RAJASWALA PARICHARYA: ITS SCIENTIFIC VALIDATION IN MENSTRUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH

Background: Ayurveda emphasizes holistic approaches to women’s health, particularly during menstruation. Rajaswala Paricharya (menstrual regimen) prescribes dietary, lifestyle, and behavioral guidelines to maintain reproductive well-being. Objectives: To review the classical descriptions of Rajaswala Paricharya and scientifically validate its principles using contemporary biomedical research. Methods: A narrative review of Ayurvedic texts (Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita, Kashyapa Samhita, Bhavaprakasha) was conducted. Parallel evidence from PubMed-indexed studies on diet, stress, sleep, dysmenorrhea and reproductive health was compiled. References were formatted in APA 7th style. Results: Ayurveda recommendations of light diet, rest, stress avoidance, proper sleep, and sexual abstinence align with modern evidence. Rest reduces prostaglandin-mediated dysmenorrhea, light diets prevent inflammation and PMS, stress management preserves HPO axis function, adequate sleep regulates circadian rhythm, and abstinence reduces infection risk. Conclusion: Rajaswala Paricharya is a preventive and therapeutic lifestyle framework for menstrual and reproductive health. Its principles resonate with modern science and may complement contemporary gynecology. Keywords: Ayurveda, Menstruation, Reproductive Health, Rajaswala Paricharya, Scientific Validation