Ayurveda for Adolescents

Introduction:

Your little baby is now blossoming into a young girl! Ayurveda believes that giving adolescent girls the right care is similar to nurturing a tender bud so that it blossoms into a bright flower! Take special note of how her health is progressing in this transitory phase. Genetic factors, lifestyle, and stress (yes! adolescent girls can get stressed out too) will play a role here.

Adolescence constitutes one of the most exciting and yet the most tumultuous phases in a girl’s life because the little girl goes through a phase of transition and confusion. Her body changes, her attitude towards life and people also change. She yearns for some space and yet wants to be cared off. What can we, as parents or pediatricians, do to make this process easier?

What Should Parents of Adolescent Girls Know?

Medical standards indicate that the adolescent period is from 11 to 17 years. This includes the prepubertal stage that is before the beginning of menstrual cycles and the stage of menarche, which is after menstruation sets in.

Here are a few things that parents of adolescent girls should know.

Medical Examination:

Take your girl child for a medical examination if the following conditions are present.

• If the menstrual cycles are irregular (metrorrhagia).

• If there is severe pain or cramps during menstruation (dysmenorrhea).

• If the menstrual flow is excessive or if the cycles exceed 7 days (menorrhagia).

• If the flow is less or if the cycles do not last for more than two days (hypomenorrhea).

Abnormalities detected earlier can be easily corrected. Longer the delay, the tougher the treatment.

Hormonal Assay:

Hormones like thyroid, estrogen, FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone), and others play a very important role in women’s health. You should take your daughter for the necessary hormonal tests,

• If your daughter is overweight or underweight.

• If there is a family history of thyroid abnormality.

• If she is suffering from increased hair fall and hirsutism (excessive facial hair).

Remember, earlier the detection; easier is the cure!

Exercise:

You should realize that she is not a kid anymore.

• So, it is important that she works out to look good and to feel good.

• A fit body improves her self-confidence and gives her the stamina to sail through her hectic schedule, including studies, hobbies, socializing, and much more.

• There are many options like yoga, dance, games, and gym.

• The ideal exercise is not the same for all. Give her the right to choose.

• If your little girl has to persist with her exercise routine, then she should be doing something she loves and not something that she feels like a punishment.

The Right Diet:

• The right diet should manage her weight, so avoid junk food and unnecessary fat like mayonnaise and deep-fried foods.

• The diet should nourish her hair and skin - Adolescence does bring in a lot of skin changes. The commonly encountered ones are pimples, pigmentation, etc. Hair that was once thick and bouncy may begin to thin out. So, ensure that she consumes a diet rich in vitamins and minerals. A bowl of fruits and vegetables gives her all the necessary nutrients.

• Supplementation of essential nutrients - She needs more calcium and iron. Dates, figs, and raisins are excellent natural supplements of calcium and iron. A glass of milk every day helps too.

Ayurveda for Adolescents:

• Ancient traditions, when followed, will have wonderful effects on your daughter’s health.

• Research studies in ayurveda have proven the efficacy of these methods. It helps improve her reproductive health too.

1) Sesame Oil and Ghee:

• They are excellent uterine tonics.

• One spoon each of sesame oil and ghee when consumed every day will effectively manage menstrual cramps.

• They improve muscle and joint strength and are good for hair and skin.

• They are not bad for your health. They contain more high-density lipids, which are also called good cholesterol.

2) Fenugreek:

• Ayurveda believes that this is a wonder drug in women’s healthcare.

• Half a teaspoon of dry roasted fenugreek powder should be part of her daily diet.

• It is a natural hormone balancer.

• It cures pimples, prevents premature graying of hair, and improves fertility.

3) Oil Bath:

• This is an ayurvedic home remedy.

• The latest research in ayurveda and in other forms of holistic medicine has proved beyond doubt the benefits of the oil bath.

• Practice it once a week.

• It improves stamina, improves the complexion, tones the muscles, and its anti-aging effects.

Take a Chill Pill:

I am sure women share a lot with each other. She might even tell you that. It helps if you tell her to chill out, too, at times.

Lifestyle:

During the adolescent stage, the child may become upset and slow in a deliberate manner. In addition, practicing exercise, meditation, etc., can even restrain this sort of tendency in children. However, in such cases, as parents or pediatricians, we should help the child to maintain a strong level of physical activity because it is one of the most supportive lifestyle choices that encourage the child. Also, maintaining proper physical activity helps to:

• Improve blood circulation in the body.

• Manage the weight better.

• Decreases anxiety.

• Balances energy levels.

• Calms the mind and body.

• Maintain the proper flow of minerals and nutrients.

• Increase self-confidence and self-esteem.

• Helps maintain the detoxification process throughout the body.

• Provides better sleep.

• Helps to boost the mood and the brain.

Conclusion:

It is said that adolescent age is the most important stage of life in which various mental and physical changes occur in a child. As a parent or pediatrician, it is crucial to counsel the child at this stage because it is a great task to make them understand that the bodily changes they are undergoing are normal. They may suffer from many psychological problems if they are not educated well about bodily changes such as anxiety, school abstinence, depression, and lack of concentration and confidence. Ayurveda helps us diminish these changes during adolescent age, mental health conditions, and other health problems by various adaptogenic and anti-stress herbs and Panchkarma therapy like Shirodhara and Nasya.