MENSTRUAL SYMPTOMS

Published on 22/06/2015 by admin

Filed under Complementary Medicine

Last modified 22/04/2025

Print this page

This article have been viewed 1838 times

Chapter 84

MENSTRUAL SYMPTOMS

Chapter contents

MENSTRUAL BLOOD

PERIODS

Early periods (short cycle)

Interrogation, Chapter 46

Qi deficiency

Early periods, heavy bleeding, pale blood, tiredness, poor appetite, loose stools, pale complexion, Pale tongue, Empty pulse.

Blood-Heat

Early period, heavy bleeding, bright-red or dark-red blood, a feeling of heat, thirst, mental restlessness, red face, Red tongue with yellow coating, Overflowing-Rapid pulse.

Liver- and Kidney-Yin deficiency

Early periods, scanty periods, dizziness, tinnitus, backache, night sweating, tongue without coating, Floating-Empty pulse.

Blood stasis in the Uterus

Early periods, painful periods with dark blood and clots, Purple tongue, Wiry pulse.

Late periods (long cycle)

Interrogation, Chapter 46

Blood deficiency

Late period, scanty periods, blurred vision, dizziness, Pale tongue, Choppy or Fine pulse.

Cold in the Uterus

Late periods, scanty bleeding, painful periods alleviated by the application of heat, small, stringy dark clots, a feeling of cold, Pale tongue, Deep-Tight-Slow pulse.

Damp-Phlegm in the Uterus

Late periods, sticky menstrual blood, a feeling of heaviness, excessive vaginal discharge, Swollen tongue with sticky coating, Slippery pulse.

Kidney deficiency

Late periods, backache, dizziness, tinnitus, tongue without coating.

Other symptoms and signs depend on whether there is a deficiency of Kidney-Yin or Kidney-Yang.

Irregular periods

Interrogation, Chapter 46

‘Irregular periods’ indicates periods that come sometimes early and sometimes late. It is important to bear in mind that many women refer to ‘irregular periods’ when the periods are either consistently late or consistently early, in which case they fall under the headings of ‘late periods’ or ‘early periods’ respectively.

Liver-Qi stagnation

Irregular periods, premenstrual tension, hypochondrial or epigastric distension, irritability, moodiness, Wiry pulse.

Kidney deficiency

Irregular periods, backache, dizziness, tinnitus, infertility.

Other manifestations, including the pulse and tongue, depend on whether there is Kidney-Yang or Kidney-Yin deficiency.

Heart- and Spleen-Blood deficiency

Irregular periods, scanty bleeding, pale blood, palpitations, tiredness, Pale-Thin tongue, Choppy pulse.

Heavy periods

Interrogation, Chapter 46

‘Heavy periods’ indicates heavy menstrual blood that occurs at the proper time; that is, the period comes regularly, it lasts approximately 4 or 5 days and the bleeding is heavy during that time. There is another condition characterized by heavy bleeding called ‘Flooding and trickling’ (Beng Lou): this indicates heavy menstrual blood outside the proper time; that is, the period may come early with a sudden flood (Beng), or it may continue with a trickle after the proper period time (Lou), or both. The various pathological conditions indicated below apply to both ‘Heavy periods’ and ‘Flooding and trickling’.

Qi deficiency

Heavy menstrual bleeding that may come early with a flood, pale blood, tiredness, pale face, poor appetite, palpitations, Pale tongue, Empty pulse.

Blood-Heat

Heavy menstrual bleeding, bright-red or dark-red blood, a feeling of heat, mental restlessness, red face, thirst, Red tongue with yellow coating, Overflowing-Rapid pulse.

Liver-Fire

Heavy menstrual bleeding, headaches, dizziness, tinnitus, irritability, propensity to outbursts of anger, red face, thirst, bitter taste, constipation, dark urine, Red tongue with redder sides and dry yellow coating, Wiry-Rapid pulse.

Spleen- and Kidney-Yang deficiency

Heavy menstrual bleeding, pale blood, irregular periods, backache, a feeling of cold, loose stools, tiredness, infertility, Pale and Swollen tongue, Deep-Weak pulse.

Liver- and Kidney-Yin deficiency

Heavy menstrual bleeding, trickling after the proper time, irregular periods, infertility, dizziness, tinnitus, night sweating, tongue without coating, Floating-Empty pulse.

