Hormonal Imbalance & Ayurveda: Beyond Labels, Towards Real Healing
Hormonal Imbalance & Ayurveda: Beyond Labels, Towards Real Healing
Today, everywhere we hear the same conversation lifestyle changes are increasing hormonal disorders in women. Conditions like PCOS, infertility, thyroid imbalance, and irregular cycles are becoming more common.
Many directly connect these hormonal issues with infertility. To some extent, this is true.
But as an Ayurvedic doctor, I see a deeper reality.
Hormonal imbalance is not something that suddenly appears ,it is something that has been building silently within the body for years.
Modern medicine may have given us terms like PCOS/PCOD, but the condition itself is not new. Thousands of years ago, our Ayurvedic texts like the Charaka Samhita had already described similar conditions under concepts like Artava Dushti (menstrual disorders), Agnimandya (poor metabolism), and Dosha imbalance.
What we call “new disorders” today are already explained in Ayurveda centuries ago.
This is where Ayurveda stands apart ,not just as a treatment system, but as a complete understanding of life and body science.
Today’s research, in many ways, is only validating what Ayurveda has always said.
As an Ayurvedic practitioner, I say this with pride ,our Indian culture and ancient wisdom have always pointed out the importance of balanced living, mindful eating, and disciplined routine. The problem is not lack of knowledge. The problem is lack of understanding and application.
I must say here ,We are rediscovering Ayurveda, not inventing it.
Take a simple example Haldi (Turmeric).For generations, it has been used in Indian households for its healing properties. Today, the same turmeric is being repackaged and sold globally as a “superfood.”
What was once part of our kitchen is now sold back to us as innovation.
Isn’t that a paradox?
One of the most significant developments in women’s health in recent years is the global discussion around changing the term PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) to PMOS (Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome). A global expert consensus published in 2026 concluded that the name PCOS was misleading because many women diagnosed with the condition do not have ovarian cysts, while many women with ovarian cysts do not actually have the syndrome. The newer term PMOS better reflects the fact that the condition involves multiple hormonal and metabolic systems, not just the ovaries.
For years, Ayurveda has viewed such conditions as a result of deeper disturbances in Agni (metabolism), Dosha imbalance, Artava Dushti (menstrual and reproductive dysfunction), and overall systemic imbalance, rather than focusing on a single organ.
What modern medicine is now calling a metabolic-endocrine disorder, Ayurveda has always understood as a condition involving the entire body’s functioning.
As an Ayurvedic physician, this development is not surprising,it is reassuring.
Because it reminds us that the wisdom preserved in our ancient texts was never limited to symptom management. Ayurveda always encouraged physicians to understand the root cause, the whole body, and the whole person before beginning treatment.
The new PMOS terminology highlights:
- Insulin resistance
- Metabolic dysfunction
- Hormonal imbalance
- Mental health impact
- Cardiovascular risk
- Reproductive challenges
rather than focusing only on ovarian cysts.
Because ; A woman does not suffer because of a cyst. She suffers because the body’s internal balance has been disturbed.
This is exactly why Ayurveda never treats hormonal disorders by looking only at hormone reports.
Instead, it studies:
- Digestion and metabolism (Agni)
- Sleep patterns
- Stress levels
- Menstrual history
- Lifestyle habits
- Emotional wellbeing
- Body constitution (Prakriti)
because every woman’s journey is different.
This timeless Ayurvedic approach is beautifully summarized in the principle:
“पुरुषं पुरुषं विक्ष्य”
Observe and understand each individual before deciding the treatment.
Ayurveda treated PMOS long before the world renamed PCOS. Modern research is changing the name but Ayurveda has always understood the nature.
©
Dr Shraddha Joshi Dharmadhikari
MD Ayu DYA
Ayurvedic Infertility Specialist
Panchakarma Specialist
Yog Tadnya
www.dharmadhikariayurved.com
