Today, over the last 50 years, a lot has changed for women. Their role has taken on many new facets. It starts with the fact that we are allowed to define femininity for ourselves personally. Ayurveda can provide us with valuable guidance in our search for ourselves.
Who am I actually?
A woman's role was to look after her family/kinship, to find support and fulfillment in this. However, triggered by the Second World War, men were no longer there to carry the industry and economy, so women took on functions and areas of responsibility that were previously out of the question. They found themselves in a balancing act between household, family and work, often in a factory.
In the beginning at least, it was a matter of survival. It brought money and self-determination, the right to vote and equality as a result. When we look at women today, especially in the media, it's all about women's performance, about the fact that they can have and be anything they want if they have the "right, slim" body, are sporty, smart, eat right one way or another, but above all eat right, maintain the right lifestyle and so on.
The image of femininity on the outside must therefore first of all be faded out in order to get to my very own idea of myself as a woman.
Follow the natural rhythm
It all starts with the perception of menstruation. It is often just perceived as "annoying", as well, it just has to be.
But menstruation is a miracle in itself. If I look at it closely and see it as a part of my incredible body that helps me to expel pitta ama, i.e. deposits, from my body, then I have at least discovered a large part of femininity within me. Ovulation, which enables much of the act of creation, pregnancy, birth, all such incredible "miracles", enable us to be a creator. When we no longer hide our brilliance under a bushel, but see ourselves as a true marvel from which creation emerges, which can breastfeed, that is, provide, then we understand better and better what opportunities lie in the concept of femininity.
So to take up the question again: We can celebrate our femininity. Once a month, at least on the first day of your period, pause a little and introduce a 'relaxed' day. Allow ourselves to refrain from certain activities, such as carrying heavy loads and exercising excessively.
We can discover our bodies by massaging ourselves in a beautiful sensual environment and just feel, not think, not "function". We can make more time for girlfriends, because we are missing simple spontaneous encounters where we can exchange ideas and "talk" about the great treasure of smart women.
How women strengthen each other
Women have always known about medicinal herbs and helped each other out. For a long time, there was no internet for us to research in solid solitude. Nothing against it, but we could also ask a friend which tea helps with a nagging cough.
We could encourage ourselves to stand by our bodies and not follow the 10th diet from a women's magazine.
We could insist on unretouched photos and realize that the bodies we are shown are not necessarily the real bodies that we real women have.
We can affirm that we can't all look the same, nor do we want to, because we are all, each and every one of us, "unique".
That's a good thing. And that is exactly what Ayurveda sees.
Herbs and foods that are good for women
As an Ayurveda nutrition expert, I like to recommend spices and foods that give my clients what they need. Here is a small selection:
Kitchen herbs
- Dill reduces Vata and Kapha and promotes menstruation.
- Turmeric and rose petals have a strong blood-purifying effect.
- A little chili has a "heating" effect and boosts the libido.
- During the menopause, you can rely on the spiciness of pippali (long pepper) and ginger.
Foodstuffs
- Ghee cleanses the circulation channels(srotas) and therefore also has a supportive effect on menstrual problems. In addition, the clarified butter gives ojas, i.e. life energy.
- The pomegranate is THE love apple, a symbol of life and fertility. We attribute many good qualities to it, which are reflected in stories from ancient Greece or ancient Egypt.
- In India,grapes in any form are considered THE tonic(Rasayana) for women, whether as raisins, fresh or as juice or wine (in small quantities). would feel completely different if we were given healthy food cooked with love (or prepared ourselves), preferably without flavor enhancers in the right combinations.
Article by Petra Wolfinger
