"According to traditional Chinese medicine, menstrual disorders are related to kidney function and are also related to the spleen, liver, qi and blood, chong and ren meridians, and uterus." said Dr. Chen Yan, deputy chief physician of the Department of Gynecology at Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that there are two main causes of dysmenorrhea:
1. Deficiency pattern, which means "pain when not nourished." It is caused by weak qi and blood or deficiency of the liver and kidneys. People with this pattern should pay attention to nourishing and tonifying their qi, blood, liver, and kidneys.
2. Excess pattern, which means "pain when not flowing." It is caused by poor circulation of qi and blood. People with this pattern should focus on promoting blood circulation and relieving pain.
Dr. Chen pointed out that in terms of treatment, traditional Chinese medicine generally categorizes dysmenorrhea into four types. Different symptoms require different treatment methods.
Qi stagnation and blood stasis: Symptoms may include abdominal distension and pain, nipple tenderness, irritability, reduced menstrual flow, and irregular menstruation. Medications that can soothe the liver, regulate qi, dissolve stasis, and relieve pain should be taken. For dietary therapy, motherwort can be boiled with eggs.
Qi and blood deficiency: Symptoms may include mild, persistent pain in the lower abdomen during menstruation, reduced menstrual flow, pale color and thin texture of menstrual blood, fatigue, pale complexion, poor appetite, and loose stools. Medications that can tonify qi, nourish blood, and relieve pain should be taken, such as Wujibaifeng Pills. Eating lamb can also be beneficial.
Yang deficiency and internal cold: Symptoms may include cold pain in the lower abdomen during or after menstruation, reduced menstrual flow, accompanied by lumbosacral soreness, cold hands and feet, and increased frequency of clear urine. Medications that can warm the meridians, dispel cold, nourish blood, and relieve pain should be taken. For example, the red sugar and ginger soup is very effective for cold-type dysmenorrhea. Red sugar has the effects of nourishing blood, promoting blood circulation, warming the liver, and dispelling cold. Ginger can tonify the middle, dispel cold, and relieve dysmenorrhea. The combination of these two can tonify qi, nourish blood, warm the meridians, and activate blood circulation.
Liver and kidney deficiency: Symptoms may include lumbosacral soreness and weakness, discomfort in the lower abdomen 1-2 days after menstruation, or hot flashes, dizziness, and tinnitus. Medications that can tonify the kidneys, nourish the liver, and relieve pain should be taken. Eating Chuanxiong and Danshen boiled with eggs can also be helpful.
Additionally, there are currently some Chinese patent medicines used in clinical practice that have good efficacy for women with weakened constitution, abdominal distension and pain during menstruation, and menstrual irregularities.