What Causes Menopause Brain Fog and How Does Ayurveda Treat It?

Menopause is a common biological procedure that every woman undergoes at a certain range of age between 40-50. One cannot stop or reverse it, as it is a natural process but opting Ayurveda for menopause brain fog can be a useful natural treatment that can help relieve some of its symptoms. Menopause signifies the period when a woman has stopped menstruating. To be more specific about it, during this period the reproductive system of the female body stops functioning i.e. ovaries stop secreting eggs and the reproductive hormones named estrogen. Therefore, declaring the end of the menstrual cycle. Due to hormonal decline and reduced ovarian functions, females experience some physical and mental symptoms. The most common but underestimated out of all is brain fog. For nearly two-thirds of women, menopause comes with an undesirable change in memory.

Brain fog during menopause can involve symptoms like easily forgetting tasks, difficulty concentrating, and absent-mindedness, and mental fogginess. It is mainly due to a decline in Estrogen levels, as it impacts and maintains various aspects of brain activity.   

In order to determine if one is experiencing the most bothersome symptom of menopause, brain fog, here are some basic signs that can be recognized at home without a formal diagnosis: 

• Forgetfulness: This can include memory errors, trouble concentrating, and feeling unclear of thoughts. It can also lead to difficulty recalling any details, as well as feeling confused.

• Difficulty Concentrating: These hormonal shifts can mess with your brain's neurotransmitters and sense organs, making it harder to stay focused and process information. Because of which you might struggle with tasks, forget stuff, and just feel kind of mentally unclear.

• Word Retrieval Issues: Women who go through menopause may find it difficult to remember and express words and may experience frustration and weakening of cognitive function. This condition often leads to trouble finding the right words to speak or express their thoughts.

• Slowed Information Processing: During menopause, women might notice that their brain gets a bit slower at processing and absorbing information. They might feel mentally inactive and find that their cognitive functions are not as quick as usual. This can make it harder for them to get things done, handle work responsibilities, and stay mentally active or sharp. 

• Struggling Multitasking: Women may struggle to manage many responsibilities efficiently. Even basic actions that were formerly part of an easy routine can suddenly appear to be challenging, leading to increased anger and stress.

There could be endless reasons for brain fog during the menopause period but the common ones are highlighted below:

• Hormonal instability: During menopause, the estrogen level fluctuates first i.e. it goes up and down and then eventually decreases. This fluctuation can mess with how your brain works. Thus, making it difficult for the females to concentrate properly and remember things. This is what we call menopausal brain fog.

• Sleep Disturbances: The only culprit causing all this discomfort is hormonal changes. This leads to symptoms like insomnia, night sweats, and thus, making it more difficult for the lady to take proper rest at night. This lack of quality sleep can affect one's memory that will lead to foggy feeling, known as menopausal brain fog.

• Aging Process: As we all know, aging is a natural process and it brings multiple changes in the human body. One similar change that majority of women have experienced during their menopause period is menopausal brain fog. This happens mainly around the age of 50.

• Other Health Conditions: During the menopausal transition, other conditions like thyroid disorders, diabetes, etc. can also make brain functioning worse. Lifestyle factors like not getting enough sleep, eating poorly, and being inactive add to the existing problem. It's important to understand and address these other health conditions in order to effectively manage and lessen menopausal cognitive symptoms.

Ayurvedic approach to menopause

Ayurveda views the menopausal stage of a woman's life as a very natural and important phase. It marks a shift of the female body from the reproductive to the post-reproductive stage. Ayurveda for menopause tries to seek a balance of three doshas (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha), as it is recognized as the key treatment for menopausal brain fog and overall well-being.

Ayurvedic practitioners mainly focus on keeping this balance to ease symptoms and promote good health which can be performed with little to major adjustments in one’s way of living.

In short, the relationship between Ayurveda and menopause lies in understanding the doshic imbalances that may occur during this period and by recognizing and addressing the underlying imbalances in the doshas, Ayurveda aims to provide comprehensive support to women experiencing this natural life transition.

Natural remedies and treatments for menopausal brain fog

Ayurveda aims for the management or reduction of abnormal signs of menopause with easy tips and tricks. Usually, one can manage menopause symptoms with simple and natural remedies for menopause suggested by expert practitioners. So, some common Brain fog treatments at home are listed below:

1) Get enough rest

Even if menopause symptoms can cause sleep disturbances in one’s sleeping schedule, getting enough sleep is very crucial to obtain relief from mental fogginess. It is one of the most important things to treat or get rid of menopausal brain fog. The correct way to get adequate rest is, you need to make a proper sleep schedule and follow it as much as possible. During the menopausal period, females also keep in mind to take short breaks during the daytime from their regular tasks. As menopause can cause sleep problems, here’s what you can do:

• No caffeine or alcohol right before the bed time.
• Keep your bedroom comfy, cozy, dark, and quiet so that it makes you fall asleep quickly.
• Try to exercise regularly, but not right before bed.

