Excessive Menstruation in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Understanding different excessive menstruation patterns according to TCM theory
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Condition Categories
Condition Categories
Excessive menstruation, medically known as menorrhagia, is a condition characterized by abnormally heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding. It can involve a significant increase in the amount of blood lost during each period or the extension of the period beyond the typical duration.
Symptoms often include the need to use multiple sanitary products, passing large blood clots, and experiencing fatigue or anemia due to blood loss. Excessive menstruation can disrupt a woman's normal activities and may signal underlying health issues.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) views excessive menstruation as a symptom of imbalance within the body's systems. Unlike Western medicine, which often focuses on the physical aspects of the condition, TCM looks at excessive menstruation as a sign of disharmony in the flow of Qi (vital energy) and Blood.
This perspective emphasizes identifying and correcting the underlying patterns of disharmony, which can vary from person to person. TCM aims to restore balance and harmony within the body, addressing both the symptoms and the root causes of excessive menstruation.
TCM Patterns for Excessive Menstruation
Heat
Intense, ascending pathogenic force that consumes body fluids, disturbs the mind, and accelerates all physiological processes
Causes: excessive menstruation, excessive periods, heavy menstruation, heavy periods, menorrhagia, profuse menstruation, profuse periods, flooding and dribbling, flooding and dripping, flooding and trickling, flooding and leaking, metrorrhagia
Heat is a major pathogenic factor in Traditional Chinese Medicine that can arise from external invasion or internal generation. Heat has the characteristics of burning intensity, rising upward, consuming qi and fluids, and generating wind and disturbing blood. In TCM philosophy, normal physiological warmth is called "minor fire" (少火) which maintains life functions, while pathological heat is "major fire" (壮火) which damages the body.
Heat in Uterus Blood
excessive menstruation, excessive periods, heavy menstruation, heavy periods, menorrhagia, profuse menstruation, profuse periods
Along with: Sudden period before schedule, Dark menstrual blood, Sticky menstrual blood, Thirst, Flushed face, Anger, Anxiety, Dark urine, Constipation
Heat in the Blood
flooding and dribbling, flooding and dripping, flooding and trickling, flooding and leaking
Along with: Feeling of heat, Red skin eruptions, Thirst, Frequent bleeding, Bloody sputum, Hematochezia, Hematuria, Vomiting blood, Cough of blood, Nosebleeds, Excessive menstruation
Damp-Heat
metrorrhagia
Along with: Fever, Neck gland swelling, Headaches, Tight feeling in chest and stomach, Sticky taste in the mouth, Absence of thirst, Feeling of heat, Feeling of heaviness, Bitter taste in the mouth, Acne
Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency causing Heat in the Blood
metrorrhagia
Along with: Dizziness, Tinnitus, Night sweats, Back pain, Dark urine, Bleeding between periods
Qi Deficiency
Insufficient vital energy causing fatigue, weakness, poor digestion, and reduced function of organs and protective systems
Causes: excessive menstruation, excessive periods, heavy menstruation, heavy periods, menorrhagia, profuse menstruation, profuse periods, flooding and dribbling, flooding and dripping, flooding and trickling, flooding and leaking, Profuse menstrual bleeding, Menstrual blood gushes out
Qi Deficiency is a fundamental pattern in Traditional Chinese Medicine where the body's vital energy is insufficient to maintain normal physiological functions, leading to weakness, fatigue, and various organ dysfunctions.
Qi Deficiency
excessive menstruation, excessive periods, heavy menstruation, heavy periods, menorrhagia, profuse menstruation, profuse periods, flooding and dribbling, flooding and dripping, flooding and trickling, flooding and leaking
Along with: General weakness, Weak voice, Generalized fatigue, Apathy, Dislike of speaking, Spontaneous sweat, Frequent colds or flu, Loss of appetite, Diarrhea, Shortness of breath
Spleen and Kidney Qi Deficiency
Profuse menstrual bleeding, Menstrual blood gushes out
Along with: Excessive menstruation, Pale menstrual flow, Thin menstrual blood, Prolonged menstrual periods, Shortness of breath, Palpitations
Yin Deficiency
Depletion of cooling, moistening fluids causing dryness, false heat rising, and restless agitation throughout the body
Causes: flooding and dribbling, flooding and dripping, flooding and trickling, flooding and leaking, metrorrhagia
Yin Deficiency represents a fundamental pattern in Traditional Chinese Medicine where the body's yin fluids - blood, essence, and body fluids - become depleted, losing their ability to cool, moisten, and anchor the yang energy, resulting in relative hyperactivity of yang and internal heat manifestations.
Kidney-Deficiency
flooding and dribbling, flooding and dripping, flooding and trickling, flooding and leaking
Along with: Scanty menstruation, Pale menstrual flow, Back pain, Knee pain, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Frequent urination, Late menstruation, Chills, Cold extremities
Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency causing Heat in the Blood
metrorrhagia
Along with: Dizziness, Tinnitus, Night sweats, Back pain, Dark urine, Bleeding between periods
Blood Stasis
Blood that is no longer flowing smoothly through the vessels
Causes: excessive menstruation, excessive periods, heavy menstruation, heavy periods, menorrhagia, profuse menstruation, profuse periods, flooding and dribbling, flooding and dripping, flooding and trickling, flooding and leaking, metrorrhagia
Blood Stasis represents blood that is no longer flowing smoothly through the vessels, either moving too slowly, pooling in certain areas, or congealing into clots. It's one of the most important pathological conditions in Traditional Chinese Medicine and can be both a result of disease and a cause of further illness.
Blood Stagnation
excessive menstruation, excessive periods, heavy menstruation, heavy periods, menorrhagia, profuse menstruation, profuse periods, flooding and dribbling, flooding and dripping, flooding and trickling, flooding and leaking, metrorrhagia
Along with: Dark face, Purple lips, Stabbing fixed pain, Abdominal masses, Purple nails, Menstrual cramps, Dark menstrual clots, Dark menstrual blood, Lumps
Yang Deficiency
Insufficient yang qi causing coldness, fatigue, and diminished physiological functions throughout the body
Causes: metrorrhagia
Yang Deficiency represents a fundamental weakness of the body's yang qi in Traditional Chinese Medicine. It manifests as an inability to warm the body, transform substances, and maintain normal physiological activities, resulting in various cold-type symptoms and functional decline.
Spleen or Kidney Yang Deficiency
metrorrhagia
Along with: Abdominal pain that worsens with cold, Urinary dysfunction, Deep pain and heaviness in limbs, Dizziness, Heavy sensation in the head, Edema, Diarrhea, Palpitations, Coughing, Vomit
Dampness
Heavy, sticky moisture that obstructs body functions and creates sluggishness
Causes: metrorrhagia
Dampness manifests as swelling, bloating, a feeling of heaviness in the head and limbs, and digestive issues. It's like having waterlogged tissues that make everything feel heavy and slow. Common signs include a thick, greasy tongue coating, sticky mouth sensation, and stools that are difficult to flush.
Damp-Heat
metrorrhagia
Along with: Fever, Neck gland swelling, Headaches, Tight feeling in chest and stomach, Sticky taste in the mouth, Absence of thirst, Feeling of heat, Feeling of heaviness, Bitter taste in the mouth, Acne
Herbal Formulas for Excessive Menstruation
Traditional Chinese Medicine formulas used to address excessive menstruation
Liang Di Tang
Addresses these excessive menstruation patterns:
Main Actions
- Nourishes Yin
- Cools Blood
- Stop bleeding
Addresses These Excessive Menstruation Pattern Variations
Heat in the Blood
How it manifests:
flooding and dribbling, flooding and dripping, flooding and trickling, flooding and leaking
Accompanying symptoms:
Feeling of heat, Red skin eruptions, Thirst, Frequent bleeding, Bloody sputum, Hematochezia...
Kidney-Deficiency
How it manifests:
flooding and dribbling, flooding and dripping, flooding and trickling, flooding and leaking
Accompanying symptoms:
Scanty menstruation, Pale menstrual flow, Back pain, Knee pain, Dizziness, Tinnitus...
Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency causing Heat in the Blood
How it manifests:
metrorrhagia
Accompanying symptoms:
Dizziness, Tinnitus, Night sweats, Back pain, Dark urine, Bleeding between periods
Er Zhi Wan
Addresses these excessive menstruation patterns:
Main Actions
- Nourishes Liver Yin
- Nourishes Kidney Yin
Addresses These Excessive Menstruation Pattern Variations
Kidney-Deficiency
How it manifests:
flooding and dribbling, flooding and dripping, flooding and trickling, flooding and leaking
Accompanying symptoms:
Scanty menstruation, Pale menstrual flow, Back pain, Knee pain, Dizziness, Tinnitus...
Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency causing Heat in the Blood
How it manifests:
metrorrhagia
Accompanying symptoms:
Dizziness, Tinnitus, Night sweats, Back pain, Dark urine, Bleeding between periods
Gu Ben Zhi Beng Tang
Addresses these excessive menstruation patterns:
Main Actions
- Tonifies Qi and Yang
Addresses These Excessive Menstruation Pattern Variations
Qi Deficiency
How it manifests:
excessive menstruation, excessive periods, heavy menstruation, heavy periods, menorrhagia, profuse menstruation, profuse periods, flooding and dribbling, flooding and dripping, flooding and trickling, flooding and leaking
Accompanying symptoms:
General weakness, Weak voice, Generalized fatigue, Apathy, Dislike of speaking, Spontaneous sweat...
Spleen or Kidney Yang Deficiency
How it manifests:
metrorrhagia
Accompanying symptoms:
Abdominal pain that worsens with cold, Urinary dysfunction, Deep pain and heaviness in limbs, Dizziness, Heavy sensation in the head, Edema...
Zuo Gui Wan
Addresses these excessive menstruation patterns:
Main Actions
- Nourishes the Yin
- Strengthens the Kidneys
- Fills the Essence
- Augments the marrow
Addresses These Excessive Menstruation Pattern Variations
Kidney-Deficiency
How it manifests:
flooding and dribbling, flooding and dripping, flooding and trickling, flooding and leaking
Accompanying symptoms:
Scanty menstruation, Pale menstrual flow, Back pain, Knee pain, Dizziness, Tinnitus...
Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency causing Heat in the Blood
How it manifests:
metrorrhagia
Accompanying symptoms:
Dizziness, Tinnitus, Night sweats, Back pain, Dark urine, Bleeding between periods
Ba Zheng San
Addresses these excessive menstruation patterns:
Main Actions
- Clears Heat and Fire
- Promotes urination
- Unblocks painful urinary dribbling
- Purges Fire
Addresses These Excessive Menstruation Pattern Variations
Damp-Heat
How it manifests:
metrorrhagia
Accompanying symptoms:
Fever, Neck gland swelling, Headaches, Tight feeling in chest and stomach, Sticky taste in the mouth, Absence of thirst...
Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang
Addresses these excessive menstruation patterns:
Main Actions
- Tonifies Qi of the Spleen and Stomach (Middle Burner)
- Raises the Yang
- Detoxifies
- Lifts what has sunken
Addresses These Excessive Menstruation Pattern Variations
Qi Deficiency
How it manifests:
excessive menstruation, excessive periods, heavy menstruation, heavy periods, menorrhagia, profuse menstruation, profuse periods, flooding and dribbling, flooding and dripping, flooding and trickling, flooding and leaking
Accompanying symptoms:
General weakness, Weak voice, Generalized fatigue, Apathy, Dislike of speaking, Spontaneous sweat...
Di Gu Pi Yin
Addresses these excessive menstruation patterns:
Main Actions
- Clears Heat
- Stops bleeding
Addresses These Excessive Menstruation Pattern Variations
Heat in the Blood
How it manifests:
flooding and dribbling, flooding and dripping, flooding and trickling, flooding and leaking
Accompanying symptoms:
Feeling of heat, Red skin eruptions, Thirst, Frequent bleeding, Bloody sputum, Hematochezia...
Gui Pi Tang
Addresses these excessive menstruation patterns:
Main Actions
- Tonifies and nourish Qi and Blood
- Tonifies Heart and Spleen
Addresses These Excessive Menstruation Pattern Variations
Qi Deficiency
How it manifests:
excessive menstruation, excessive periods, heavy menstruation, heavy periods, menorrhagia, profuse menstruation, profuse periods, flooding and dribbling, flooding and dripping, flooding and trickling, flooding and leaking
Accompanying symptoms:
General weakness, Weak voice, Generalized fatigue, Apathy, Dislike of speaking, Spontaneous sweat...
Huai Jiao Wan
Addresses these excessive menstruation patterns:
Main Actions
- Clears heat from the Intestines
- Stops bleeding
- Disperses wind
- Regulates Qi
Addresses These Excessive Menstruation Pattern Variations
Heat in Uterus Blood
How it manifests:
excessive menstruation, excessive periods, heavy menstruation, heavy periods, menorrhagia, profuse menstruation, profuse periods
Accompanying symptoms:
Sudden period before schedule, Dark menstrual blood, Sticky menstrual blood, Thirst, Flushed face, Anger...
