To know about Menstruation and its disorders, first let us try to understand the structure (anatomy) and function (physiology) of genital organs.
The female genital organs (genitalia) are broadly classified into external and internal genitalia. The external genitalia consists of vulva which includes Labia Majora, Labia Minora and the entrance to the vagina (Introitus). It also includes several other structures of less importance to us. Internal genitalia includes, uterus, the major reproductive organ, two fallopian tubes and two ovaries, the egg producing organ and the vagina commonly know as 'Birth Canal' . The uterus and vagina are held in position by several strong ligaments and muscles. The uterus and the vagina are in close connection with the urinary system i.e. bladder, ureters and uretra. The female generative organs lie in the bony pelvis. The functions of the female genital organs are collectively reproduction.
Menstruations consists of bleeding for three to five days. The menstrual cycle is contraolled by hormones produced by pituitary gland and ovaries. Ovaries produces estrogen and progesterone. The pituitary produces a fallicle stimulating hormone and a luteinizing hormone. The former is related functionally to estrogen and the latter to progesterone. It is also greatly influenced by emotional and environmental factors which cause hormone imbalance and hence various menstrual problems.
There are various menstrual disorders such as Dysmenorrhoea, Premenstrual Tension (PMT), Amenorrhoea, Oligomenarrhoea, hypomenorrhoea, Menorrhagia, Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding, Utero-vaginal Prolapse, Stress Incontinance etc.

Dysmenorrhoea:
It is the term used for painful menstruation. During normal menstruation, discomfort and minimal pain are associated features due to cogestion of pelvic tissues and release of prostaglandin. Primary Dysmenorrhoea is called spasmodic or functional while sencondary Dysmenorrhoea is associated with some pathological condition. In spasmodic dysmenorrhoea the pain is 1-2 days before or 1-2 hours before the onset of menstruation and continues for 1-3 days, or even for all the five-six days & the severity will be more in any two days. Pain is colicky and cramplike, occurs in the lower abdominal region and radiates to the thighs. There may be low back ache. Constitutional symptoms like nausea, vomitting, diarrhoea, giddiness are found. Primary dysmenorrhoea may disappear after marriage & child birth. Secondary Dysmenorrhoeas is related to pelvic lesions eg. Endometriosis, chronic pelvic inflamation, uterine fibroid, intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUCD), cervical stenosis etc.

Amenorrhoea:
This is the symptom of absence of menstruation. It could be either pathological or functional. Some of the pathological causes are disease of hypothalmu, pituitary, thyroid or adrenal glands, ovarian disorders, congenital disorders of genital organs and chromosomal abnormalities. Some neurogenic factors like injury or disorders of the mind-brain, meningitis, epilepsy can cause primary amenorrhoea. Malabsorption syndrome work through poor nutrition. As already mentioned emotional and environemtal factors have enormous influence on menstruation. Extreme degrees of anxiety, stress, strains, sudden change of environments can result in cessation of menstruation for prolonged periods.

Premenstrual Tension (PMT) :
It is a state in which some women suffer from excessive pre-menstrual symptoms during seven to ten days before the onset of menstruation. This is another disabling condition. The cyclical hormone production in the body has tremendous effects on mood or the mental state of each person. This can be exaggerated by stresses and strains of our day to day pattern of civilized life style and thus precipitation of this symptom. This symptoms like irritability, depression, anxiety, fear of varying degrees, lassitude, headache, sleeplessness, nausea, constipation, diarrhoea, gain in weight, oedema of the legs, painful breasts which become tender and lumpy, low-sugar level in blood develops in some. These symptoms are relieved by the onset of menstruation. In some cases it may be so severe as to cause marital disharmony to suicidal tendencies.

Oligomenorrhoea:
This means infrequent menses at intervals longer than 35 days. It has the same aetiologic significance as that of amenorrhoea.

Hypomenorrhoea:
This means scanty menstrual less in duration and amount - Hypomenorrhoea occurring regularly can be non pathological Hypomenorrhoea with infrequent menses needs investigation and treatment like that of amenorrhoea. Taking of oral contraceptive pill may also cause hypomenorrhoea.

