily routines, and self-care practices for lasting relief.
Rather than masking PMS symptoms, Ayurveda for Adolescent Menstrual Health focuses on teaching young menstruators how to recognize early warning signs and support the body with simple, natural strategies. When adolescents learn to work with their cycles instead of against them, PMS becomes a powerful tool for self-awareness and long-term hormonal health.
Want to know which dosha(s) may be behind your PMS symptoms? Here's our free Ayurvedic PMS Balance Guide to learn how to decode your cycle, reduce symptoms naturally, and build healthy menstrual habits that last.
Ayurvedic PMS Balance Guide: Natural Relief for Every Cycle
Struggling with PMS? Cramps, bloating, mood swings, or fatigue can disrupt your life every month. Ayurveda offers natural, effective strategies to balance your hormones and soothe your body—without relying on edications.
Explore our FREE Ayurvedic PMS Balance Guide to discover how to:
Reduce cramps, bloating, and headaches naturally
Balance your emotions and energy throughout your cycle
Eat and live according to your unique dosha for smoother cycles
FREE Ayurvedic PMS Balance Guide: Understand Your PMS Type as Vata, Pitta, or Kapha
In Ayurveda, PMS symptoms often indicate a dosha imbalance. Knowing your type can help you manage PMS naturally:
Vata PMS (cramps, bloating, anxiety, irregular cycles)
Balance Tips:
Eat warm, grounding foods like soups, stews, and cooked grains
Use warming spices: ginger, cinnamon, and cumin
Practice gentle yoga, stretching, and daily oil massage (sesame or almond)
Maintain a consistent sleep schedule
The Ultimate Guide to Warming Foods in Ayurveda: Benefits, List & How to Use Them
Pitta PMS (irritability, heavy bleeding, headaches)
Balance Tips:
Favor cooling foods: leafy greens, sweet fruits, and coconut
Avoid spicy, oily, and acidic foods
Incorporate calming practices: meditation, moonlight walks, diaphragmatic breathing
Drink cooling teas like rose, fennel, or aloe vera
Kapha PMS (fatigue, water retention, cravings, low motivation)
Balance Tips:
Eat light, warm meals with bitter and pungent flavors
Stay active: brisk walks, energizing yoga, or gentle cardio
Reduce sugar, heavy dairy, and processed foods
Spice up your meals with black pepper, turmeric, and ginger
Daily Ayurvedic Practices for PMS Relief
Stick to a consistent routine for meals, sleep, and exercise
Stay hydrated with warm water or herbal teas
Practice self-care: rest, meditation, and gentle movement
Honor your cycle—slow down, don’t push through
Here’s a clear breakdown of mild vs severe emotional/mental PMS symptoms:
Mild PMS symptoms
(these are noticeable but usually manageable)
Slight mood swings
Mild irritability
Feeling more sensitive or emotional
Occasional anxiety
Mild sadness or low mood
Slight difficulty concentrating
Feeling more tired or unmotivated
Wanting a bit more alone time
Sleep problems (sleeping too much or too little)
Appetite changes or food cravings
Trouble with concentration or memory
Tension or anxiety
Depression, feelings of sadness, or crying spells
Want to Learn More? How Diaphragmatic Breathing Calms Anxiety and Regulates the Nervous System
Ayurveda and the Gut-Brain Connection: How to Reduce Anxiety Naturally Through Digestion 7 Ayurvedic Treatments for Anxiety
Severe PMS symptoms
(these interfere with daily life and relationships — often linked to PMDD)
Intense mood swings
Severe irritability or anger outbursts
Persistent anxiety or panic
Feelings of hopelessness or deep sadness
Depression or feeling emotionally numb
Crying spells
Severe difficulty concentrating
Feeling overwhelmed or out of control
Strong social withdrawal
Low self-worth or guilt
Thoughts of self-harm or suicide ⚠️ (urgent medical attention needed)
Key difference: Mild symptoms are uncomfortable but easily manageable; severe symptoms disrupt work, school, relationships, or self-care.
If any of those symptoms sound familiar, please keep reading.
Explore our personalized services and book your FREE discovery call today.