Liver- and Kidney-Yin deficiency with Blood Empty-Heat

Heavy menstrual bleeding, irregular periods, trickling after the proper time, infertility, dizziness, tinnitus, night sweating, a feeling of heat in the evening, five-palm heat, Red tongue without coating, Floating-Empty and Rapid pulse.

Blood stasis in the Uterus

Heavy menstrual bleeding, painful periods with dark blood and dark clots, periods that stop and start, abdominal pain, Purple tongue, Wiry pulse.

Clinical note

• In my opinion, most practitioners tend to have a bias towards Qi deficiency as a cause of heavy menstrual bleeding. However, in my experience, roughly half the cases are due to Blood-Heat.

Scanty periods

Interrogation, Chapter 46

Blood deficiency

Scanty periods with pale-dilute blood, late periods, dizziness, blurred vision, Pale-Thin tongue, Choppy pulse.

Kidney-Yang deficiency

Scanty periods with pale blood, late periods, infertility, irregular periods, backache, dizziness, tinnitus, a feeling of cold, weak knees, bright-white complexion, tiredness, abundant clear urination, Pale and wet tongue, Deep-Weak pulse.

Kidney-Yin deficiency

Scanty periods, irregular periods, late periods, infertility, dizziness, tinnitus, night sweating, dry mouth with a desire to drink in small sips, backache, poor memory, scanty dark urine, tongue without coating, Floating-Empty pulse.

Blood stasis in the Uterus

Scanty periods with dark blood and clots, painful periods, Purple tongue, Wiry pulse.

Phlegm obstructing the Uterus

Scanty periods with a brownish discharge, excessive vaginal discharge, a feeling of heaviness, obesity, Swollen tongue, Slippery pulse.

Cold in the Uterus

Scanty periods, late periods, painful periods alleviated by the application of heat, a feeling of cold, abdominal pain, white tongue coating, Tight-Slow pulse.

Painful periods

Interrogation, Chapter 46

Liver-Qi stagnation

Abdominal distension and pain before or during the periods, premenstrual tension, distension of the breasts, no clots, hypochondrial or epigastric distension, irritability, moodiness, Wiry pulse.

Liver-Blood stasis

Severe period pain which is alleviated by the passage of clots, hypochondrial pain, abdominal pain, dark complexion, Purple tongue, Wiry pulse.

Stagnation of Cold in the Uterus

Severe spastic cramp-like menstrual pain that is alleviated by the application of heat, small, stringy clots of bright red blood, a feeling of cold during the period, Pale tongue, Deep-Tight pulse.

Damp-Heat in the Uterus

Painful periods with a feeling of heaviness extending to the sacrum, mid-cycle pain, small red clots, excessive vaginal discharge, dark urine, Red tongue with sticky yellow coating, Slippery-Rapid pulse.

Stagnant Liver-Qi turning to Liver-Fire

Painful periods, heavy periods, irritability, thirst, bitter taste, dry stools, Red tongue with redder sides and yellow coating, Rapid-Wiry pulse.

Deficiency of Qi and Blood

Dull menstrual pain towards the end of or after the period, pain relieved by pressure, scanty periods, poor appetite, loose stools, weak voice, palpitations, tiredness, blurred vision, dull-pale complexion, dizziness, Pale tongue, Weak or Choppy pulse.

Spleen-Yang and Liver-Blood deficiency

Dull period pain during or after the period, scanty bleeding without clots, dull headache, blurred vision, tiredness, loose stools, Pale and Swollen tongue, Choppy or Fine pulse.

Liver- and Kidney-Yin deficiency

Dull period pain during or after the period, scanty period, backache, dizziness, tinnitus, night sweating, tongue without coating, Floating-Empty pulse.

Absence of periods

Interrogation, Chapter 46

Blood deficiency

Menstruation stops after several months of decreasing periods, blurred vision, dizziness, Pale tongue, Choppy or Fine pulse.

Liver and Kidney deficiency

Menstruation not started by the age of 18, or stopped after becoming scanty, backache, dizziness, tiredness.

Other manifestations, including pulse and tongue, depend on whether there is Kidney-Yin or Kidney-Yang deficiency.

Spleen- and Kidney-Yang deficiency

Absence of periods, tiredness, loose stools, backache, dizziness, a feeling of cold, Pale and swollen tongue, Deep-Weak pulse.