2) Eat nutritious meals

Opting for unhealthy food items just for taste i.e. in very small portions once in a while does not harm. But one needs to pay attention to what’s on their plate every time as excess of lack of nutrition in your plate can be a harmful choice. What you put on your plate can really affect the brain fog symptoms i.e. either it can help manage them a little bit or it can also aggravate it to a great extent. Eating the right nutrients can give your brain the energy it requires to stay active. So try giving a chance tp those leafy greens, fruits, whole grains, and omega-3 fatty acids. By delving into a proper nutritious meal, you will yourself start to notice positive changes in your body. It will also help in reducing other menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes.

3) Keep hydrated

Make sure that you stay hydrated throughout the day to tackle this menopausal brain fog as a hydrated body can support cognitive functioning. So, try to drink enough water a day. But if water is not so encouraging for you, there are better other options as well.

In Ayurveda we suggest our patients to choose herbal tea, fruit juice, or vegetable juice - all unsweetened. If you’re not sure of how much fluid you need, try consulting a professional doctor. They will definitely help you create a hydration plan along with other necessary nutrients you must include in your diet, that too according to your own constitution and needs.

4) Keep yourself physically active

Exercise is a great option to balance your physical as well as mental health hand in hand. It can even make your mood happier and help you sleep better. To attain all of its benefits, you do not need to spend hours in the gym. Just 30 minutes of any moderate exercise every day is all you need. Walk, jog, bike, swim, or dance, each of them are a good choice. Just try to pick something that you will enjoy and stick to for long-term benefits.

5) Exercise your mind regularly

Just like our body, our brain also needs exercise to stay sharp. There are tons of ways you can choose from to exercise your mind. However, the coolest out of all is to learn a really interesting new skill. Even a recent study shows that learning a new skill can help improve our brain functioning and protect it against dementia. Don’t worry! The skill doesn’t have to be something difficult or time-consuming. But the key is to find something that interests you. You can start by -

• Trying a new recipe
• Learning a new language
• Taking up a new hobby, etc.

6) Reduce stress

We often do not realise that we stress over small things but this mental tension can take a toll on our physical as well as mental health. Therefore, worsening the brain fog symptoms during the menopause period. Ladies, It is important to find appropriate ways to manage your stress levels. There are enormous ways but some of the most effective ones include exercise, relaxation techniques, and journaling. But it is up to you to find your own way of relaxation. 

7) Give nature some time

Ayurveda is all about nature and natural ways for human body's betterment. We consider that nature is our only provider and healer. It understands how capable a human body is in managing any illness or disorder itself. Therefore, we often recommend our patients to connect with nature as it has many benefits for your physical and mental health. It will help you with reducing stress, improving cognitive function, boosting energy levels and one's mood. So, if you’re feeling foggy, take a walk in the park. You can also try spending more time outside in your backyard or garden. Try to spend some time under sunlight, as vitamin D is essential for our brain health.

8) Manage other health conditions

If you are already on medications or trying to manage any other health condition such as diabetes or thyroid, it’s important for you to get them under control as soon as possible. These can also become a hidden factor for weakening your mental health. If you’re facing trouble managing it , you must talk to a doctor. They will assist you in finding better ways to handle your condition.

Conclusion

Brain fog symptoms of menopausal period have become so common that the majority percentage of women go through this phase. It cannot be prevented as it is a natural process but females can manage it before it becomes severe. The treatment that Dr. Sharda Ayurveda offers i.e. Ayurvedic treatment for brain fog to cure this issue, will help the ladies suffering from this problem lately. The above written remedies along with helpful herbs will work wonders in this situation.  

FAQs:

• The duration of brain fog during the menopause period can vary from a few months to several years. The factors affecting its time period mainly include health, lifestyle, nutritional habits, and hormonal fluctuations. 

• A balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins 
• Stay hydrated
• Limit refined sugars and processed foods
• Include omega-3 fatty acids from sources like flaxseeds
• Also, try to manage caffeine intake 

• To quickly alleviate brain fog, prioritize adequate sleep and staying hydrated. Also, consume balanced meals, engage in regular physical activity, and manage stress through relaxation techniques such as yoga, meditation, and deep breathing. Consider caffeine consumption in moderation for a temporary boost.