Menorrhagia:
This means excessive menstrual loss in amount or duration or both. In popular term, this is heavy menstruation. There are many causes like uterine fibroid, pelvic inflammatory disease, chronic endometritis, prolapse of the ovaries, ovarian tumour, some cases of intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD), some cases of chronic hypertension, chronic nephritis, under nutrition, anaemia, emotional disturbances like worry, sorrow, sexual excesses, drugs, prolonged taking of aspirin etc.

Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding (DUB):
Is defined as abnormal uterine bleeding not due to any organic gynaecological disease. It is attributed to the imbalance in cyclical sex hormone production. It can be result in irregular menstrual cycles, excessive or prolonged bleeding. This forms a major percentage of gynacological disease.
Through Naturopathy and Yoga most of the diseases can be cured. As already discussed, number of disorders are caused due to wrong way of living and due to psychological stress and strain. As these can be confused with pathological conditions, an initial thorough gynaecological checkup is necessary to properly select the method of treatment and by avoiding unnecessary and dangerous operative and drug therapy.
In Naturopathy all discases caused are said to be the accumulation of morbid matter due to wrong life style, i.e. violating natural laws in eating, sleeping, drinking etc. This leads to malabsorption and diseases. So, the treatment is holistic in its approach. It covers all the aspects of health, i.e. preventive, curative and promotive. It tries to tackle the cause to give sure cure for any disorder.
In prevention of all the menstrual disorders one should keep in mind that the eating, sleeping and other habits should be natural. Wrong diet like too much of spices, artifical foods - soft drinks, tinned foods, frieds etc., lack of exercises, lack of health and sex education, lack of emotional balance etc. play a major role. Hence, natural foods like vegetables, fruits, sprouts, natural juices and soups, wholesome grains, drinking adequate plain water about 2-3 litres, proper exercises, living in natural environment are the essential factors for the prevention of the disorders. Steam bath, massages, swimming are the positive preventive treatments for general tone up of the body.
Diet plays an important role in curing all the menstrual disorders. As earlier mentioned in the preventive aspects, natural food is very essential. Menstrual disorders are created by the diet which is deficient in vital nutrients and there is excessive loss of iron, potassium, calcium and vitamin B. Should avoid fried, maida products, coffee, tea in excess, soft drinks, fats, non-vegetarian, processed and tinned foods etc because these foods lead to malabsorption and lead to a number of disorders. Instead substitute with fresh, seasonal fruits, vegetable salads, whole wheat bread (Roti), wholesome grains & pulses sprouted dried and made into flour etc. Sprouts raw/steamed of green gram (moog), bengal gram (Chana), alpha alpha, til (sesame), groundnuts are good. One can have also the milk to til (sesame) and groundnut by soaking it overnight & extracting the milk (raw) and taken by adding 2 tsp of honey or little jaggery syrup. It is very good to regulate menstruation & helps to balance the weight. It should be taken on empty stomach instead of with breakfast.
Dietary fibre is an imporant factor for keeping away constipation & malabsorption. One should drink lot of plain water though avoiding it with the meals. Water is a very essential factor to keep the blood circulation in good condition & for aiding absorption & assimilation of nutrients and for proper elimination. Salt intake should be reduced. Too cold & too hot items are also not good. Using of ginger, garlic, ajwain, cloves in diet in minimum quantity will be beneicial. If one has heavy and painful menstruation, quantity of diet should be reduced during the menstrual cycle. If problem is severe, even short fasting (2-3 days) with lot of juices & soups (not in large quantity at a search) is advisable. Using lot of green leafy vegetables is the best way of keeping a balance of minerals & salts. Wheat grass juice is highly recommended. It could be taken daily for one month continuously and then twice weekly according to feasibility.
Some of the natural beverages which give good relief from pain & regulate menstruation are recommended. One can have any one or two of the following types at a time regularly.