Liver- and Kidney-Yin deficiency

Absence of periods, dizziness, tinnitus, backache, blurred vision, dry eyes, tongue without coating, Floating-Empty pulse.

This is usually secondary amenorrhoea in older women.

Lung-Yin and Blood deficiency

Absence of periods, dry cough, shortness of breath, malar flush, depression, sighing, dizziness, sadness, tongue without coating in the front, Floating-Empty pulse.

Heart- and Kidney-Yin deficiency

Absence of periods, palpitations, insomnia, backache, dizziness, tinnitus, depression, anxiety, night sweating, Red tongue with redder tip and without coating, Floating-Empty pulse.

Heart- and Spleen-Blood deficiency

Absence of periods, palpitations, depression, insomnia, pale-dull complexion, tiredness, loose stools, poor appetite, Pale tongue, Weak or Choppy pulse.

Stagnation of Qi and stasis of Blood

Periods that stop suddenly, irritability, abdominal distension and pain, depression, Wiry pulse.

Damp-Phlegm in the Uterus

Periods that stop after gradually decreasing in amount, obesity, excessive vaginal discharge, a feeling of heaviness, abdominal fullness, Swollen tongue with sticky coating, Slippery pulse.

Mid-cycle bleeding

Interrogation, Chapter 46

Liver- and Kidney-Yin deficiency with Empty-Heat

Mid-cycle bleeding that is scanty, scarlet-red blood, dizziness, tinnitus, night sweating, backache, five-palm heat, malar flush, Red tongue without coating, Floating-Empty pulse.

Damp-Heat

Mid-cycle bleeding that may be heavy or scanty, sticky blood, fatigue, ache in the joints, a feeling of heaviness, poor appetite, vaginal discharge, sticky yellow tongue coating, Slippery-Rapid pulse.

Blood stasis

Mid-cycle bleeding with pain, scanty blood, dark blood with dark clots, abdominal pain, Purple tongue, Wiry pulse.

Spleen- and Kidney-Yang deficiency

Mid-cycle bleeding that may be profuse, dilute bright-red blood, dizziness, tinnitus, backache, loose stools, tiredness, depression, a feeling of cold, frequent urination, Pale and Swollen tongue, Deep-Weak pulse.

Periods that stop and start

Interrogation, Chapter 46

Blood stasis in the Uterus

Periods that stop and start, painful periods with dark blood and clots, Purple tongue, Wiry pulse.

Cold in the Uterus

Periods that stop and start, painful periods with small, stringy dark clots, scanty periods, abdominal pain alleviated by the application of heat, white tongue coating, Deep-Tight pulse.

Liver-Qi stagnation

Periods that stop and start, hypochondrial or epigastric distension, irritability, moodiness, Wiry pulse.

Periods that return after the menopause

This symptom occurs only in menopausal women, when the periods stop for at least a year and then suddenly return; in ancient times this was called ‘inverted opening flower’.

Liver- and Kidney-Yin deficiency with Empty Heat

Periods that return suddenly after 1 year of climacterium, scanty in volume, fresh red blood, malar flush, dizziness, tinnitus, night sweating, insomnia, dry mouth with a desire to drink in small sips, five-palm heat, Red tongue without coating, Floating-Empty pulse.

Stagnant Liver-Qi turned into Liver-Fire

Periods that return suddenly after 1 year of climacterium, heavy period, dark-red blood with red clots, propensity to outbursts of anger, thirst, bitter taste, insomnia, Red tongue with redder sides and yellow coating, Wiry-Rapid pulse.

Spleen-Qi deficiency

Periods that return suddenly after 1 year of climacterium, heavy period, dilute bright-red blood, poor appetite, tiredness, slight abdominal distension, pale complexion, loose stools, Pale tongue, Empty pulse.

Toxic Heat in the Uterus

Periods that return suddenly after 1 year of climacterium, bloody vaginal discharge with offensive odour, five-colour vaginal discharge, foul breath, constipation, Red tongue with sticky yellow coating and red spots, Rapid-Overflowing pulse.

This condition may correspond to carcinoma of the uterus in Western medicine; therefore a bloody vaginal discharge with offensive odour in a woman after the menopause always requires a gynaecological examination.

Diagnosis in Chinese Medicine A Comprehensive Guide

Recent Posts

Meta

Categories

Search Engine

MENSTRUAL SYMPTOMS

MENSTRUAL SYMPTOMS

Share this:

Related

Related posts: