Ayurveda for irregular periods in San Ramon

Cycles that run long, arrive early, skip a month, or come with cramps that stop your day: irregular periods can reflect stress, travel, weight changes, or thyroid and hormonal conditions. Preeti Gupta at Minute Wonder Ayurveda in San Ramon looks at digestion, rhythm and rest, once your physician has checked for medical causes.

Preeti does not diagnose pathological conditions from a Western perspective, so her work sits alongside the care of your physician and never replaces it.

What Ayurveda looks at

Ayurveda sees the cycle as part of the body's rhythm, with vata governing movement, so travel, skipped meals and shifting sleep show up in the calendar. Preeti looks at:

• How regular the rest of your day is: sleep, meals, exercise.

• Stress and travel in the weeks before each cycle.

• Digestion, appetite and energy around your period, including cravings and heaviness.

What a First Visit covers

A First Visit is 90 minutes ($250). Preeti reviews your daily routine, diet, digestion, exercise and sleep, using a health history, pulse analysis and tongue diagnosis. For irregular periods, expect time on:

• A cycle history: first period, usual length, the last few cycles, and flow.

• Your physician's tests, such as thyroid, hormone and pregnancy tests, and any contraception.

• A rhythm to practise through the month, with warm, regular food.

You leave with a written diet, herbal and lifestyle plan. Follow-ups are $125 for 60 minutes. See pricing.

What you can start this week

Two nourishing dishes from her recipe pages:

• Cracked wheat dalia with vegetables. Her page calls cracked wheat a steady source of energy through the day.

• Cumin-roasted sweet potatoes and yam. Her page notes that sweet potatoes are nourishing and easy to digest.

See your physician first if

• Missed periods when pregnancy is possible.

• Soaking through a pad or tampon every hour for several hours, or bleeding between periods.

• Severe pelvic pain, fainting or fever.

Common questions about irregular periods

How soon should I see a physician?

If your cycle changes noticeably, skips for three months, or comes with pain, see your gynecologist or physician first. Ayurveda is not a way to avoid that check.

Will Preeti track my cycle?

She asks about it at your First Visit and reviews it at follow-ups. A simple note of start dates, flow and symptoms is the most useful thing you can bring.

Is Abhyanga all right during my period?

Ask Preeti before you book. Whether bodywork suits you depends on your cycle and health history, and she will say if a session should wait.

Ayurveda is a traditional system of wellness and is not a substitute for medical care. Content here is educational. Please consult your physician about any medical condition. Preeti Gupta is not licensed by the State of California as a healing arts practitioner; Ayurvedic services are complementary to the care of licensed providers.