Ayurvedic wisdom can be instrumental in facilitating the body’s own wisdom to rectify female health issues, from puberty through menopause and beyond, says Dr. Somesh Kaushik, an Ayurvedic and naturopathic physician in Cross River. “The key, from the Ayurvedic perspective, is living in balance so that the body’s intricate systems can function properly,” he says.

Numerous obstacles in modern life—including toxins, stress and poor diet—interfere with the body’s natural feedback mechanisms for maintaining balance, he says. Addressing these obstacles and how they affect the body as a whole constitutes the Ayurvedic approach.

“For instance, female health issues might involve several systems, such as the nervous and endocrine systems. And the endocrine system, which governs such organs as the ovaries, pancreas and thyroid, produces hormones that affect many of the body’s processes,” he says. “Focusing on the entire system, rather than solely on one hormone, such as with hormone replacement therapy, provides a more accurate approach and doesn’t disrupt the whole system with the adjustment of only one component.”

By using pulse and tongue analysis, an Ayurvedic practition-er can assess the entire body and discover if, where and how it might be out of balance, Kaushik says. That assessment becomes the basis for a treatment plan that’s unique to the patient. It might include diet, detoxing, herbal supplements, therapeutic yoga or meditation.

It might also include Shirodhara, an Ayurvedic therapy in which a continuous stream of lukewarm herbal oil is poured over the forehead. The intent is to stimulate the pituitary gland, which regulates the endocrine system and hormones. Shirodhara is also effective for nervous system and stress-related conditions such as depression, anxiety, worry, irritation and insomnia, Kaushik says.

“By using a whole-body approach, systems can be safely brought back into balance restoring harmony and health,” he says.

Location: Dr. Kaushik’s Ayurvedic and Naturopathic Clinic, 792 Rte. 35, Cross River, NY. Open Monday through Wednesday. For more info, call 914.875.9088, email [email protected] or visit DrKaushik.com.