Ju Yuan Jian
Addresses these excessive menstruation patterns:
Main Actions
- Tonifies Qi and Blood
Addresses These Excessive Menstruation Pattern Variations
Qi Deficiency
How it manifests:
excessive menstruation, excessive periods, heavy menstruation, heavy periods, menorrhagia, profuse menstruation, profuse periods, flooding and dribbling, flooding and dripping, flooding and trickling, flooding and leaking
Accompanying symptoms:
General weakness, Weak voice, Generalized fatigue, Apathy, Dislike of speaking, Spontaneous sweat...
Liu Wei Di Huang Wan
Addresses these excessive menstruation patterns:
Main Actions
- Enriches the yin and nourishes the Kidneys
Addresses These Excessive Menstruation Pattern Variations
Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency causing Heat in the Blood
How it manifests:
metrorrhagia
Accompanying symptoms:
Dizziness, Tinnitus, Night sweats, Back pain, Dark urine, Bleeding between periods
Qing Jing San
Addresses these excessive menstruation patterns:
Main Actions
- Clears Blood-Heat
- Stops bleeding
Addresses These Excessive Menstruation Pattern Variations
Heat in the Blood
How it manifests:
flooding and dribbling, flooding and dripping, flooding and trickling, flooding and leaking
Accompanying symptoms:
Feeling of heat, Red skin eruptions, Thirst, Frequent bleeding, Bloody sputum, Hematochezia...
Shi Xiao San
Addresses these excessive menstruation patterns:
Main Actions
- Invigorates Blood
- Dispels Blood Stagnation
- Eases pain
Addresses These Excessive Menstruation Pattern Variations
Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
excessive menstruation, excessive periods, heavy menstruation, heavy periods, menorrhagia, profuse menstruation, profuse periods, flooding and dribbling, flooding and dripping, flooding and trickling, flooding and leaking, metrorrhagia
Accompanying symptoms:
Dark face, Purple lips, Stabbing fixed pain, Abdominal masses, Purple nails, Menstrual cramps...
Si Wu Tang
Addresses these excessive menstruation patterns:
Main Actions
- Restores and nourishes Blood
- Stimulates Blood circulation
Addresses These Excessive Menstruation Pattern Variations
Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
excessive menstruation, excessive periods, heavy menstruation, heavy periods, menorrhagia, profuse menstruation, profuse periods, flooding and dribbling, flooding and dripping, flooding and trickling, flooding and leaking, metrorrhagia
Accompanying symptoms:
Dark face, Purple lips, Stabbing fixed pain, Abdominal masses, Purple nails, Menstrual cramps...
Tao Hong Si Wu Tang
Addresses these excessive menstruation patterns:
Main Actions
- Tonifies Blood and regulates the Liver
- Moves Qi and Blood in the lower abdomen
- Stops pain
Addresses These Excessive Menstruation Pattern Variations
Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
excessive menstruation, excessive periods, heavy menstruation, heavy periods, menorrhagia, profuse menstruation, profuse periods, flooding and dribbling, flooding and dripping, flooding and trickling, flooding and leaking, metrorrhagia
Accompanying symptoms:
Dark face, Purple lips, Stabbing fixed pain, Abdominal masses, Purple nails, Menstrual cramps...
You Gui Wan
Addresses these excessive menstruation patterns:
Main Actions
- Warms and tonifies Kidney Yang
- Replenishes the Essence
- Tonifies the Blood
Addresses These Excessive Menstruation Pattern Variations
Kidney-Deficiency
How it manifests:
flooding and dribbling, flooding and dripping, flooding and trickling, flooding and leaking
Accompanying symptoms:
Scanty menstruation, Pale menstrual flow, Back pain, Knee pain, Dizziness, Tinnitus...
Zhu Yu Zhi Xue Tang
Addresses these excessive menstruation patterns:
Main Actions
- Invigorates Blood
- Stops bleeding
Addresses These Excessive Menstruation Pattern Variations
Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
excessive menstruation, excessive periods, heavy menstruation, heavy periods, menorrhagia, profuse menstruation, profuse periods, flooding and dribbling, flooding and dripping, flooding and trickling, flooding and leaking, metrorrhagia
Accompanying symptoms:
Dark face, Purple lips, Stabbing fixed pain, Abdominal masses, Purple nails, Menstrual cramps...