Ask yourself, do you truly know what a healthy cycle is? Or do you cramp, take Midol, use birth control to suppress disruptive symptoms, and still find yourself saying you’re “all good?”
In many parts of the world, menstruation was once revered as a time for women to recharge and reflect. Today, we’re expected to maintain long school and work weeks, demanding extracurricular activities, maintain social connections, developing networks, learn and grow– all while bloated, cramped, and suffering.
Contemporary lifestyles simply don’t support a balanced cycle. As a result, many people endure painful periods for years, even their whole lifetime. But with Ayurveda, menstruation doesn’t have to be synonymous with suffering.
“I'm happy to report that working with Veena, the results have been life-changing. I was skeptical when she said menstrual cycles shouldn’t come with side effects—but after struggling since high school, I’ve now experienced cycles with virtually no PMS or cramping. Her personalized herbal teas, tinctures, and guidance have helped bring my doshas back into balance. Working with Veena has given me tools I’ll use for life, and real, long-term improvements to my health.” -Hannah T., USA
"We often adapt to regular experiences, believing that's just how things are. However, these are signals that our doshas need balancing for optimal function. Symptoms are the body's way of asking for help. Instead of ignoring them, we should address them." - Veena, Saumya Ayurveda
Symptoms of Menstrual Imbalance
Heavy flow and clotting
Irregular or scant periods
PMS
Blood clots
Dysfunctional uterine bleeding (DUB)
Constipation or diarrhea
Weight gain or bloating
Joint or muscle pain
Headaches, weakness and exhaustion (may lead to extreme tiredness or shortness of breath)
Acne flare-ups
Migraines
Headaches
Anxiety or feeling tense
Crying spells or depressed moods
Mood swings, irritability, anger
Trouble sleeping
Feeling faint
Vomiting
Nausea
Diminished concentration
Extended symptoms (feeling like your cycle lasts all month)
Bleeding between periods
Endometriosis
Painful periods (dysmenorrhea)
Your day, week, or month are dominated by your cycle and disrupt your life
Related Blog You’ll Love: Ayurvedic Facial Analysis: What Your Face Reflects About Your Health
Chances are you’ve experienced one (or many) of the symptoms above. You might even consider them an unavoidable part of getting your period. Menstrual suffering is so common we treat it as a natural side-effect of having a female reproductive system.
Modern medicine rarely treats these issues as part of a deeper imbalance; it seeks to alleviate symptoms instead of addressing the underlying cause. Unfortunately, while birth control and IUDs may help relieve your suffering, they do little to help you regain balance.
Heavy Flow Symptoms:
Anemia (fatigue and shortness of breath or feeling of oxygen hunger)
More than a week of flow
Blood clots
Changing pads (or equivalent) every hour or so and/or requiring two products to control the overflow)
Waking at night to change pads or tampons
Too Light a Flow Symptoms:
Continual, very light, or spotting only during the cycle
Flow for only a day or two
Needing to change pad, tampon, or cup once or twice a day
More frequent and lighter cycles
Irregular Flow Symptoms:
More often than 21 days, or skipping months
Cycles stay irregular
Pain and cramping
Spotting between cycles
Cycles that were regular, but became irregular
Hair growth on chest, face, or abdomen
Symptoms of Doshic Imbalance
When we understand how the doshas influence our menstrual cycle, it’s easy to see how problems arise when we become imbalanced. If a dosha becomes inflamed, stuck, or built up – it’s reflected in our monthly cycle.
Looking at the list above in terms of the doshas:
Vata: Scant, irregular, or absent flow. When your period is present, imbalanced Vata manifests as anxiety and insomnia, sharp or stinging cramps, and blood discoloration.
Pitta: Burning cramps, fiery emotions like anger and irritability, acne, and a clotty, hot, or heavy flow. Severe menstrual hemorrhaging may even require blood transfusions. Whew!
Kapha: Heavy or long-lasting periods, bloating, and yeast infections. Feeling sluggish, depressed, and unmotivated – preferring food (and Netflix) binges to a regular routine.
It's about balance. A healthy menstrual cycle is balanced, meaning it's not too heavy, not to light, not too often, not too infrequent. How do we achieve menstrual balance? By balancing the doshas and the whole you!