1. Jeera (Cumin seeds) teaspoonfull boiled in 250 ml. of water for 5mts & strained. Add a little jaggery & take lukewarm twice a day on empty stomach not immediately after meals.
2. Sounf (Aniseeds) 1-2 tsp with equal amount of jaggery boiled in water for 5 mts, strained. Drink lukewarm twice a day.
3. Mint leaves chuttnis are good and also one can boil raw juice of the mint leaves with little jaggery or little salt added to it and taken twice a day.
4. Buttermilk diluted twice a day adding curry leaves/coriander leaves/mint leaves with little ginger/garlic/jeera.
5. Adding little pepper and turmeric to lukewarm milk to be taken at night instead of dinner gives a good relief from pain.
6. Drinking Honey water (2 tsp) in 250-300 ml. of cold/lukewarm water.
7. Jaljeera is also good preferably prepared from fresh leaves of mint, jeera, tamarind, jaggery etc. but not in too cold water.
8. Raw mangoes to be boiled for 10-15 mts, take out the pulp & mix with the same boiled water adding little jaggery, pinch of salt & jeera powder to give good appetising and laxative effect (100-200 ml).

Following foods help in irregular, delayed, and scanty menstruation:

1. Thyme (H. Ajwain) herbal tea: It helps in these situations. It increases the flow of menstruation. For menstrual pains, besides the tea, make a poultice of ground seeds of thyme and apply externally.
2. Beet root syrup: Fresh beets may be boiled until they are very soft. Remove the beets but boil the liquid till it becomes syrup. Drink a cup of this liquid twice a day. It is a remedy for delayed menstruation.
3. Mustard: Dissolve paste of two tea spoons of mustard powder in the bath water and soaking in this hot mustard bath is likely to bring on menstruation.

At the curative level hydrotherapy, diettherapy, mud, sun colour therapies, yogic therapy, help to combat the disorders on the whole. Other supplementary therapy acupressure etc. also help when applied holistically.

Hydrotherapy:
(Water - treatment) water is considered as a valuable therapeutic agent because of its three most important and remarkable properties which are (1) Its great power for absorbing and communicating heat. (2) Its solvent properties (3) Its physical state can be easily changed from soild to liquid or from liquid to gaseous form.
The skin is reflexly connected with the internal organs of the body, through the nerve centres. Whatever effect is produced upon the skin by the application of water, is likewise produced in the internal vascular area associated with it. Any sort of irritation of the cutaneous nerves which gives rise to contraction of the blood vessels of the surface, like wise causes contraction of the small blood vessels of the interior of the body.
The mechanical effect of the application of water is the reverse of reflex effect. When the blood vessels of the skin are made to contract as a result of the application of an irritant, the blood rushes into the internal organs, causing the mechanical distension of the internal part.
Application of warm water to the skin produces dilatation of the surface vessels & contraction of the vessels of the brain while cold water produces contraction of the vessels of the skin with dilatation of the cerebral vessels.
Application of cold water or ice produces coldness of the skin due to contraction of small blood vessels. But, prolonged and constant application of ice is to be avoided.
Application of hot water produces different types of effects depending upon mode of application. Heart dilates small veins and stimulates the activity of the glands of the skin. The alternate hot & cold water application to the skin is the most efficient way of stimulating nutritive changes without creating the thermic disturbances in the body.
Hence, the above therapeutic aspects of water is helpful in all the conditions of diseases, only the mode, method, temperature of the application differs accordingly. The application of water treatments can be done sparingly to all aspects of health viz; prevention, cure & promotion. Cold hip bath, hot and cold hip bath can be taken as routine treatment to help all conditions of diseases except during the menstruation. Cold packs are helpful before & during the menstrual cycle. Hot hip bath is helpful where there is scanty bleeding associated with pain and it should be taken a week before the periods. Abdominal pack is also very beneficial for all the times (before, during & after M/C). Warm water enema is very necessary to clean the bowels & to be congestion free. It is very beneficial when given in dysmenorrhoea & oligomenorrhoea conditions. In dysfunctional Uterine bleeding cases enema can be given as preventive treatment. Neutral water spinal bath is beneficial in cases of PMT. It reduces the irritability, anxiety, depression etc. Vaginal douche with luke warm neem water (neem leaves boiled in water & cooled) is good in cases of dysmenorrhoea, oligomannorrhoea, PMT, amenorrhoea, Leucorrhoea, pruritis. It has to be taken once a week in mild cases and on alternate days for two weeks otherwise. It is important here to note that it has to be taken before the onset of menstruation & not after that for atleast a week. It should also be avoided in young virgins, where only external wash with neem water twice a day is sufficient. Panties other than cotton to be avoided strictly & also use of panties to be avoided at night & care of hygience is very necessary.

