World Menopause Day 2026: Ayush Ministry Pushes Ayurveda Care

The Ministry of Ayush marked World Menopause Day 2026, which falls on 18 October, by putting the mid-life health of women at the centre of its awareness and research agenda. The Ministry pursues this work through the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), its apex body for Ayurvedic research.

What menopause is

Menopause is a natural biological stage in which menstruation stops for good because the ovaries lose follicular activity. It normally sets in between the ages of 45 and 55. Women passing through it may face irregular periods, hot flushes, vaginal dryness, broken sleep, mood swings, joint pain and anxiety. Ayurveda places this phase and the complaints that come with it under the term Rajonivritti.

The World Health Organization (WHO) describes the change as a gradual one that usually begins with an altered menstrual cycle. Perimenopause is the stretch running from the first such sign until one year after the final period; it can last several years and touch physical, emotional, mental and social well-being. Both hormonal and non-hormonal measures can ease the complaints of this stage.

Who said what

Ayush Secretary Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha said the health of women needs steady attention at every stage of life, and that Ayurveda offers a framework built on prevention, lifestyle and care tailored to the individual. CCRAS Director General Prof. Rabinarayan Acharya said Ayurveda reads menopause as a natural transformation and not as a disorder, and that his council is testing classical preparations such as Ashokarista and Amalaki Rasayana for hormonal balance, bone health and emotional resilience. Deputy Director General Dr N. Srikanth spoke of turning classical knowledge into evidence-based answers.

The Ayurvedic approach

• Rasayana or rejuvenation therapies, paired with changes in daily routine, to support vitality.
• Counselling, stress management and family support for mental well-being.
• Classical formulations named in the statement: Ashokarista, Lodhrasava, Usheerasava, Chandanadi Loha, Amalaki Rasayana and Mukta Shukti, to be used only under a qualified practitioner.
• A varied diet matched to the person constitution and digestion, with enough protein and calcium to hold muscle and bone strength.
• Yoga and meditation, including Setu Bandhasana, Vipreetkarani Asana, Marjariasana and Shavasana, with Sitali and Bhramari Pranayama and Yoga Nidra for sleep and calm.

The Ministry also advises moderation at meals, less pungent and salty food, a limit on alcohol, no tobacco, and control of physical and emotional stress. CCRAS says its larger aim is to build scientific evidence, measure clinical outcomes and spread informed awareness of this stage of life.