Self-Knowledge Is Power. Want to Learn More? Wild List of Vata Imbalances Hot List of Common Pitta Imbalances Sturdy List of Kapha Imbalances
Herbs, foods, and lifestyle practices are not one-size-fits-all. In Ayurveda, what truly supports your health depends on your unique doshic constitution, your stage of life, the season, and your environment. Every person is made up of all three doshas, and often one or more can be out of balance—affecting your physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing.
To restore true harmony, your complete doshic picture needs to be carefully assessed. Personalized guidance—whether through herbal remedies, dietary adjustments, or lifestyle practices—ensures you bring your doshas back into balance naturally.
The Ayurvedic Approach to Menstrual Health
Rather than treating individual symptoms, Ayurveda treats the whole person. In Ayurveda, menstrual health is a window into your overall well-being. The goal is not to control and suppress your symptoms, but to use them as guideposts pointing to the root of your dosha imbalance.
Your menstrual cycle influences how you feel in your body, mind, and emotions throughout your entire life. Ayurveda helps bring your doshas and reproductive system back into balance, which can bring balance back to your entire life – sounds nice, right?
The Power of Ayurveda: A Holistic Approach for Adolescent Menstrual Health
Ayurveda, an ancient Indian system of medicine, focuses on restoring harmony between the mind, body, and spirit. By understanding your unique dosha, Ayurveda offers personalized strategies to achieve balance in emotional, physical, and spiritual health. It addresses hormonal fluctuations affecting your monthly cycle through natural remedies, dietary adjustments, and lifestyle changes, promoting a smoother cycle and emotional resilience.
Beyond menstrual health, Ayurveda encourages a holistic lifestyle, considering stress management, nutrition, and daily routines as interconnected elements of well-being. By embracing Ayurvedic principles, you can better understand your body's signals, fostering lasting balance and vitality. This journey not only regulates your cycle but also empowers you to enhance energy, mood, and self-connection, enriching your life holistically.
"The importance of Ayurveda in nurturing adolescent menstrual health holistically should be a priority. Clients often tell me, once their doshas and monthly cycles are balanced, "I wish I had come sooner; I suffered for years." Don't endure unnecessary suffering. Our monthly cycle's health is crucial and serves as a reflection of our overall state of balance in Ayurveda." -Veena, Saumya Ayurveda
Ready to take control of your menstrual health? "How to Keep Your Cool" is your ultimate guide to transforming your cycle—and your life. From managing monthly symptoms to navigating menopause, this free ebook offers practical, natural solutions to help you stay balanced and calm. Download it now and start your journey to a healthier, more harmonious you!
“Oh my gosh this is an amazing book! The WORLD NEEDS THIS!!!” Dr. Melissa Persons, Minnesota
"The mind is more in the body, than the body is in the mind." The Saumya 3-step meditation process shifts us from fight-flight-freeze to rest-restore-relax. Try it for forty days to see changes. Being grounded and relaxed makes life smoother.
"Breath connects mind and body. By training it, we become calm, focused, and grounded, reducing stress and slowing aging. These simple practices can easily be part of daily life, making us feel and look younger." - Veena, Saumya Ayurveda
1. Learn Diaphragmatic Breathing and Change Your Life. Re-learn diaphragmatic breathing to shift from fight-flight-freeze to rest-restore-relax mode.
2. Daily Guided Practices: 11 minutes in the morning and evening as part of your daily Ayurveda routine
3. Ayurveda Daily Routines: Ayurvedic Morning Routine | 6 Rituals for a Calm and Centered Day
"Select a few supportive practices from the routines and apply our two minute meditation technique to them. Transform mundane tasks into a mellifluous meditation. This is meditation in daily life." - Veena, Saumya Ayurveda
Final Thoughts
Ayurveda for adolescent menstrual health offers a gentle, empowering way to understand and support the menstrual cycle from the very beginning. Rather than viewing periods as inconvenient or unpredictable, Ayurveda teaches adolescents to recognize their cycles as meaningful signals of balance and growth.