Mud Therapy:
Cold-Mud-Packs applied on the lower abdominal region for 10-20 mts are helpful. Fermentation on lower abdomen for 3-5 mts before applying mudpack in dysmenorrhoea and amenorrhoea cases is very effective. The cold mudpack has the same effect on the body as cold packs mentioned earlier but the degree of the benefit is more because mud can retain the moisture at any temperature for prolonged period.

Massage:
It is very beneficial to tone up the body. It improves stamina, circulation, elimination. It helps in relieving the congestion, strengthens the muscles to reduce the pain. During menstruation massage to thighs, hips & back can be given in case of dysmenorrhoea & amenorrhoea & to be avoided in menorrhagea cases. Massage on the lower abdomen done very lightly anticlockwise is beneficial. Abrupt rubbing on the body or putting some medicinal oil is not safe.

Acupressure:
Dr. Bill E Prentice in 'physician and sports Medicine" of March 1981 says, "An acupressure massage on the back is the best treatment for a woman in the throes of painful cramps. Rubbing a tender area located about an inch (2.5 cm) to the right of the spine about mid back will reduce pain after 30 seconds. The pain will completely subside after 3 or 4 more minutes of massage. The treatment usually relieves menstrual cramps for three to six hours".
For help in menstruation problems, one acupressure point is on the lower abdomen, about 3 cms below the belly button. Press gradually inward with the plam of the hand. Another point is located on the inside of the legs, a little above the ankles. The efficacy of the latter point is confirmed by M. Martin, an athletic trainer from the University of South Carolina, Columbia who uses acupressure to relieve menstrual camps in athletes. According to her "find a tender spot about midway between the ankle bone and the Achilles tendon and apply gentle pressure with the thumb".
Pressure bought to bear on the thumbs and the first and second fingers of both the hands can bring relief from menstrual cramps. Another pressure point is located about 5 cms (2 inches) above the knee cap. Press hard and inward with one thumb, for reducing menstrual pain.
The following exercise is strongly recommended. It will relax muscles in the pelvic region and tone up the abdominal area also:

Lie flat on your back. Bring the feet nearer the thighs, thus raising the knees, the feet remaining flatly on the ground: Now:

1. Attempt Mula Bandha by contracting the region between the anus and the scrotum. Now press the portion between the first and the tenth vertebra against the ground. Keep it like that for about ten seconds. Then let go for five seconds. Repeat this five times.
2. Thereafter, while keeping the knees raised, raise the portion between the first and the tenth vertebra up from the ground in the form of a small concave, while keeping the rest of the body on the ground. Keep it up for about ten seconds. Then let go for five seconds. Repeat this five times.
3. Do as at (I)above, then hold one leg at the knee (not at the calf) with both your hands and bring the knee up with thigh touching your chest. Keep it like that for about ten seconds. Then let it go. Hold the other leg at the knee and bring that knee up to touch the chest. Keep it like that for about ten seconds. Repeat once again for both the legs.
4. Repeat (ii) above five times. Thereafter rest for about 30 seconds before getting up.

Exercises and Yoga therapy are very essential aspects of treatment. Exercises/walking/swimming promotes good circulation & flexibility and relieves pelvic congestion. Yoga therapy in general theme includes relaxation technique, developing an inner awareness, improving general stamina and specific postures to improve the strength and tone of muscles concerned. It also helps in neuro-muscular co-ordination, proper functioning of glandular system etc. Yogic concepts help to bring an equipoise and calm state of mind. Through meditation one can improve the intellectual faculty by calming down the mind so that all the above said treatments, diet control can be easily accepted without any inhibition, wrong notion etc. It is also important since there is a need for life style change which is made easier by yogic concepts and practices. By Bhakti Yoga, there is emotional balance in women and make them much more strong, confident & self reliant. So, Naturopathy & Yoga should go together for better, sure results as they are two sides of the same coin.
Yogasanas can provide lot of relaxation besides massaging and toining important parts of the body. In one study, reported in the Physical Fitness Research Digest of USA- July 1978, eight weeks of Vajrasana (thunderbolt pose) i.e. bent knee sit ups, "done on a daily basis were found to make life much easier during the menstrual pains period for 36 college women". Vajrasana (virasana) Sarvangasana, Paschmottanasana, urdhava dhanurasana help considerably during menses and so does nadi shodhak pranayam.

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