In the SVA tradition, hormones are considered to be ojas. Ojas is the connective factor between the cosmic energy and the biological reality of your body. And hormones are the messengers communicating between the macro and micro-cosm, the universe we live in through our bodies.

When that relationship between our bodies and the environment is in any way threatened or weakened, due to undue stress, our hormonal balance goes off, emitting all kinds of signs and alarm signals. When we are stressed, our bodies produce cortisol, a steroid hormone, in response to stress. When we are stressed, and our cortisol levels become imbalanced, here are some things you may experience:

 

You can manage cortisol by incorporating Ashwagandha, a famous adaptogenic ayurvedic herb. You can use either tablets or transdermal cream (see www.chandika.com)  But if your stress goes unchecked, if you lead a stressed lifestyle, imbalanced levels of cortisol will result in imbalanced levels of estrogen and progesterone that in their turn have additional associated imbalances:

 

and for estrogen:

Stress is a big factor, but here are 5 factors in total that you can identify in your life, according to Vaidya Mishra, along with practical tips, to help you correct hormonal imbalance.

Number 1: Hormonal balance is supported by lunar energy and everybody knows this. Women’s menstrual cycles occur on or near the full moon or on the no-moon day. This is why they are also called lunar cycles. In SVA terms, the vibrational energy of the moon has much to do with the menstrual cycle. The moon’s soma energy is received and delivered in a woman’s physiology through her vibrational channels. For this to occur in a timely manner on a monthly basis, the vibrational channels need to be ready to receive and then clean and unblocked to be able to circulate and deliver the somagenic cosmic energy.

Practical Tips: in order to get the most out of a lunar cycle on a monthly basis, you need to maintain your vibrational channels in good health. For this, Vaidya Mishra recommends doing an abhyanga massage (self- massage with warm oil) with Vata Massage oil with Vitamin D and Magnesium (available at www.chandika.com). Do a self-massage at least once a week. In addition, keep your physical and vibrational channels open and healthy by using SuperSport Roll-on on hands and feet, as well as lower back if needed.

Diet-wise: the balanced use of lunar energy to support hormonal balance will result in optimal health. Unless you have an imbalanced hormonal panel – too much or too little estrogen etc, in which case you need to consult with your physician – you can do the following:  5 days before and 5 days after the full moon, support the lunar cycle by consuming estrogen-predominant foods such as: asparagus, fennel, papaya, pinaeapple.

You can also incorporate the use of SVA Kamini cream. In addition, Shatavari, Zinc (Yasad), or Fennel Herbal Memory drops. You can also add Fennel Transdermal cream on your lower back.

Make and drink the Pineapple and Fennel smoothy recipe: fresh (preferably organic) peeled and cubed or sliced pineapple approximately 6-7 slices, add 1 tablespoon dry toasted and powdered fennel seeds. Blend the mixture by adding some water to taste. You may filter it if you like, otherwise just enjoy!

The rest of the month (5 days after the full moon and up to 5 days before the next full moon), use Femi Ojas drops and Femi Ojas cream – these are progesterone predominant.

These creams enhance the absorption of lunar energy and transforming into specific hormones as and when what hormones are needed for the body.

Number 2: yes, so we know that there is confirmed relationship between women’s monthly hormonal flow and the lunar cycle, but, in order to transform the cool soma of the moon into hormones, or components of the menstrual cycle, the power of transformation, in other words, agni, is needed. Our main source of agni is the sun, or solar energy. Agni is most prominent in our physiology through digestion, and overall metabolism. So in order to balance your hormones, it is imperative that you take care of your digestion and overall metabolism. The body should be fed somagenic intelligent foods – not acidic foods – in a timely mannerOtherwise, here are some additional practical tips:

Practical Tips: make sure that you tend to your digestion during the whole month. This translates into:

• Don’t overeat. Eat more frequent small meals
• Eat easy to digest foods – favor fresh over processed and left-overs.
• Eat on time – this will further align you with the universal clock, making sure all your physiological functions are running optimally on-time.

Eating heavy processed meals in a delayed manner is the sure recipe for creating toxins or ama – as the body is not able to fully digest and metabolize. You need to process the soma of the food to convert it into hormones. If semi-digested material results from your meals, then it will clog youe physical channels. When this happens, regardless of how old you are, whether you are pre-menopausal, or actually in menopause, or not at all close to menopause, your cycle will be disturbed, may be delayed, and/or accompanied by excessive symptoms of imbalance – headaches, heavy mood swings, cramping, sweating and chills, etc. You can also enhance your overall metabolism by using Mum’s Masala in your cooking, use Soma Salt that enhances digestion and absorption without imbalancing any of the doshas.

Number 3: Follow an alkaline diet, and ideally, follow the SVA somagenic diet, that recommends staying away from any food items that have or can lower your body’s overall alkalinity or pH. Eating fresh intelligent pranic food will ensure that the body’s innate system of balance, which keeps a check on how much soma needs to be transformed by how much agni, and how much lubrication is needed for the channels, this system does not get disrupted. Vaidya categorizes food into a) intelligent – fresh, devoid of preservatives or artificial agents, freshly prepared; b) dumb: food that has some amount of freshness but also contains some additives and is heavy on the digestion; c) dead: food that comes in pre-packed format and has years of shelf life and is filled with additives and preservatives. You can guess what your body and brain will feel like after consuming foods with either of the above characteristics.

Practical Tips: Make sure to carry healthy snacks with you wherever you go, to curb your temptation for unhealthy food choices; consume sweet juicy seasonal fruits whenever possible. Incorporate a balanced amount of milk into your diet. Definitely have yoghurt on a daily basis, specifically with lunch, as a medicinal food item. Incorporate some fresh coconut into your meals whenever possible.

Number 4: to get the most benefit out of solar and lunar energies, following a routine is necessary. This will make sure your entire mind-body-heart complex is aligned with the circadian rhythm, and this is the key to total health. What does this translate into? During the daytime, be active with the sun. Eat on time, around noon,  when solar energy and agni is highest in the environment. Sleep at night. And sleep on time so that you can get most benefit from lunar energy. These are the laws of nature that will help keep our entire physiology functioning optimally.

Practical Tips: both solar and lunar energy govern our body’s hormonal system, so we need to develop and maintain a routine based on the circulation of solar and lunar energies. In the daytime solar energy flows, so we have to be more active during the day, not sleeping, eating heavier foods on time at midday so that we use the solar energy during the daytime. Night-time we need to rest in order to recover with the help of lunar energy. Routine plays a major role in the health of your hormones.

Number 5: “spiritual” practice – you have to have one! The entire energy of the universe is ready to flow into you, nourish, nurture, and rejuvenate you. And the primary gateway for this cosmic power is the brahmarandhra or the thousand points’ filter that makes up the aditpathi marma located on your fonatelle, the top front part of your head. Through this point, the energy enters and is delivered to all the organs and systems in your physiology. But stress acts as a barricade to this stargate! It blocks the entrance. When you adopt and practice a daily yogic practice that helps you be on top of stress, that helps you reconnect you with You, then your hormones will be healthy and flow better. Countless scientific studies conclude that stress plays a major role in creating hormonal imbalance.

Practical Tips: Yoga, prayers, meditation, in other words: balance between rest and activity, is an essential component for hormonal balance and health. Adopt an anti-stress routine. Make sure you have some quiet time for yourself on a daily basis, to re-align yourself with the big picture of things.