By applying the principles of Ayurveda for adolescent menstrual health early on, young menstruators can cultivate healthy habits, hormonal harmony, and a sense of trust in their bodies. As you continue reading, you’ll discover simple, nurturing practices that can help support balanced cycles and encourage a lifelong relationship with menstrual health rooted in awareness and care.
“After six months with no period and increasing concern, I am happy to report that my periods are completely regular. With just two months of Veena’s treatment, they are almost symptomless except for mild cramping. I am feeling very good and well balanced overall. My skin has improved as well. I am looking forward to doing the cleanse with you this spring. “ – A.K. Minnesota
“I sought support from Veena related to irregular menstruation, skin issues, and overall stagnation. After a comprehensive assessment, Veena provided an intuitive yet simple plan that included recommendations for gentle changes to diet, daily routine, and a few herbal supplements.
The changes were profound. I had not had my period for six months and after four weeks of following Veena's suggestions, my period returned and has been regular since. Veena's approach works with available resources to make sure that change happens on a deeper level than medication can reach. I am so grateful for her help and would recommend her services!”
-Anna, St. Paul, Minnesota
“Veena has been a dream to work with! I came to her with a number of concerns around my digestion, skin, and menstrual cycle, and she has helped me find so much improvement in all areas and more!” – Meg McNeil, Boulder, Colorado
“With Veena’s guidance, with herbs and diet changes, I soon realized that my symptoms were very real. After making the changes, I made small victories along the way, and became better with each appointment with her.
Now almost 6 months later, I am a completely different person. I still have some things to work on, but with Veena’s help, I know I will be able to take control of my health and not leave it to Western medicine that was giving me little to no help and covering up my symptoms with another medication.
I highly encourage getting the longer package, especially if you are working with challenges with your monthly cycle. Working with Veen has been the best decision I have made for my health. You won’t be disappointed!” -- Maria Fumagalli, San Diego, California
“It is with great pleasure that I write this review! Working with Veena has remarkably changed my life – even in the places I was unaware that it demanded to be changed! Throughout the course of four months, Veena’s gentle and succinct approach allowed me to easily refine my routines into a more structured foundation that left me feeling more in graceful governance with myself – emotionally and physically.
Not only had she brought forth awareness in how I prepare/ relate to the food I eat, but she also prescribed me wonderful herbs to help calm my anxiety, detox my liver, and heal the ugly night sweats I’ve been experiencing due to hormonal imbalances.
Lastly, her guided meditations are a great grounding force, and I have since continued to explore the euphoric benefits of Yoga Nidra.
Veena is a well of divine knowledge, and her humor and light will be eternally appreciated!”
--Rachel Monson, Wisconsin
Ayurveda for Adolescent Menstrual Health: Holistic Tips for Balanced Cycles
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We all want to be heard, understood, and cared for as whole beings, not a set of isolated symptoms. True health is more than the absence of disease, which is why Western medicine so often leaves us feeling hopeless and unseen.
Deep down, you already know what you’re searching for: a new framework for living – one that brings your entire being back into balance. With Saumya Ayurveda, you’ll receive individualized guidance to create the physically, mentally, and spiritually vibrant life you crave.
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MEET VEENA: YOUR AYURVEDIC GUIDE
Veena is a Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner and meditation teacher, and monk.
She is President Emeritus and teaching faculty of the Meditation Center.
Veena fell in love with the traditional medicine used in her family’s home, learning herbal remedies at her grandmother's knee.
An experienced Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner, Veena’s deep, intuitive knowledge of Ayurveda empowers her clients to reclaim their fullest, most vibrant lives –mentally, physically, and spiritually.
Veena individualizes treatment plans to each person, rather than offering a one-size-fits-all approach, so it fits your life and becomes woven in your lifestyle, naturally.
Learn more about Veena's work and book your FREE discovery call today.
This guide is meant to educate and inspire, not replace professional medical advice. Everyone’s body is different, so please consult a qualified healthcare practitioner before making changes to your diet, lifestyle, or wellness routine—especially if you are pregnant, nursing, on medication, or have a medical condition. Think of this as guidance for learning and experimenting safely, not a substitute for personalized care.
